ARGH!!!

JoNightshade · Aug 30, 2010

I spent several days using extra time I DON'T have to design and implement a website for a friend of mine. She just won a major literary award and had no online presence, so I volunteered and she was thrilled. I even paid for her domain registration because she's still a student and doesn't have much cash.

Two weeks later, I get a note from her. "I changed the design, hope you don't mind."

She's gone in and screwed with all the HTML, rearranged everything so it doesn't even resemble what I gave her. That wouldn't be so bad except that it looks TERRIBLE.

Oh, right, and now? She's asking me for tech help.

Yeah, I don't think so.

Kitty Pryde · Aug 30, 2010

It's okay, take a deep breath and read this: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell and I guarantee you will feel better about life.

JoNightshade · Aug 30, 2010

LOL, I knew exactly which one it was before I clicked the link.

I wish I had refreshed my memory BEFORE wasting the time. Le sigh.

BudBoxer · Aug 30, 2010

Sounds like she now owns it, and you're off the hook! Congrats and make sure your name's nowhere on the site. Keep paying the domain, if so inclined. Of course you know someone to recommend for tech support. All best, B.

JoNightshade · Aug 30, 2010

Yep, I turned it over to her. I just asked her to remove my name as the design credit.

Tirjasdyn · Aug 30, 2010

Been there done that. Always take screen shots. Always.

JoNightshade · Aug 30, 2010

I have the whole thing saved. Anyway I just realized she's not even fiddling with the HTML, she just got rid of my custom design completely and is now using a generic template. Oh well.

mario_c · Sep 8, 2010

Ah, the old "I just graduated from school and have no money but I'm famous so everyone wants to see my website and ergo your page creation skillz, so if you could work for free and 'contribute' YOUR money to pay for my URL, I'll compensate you when I can, cross my heart and stuff, and you'll have a portfolio you can show to employers etc etc" routine.
Isn't being a freelancer great? I was maintaining websites for about $25 a month per site - I pushed my rates up to $35 and one client fired me on the spot. He actually called my friend, the domain admin, and told him to advise me I was fired. I had another site owner give my Flash pieces to her friend to "re-design" after we fell out - she basically re-drew my ideas and put her name on it. Business is something else...

backslashbaby · Sep 8, 2010

Ah! Were you doing it to use for your portfolio? That does suck badly!

mario_c · Sep 8, 2010

Well, I still have the best parts in my portfolio. They can't take that from me, however they may try.

Matera the Mad · Sep 9, 2010

oooo, I could tell stories.

Starhorsepax · Nov 2, 2010

Shudder. Thanks for the warnings. I'm in training to be a web designer. Ouch. We researched some truly awful ones! :crazy:

Within a couple of weeks I'd figured out that the difference between the school's tech support, web designer students and clients was rather like the farmer telling the astronaut how to do a spacewalk!

BradCarsten · Nov 3, 2010

lol, as a designer this happens to me all the time. One thing Iv come to realise is that at the end of the day, you doing something on behalf of another person, because they dont have the technical expertise to do it themselves. That said, it doesn't matter if you are happy with it, so long as they are. Your likes and dislikes may be different, but you shouldn't refuse help, just because her tastes dont line up with yours... I have found that the best thing to do is to look at the essence of what she wants changed and then subtly guide/improve upon those changes.

ARGH!!!

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

BudBoxer

All Write By Me

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

Tirjasdyn

Outline Maven

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

mario_c

Your thoughts are not real...

backslashbaby

*

mario_c

Your thoughts are not real...

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

Starhorsepax

BradCarsten

practical experience, FTW

ARGH!!!

has finally arrived

i luv you giant bear statue

has finally arrived

All Write By Me

has finally arrived

Outline Maven

has finally arrived

Your thoughts are not real...

~~~~*~~~~

Your thoughts are not real...

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

practical experience, FTW

*