Comments for Design on the mind http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog Inside the minds of the designers at Deckchair Fri, 04 Jul 2008 03:07:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Becky http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1178 Becky Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:27:58 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1178 Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment. It's good to carry on the discussion and hear your point of view. I agree with what you are saying... We are the same at Deckchair - we know that there are companies out there who will provide you with a 'design-your-website-from-scratch' program for £50, or companies, like you said, that provide logos for £50. But we always say that you get what you pay for, and our skills and work are charged accordingly - we'd never lower our prices to match that as it devalues your work and we simply couldn't afford to design and allocate time at that price. You would end up getting a logo that is worth only £50!! I agree it's not our responsibility too. But I think there are more dimensions to this. For example, from experience with a photographer we work with, they are tied into contracts with the image banks - it is up to the image banks what is being charged for the images, so if as a photographer you have a year left until the end of your contract yet the image bank decides to start selling your images for 75p, there is apparently nothing you can do. Obviously the photographer can choose not to enter into a contract of this sort, but for those who are already signed up, their hands are tied. We seem to have a mix with our clients - it seems to be entirely dependent on the job at hand and the size of the company. A lot of smaller clients happily use Istock with us, as it meets their needs. But for more bespoke jobs with bigger companies they are happy to pay more for a more unique image, or even commission a photographer - for example with the Environment Agency job there was no way we would ever find an image to fit the concept we had developed unless we commissioned it ourselves. Hi Amanda, thanks for your comment. It’s good to carry on the discussion and hear your point of view. I agree with what you are saying… We are the same at Deckchair - we know that there are companies out there who will provide you with a ‘design-your-website-from-scratch’ program for £50, or companies, like you said, that provide logos for £50. But we always say that you get what you pay for, and our skills and work are charged accordingly - we’d never lower our prices to match that as it devalues your work and we simply couldn’t afford to design and allocate time at that price. You would end up getting a logo that is worth only £50!!

I agree it’s not our responsibility too. But I think there are more dimensions to this. For example, from experience with a photographer we work with, they are tied into contracts with the image banks - it is up to the image banks what is being charged for the images, so if as a photographer you have a year left until the end of your contract yet the image bank decides to start selling your images for 75p, there is apparently nothing you can do. Obviously the photographer can choose not to enter into a contract of this sort, but for those who are already signed up, their hands are tied.

We seem to have a mix with our clients - it seems to be entirely dependent on the job at hand and the size of the company. A lot of smaller clients happily use Istock with us, as it meets their needs. But for more bespoke jobs with bigger companies they are happy to pay more for a more unique image, or even commission a photographer - for example with the Environment Agency job there was no way we would ever find an image to fit the concept we had developed unless we commissioned it ourselves.

]]> Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Amanda Vlahakis http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1127 Amanda Vlahakis Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:45:59 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1127 Sorry to continue the 'off topic', but I must say that if photographers don't want to be paid low fees, then shouldn''t charge them. They need to not give into supplying their work at these low prices. I don't honestly know how any of them make any sort of living doing that. For instance there are plenty of places offering a logo design for £50 or £100, but you don't see me caving in to the pressure to provide my services at the same price or bid super low at places like Elance for instance. It's not our responsibility to 'not purchase' at low prices, if it's their industry and therefore it's their responsibility to charge what they feel their photography is worth and if Istock isn't profitable for them, they should stop uploading their images to it. Every time I suggest to a client paying a min of £100 for an image at Getty for instance rather than using Istockphoto.com they balk at the price and stick with Istock and they don't care if the images are being used elsewhere. Now if there was no other choice they would pay it happily. Sorry to continue the ‘off topic’, but I must say that if photographers don’t want to be paid low fees, then shouldn”t charge them.

They need to not give into supplying their work at these low prices. I don’t honestly know how any of them make any sort of living doing that.

For instance there are plenty of places offering a logo design for £50 or £100, but you don’t see me caving in to the pressure to provide my services at the same price or bid super low at places like Elance for instance.

It’s not our responsibility to ‘not purchase’ at low prices, if it’s their industry and therefore it’s their responsibility to charge what they feel their photography is worth and if Istock isn’t profitable for them, they should stop uploading their images to it.

Every time I suggest to a client paying a min of £100 for an image at Getty for instance rather than using Istockphoto.com they balk at the price and stick with Istock and they don’t care if the images are being used elsewhere. Now if there was no other choice they would pay it happily.

]]> Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Becky http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1125 Becky Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:48:11 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1125 Aha it's good to see that - I think you've demonstrated the kitsch and Barbie theme really well considering the limitations you were given in terms of imagery. We have a lot of clients who are incredibly shocked when we tell them the possible prices of stock imagery. So I must say we have used Istock quite a lot over the last few months. Considering the debate going on at the moment, we should be perhaps shamed to admit that we use websites like Istock because of the possible negative effects on the photography industry. Also, if we all keep using Istock will we eventually start using the same images...?! I think perhaps we'll write a blog on that one! I've moved away from the original subject slightly, but thanks, it was good to see your license plate! Aha it’s good to see that - I think you’ve demonstrated the kitsch and Barbie theme really well considering the limitations you were given in terms of imagery. We have a lot of clients who are incredibly shocked when we tell them the possible prices of stock imagery. So I must say we have used Istock quite a lot over the last few months. Considering the debate going on at the moment, we should be perhaps shamed to admit that we use websites like Istock because of the possible negative effects on the photography industry. Also, if we all keep using Istock will we eventually start using the same images…?! I think perhaps we’ll write a blog on that one! I’ve moved away from the original subject slightly, but thanks, it was good to see your license plate!

]]> Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Amanda Vlahakis http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1111 Amanda Vlahakis Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:49:00 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1111 It for a fashion retail clients birthday party event - she wanted Barbie Kitsch theme and the license plate was changed to her year of birth. You can see it at http://trulyace.com/blog/?p=106 - you need to scroll down to see the design larger. Amanda It for a fashion retail clients birthday party event - she wanted Barbie Kitsch theme and the license plate was changed to her year of birth.

You can see it at http://trulyace.com/blog/?p=106 - you need to scroll down to see the design larger.

Amanda

]]> Comment on Types of successful Ecommerce websites by Becky http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/08/29/types-of-successful-ecommerce-websites/#comment-1105 Becky Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:19:54 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/08/29/types-of-successful-ecommerce-websites/#comment-1105 Thank you for your comment! We're glad you found it so interesting :) Thank you for your comment! We’re glad you found it so interesting :)

]]> Comment on Ecommerce ‘peeves’ and ‘must haves’ – boost those conversion rates by Becky http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/09/19/ecommerce-%e2%80%98peeves%e2%80%99-and-%e2%80%98must-haves%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-boost-those-conversion-rates/#comment-1104 Becky Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:15:54 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/09/19/ecommerce-%e2%80%98peeves%e2%80%99-and-%e2%80%98must-haves%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-boost-those-conversion-rates/#comment-1104 Hi Karan. Thank you for your comment - I'm glad you're impressed and that you found it so interesting. It would be great to have a look at some of your websites and blogs too - I looked at quite a few of the web design tips on the articlevre website - did you write these? There are so many blogs out there that provide useful and resourceful information, and I think as many people as possible should embrace this - both as a way of outputting their own knowledge and as a way of gaining new knowledge. And its great to know that we're adding to this! Hi Karan. Thank you for your comment - I’m glad you’re impressed and that you found it so interesting. It would be great to have a look at some of your websites and blogs too - I looked at quite a few of the web design tips on the articlevre website - did you write these?

There are so many blogs out there that provide useful and resourceful information, and I think as many people as possible should embrace this - both as a way of outputting their own knowledge and as a way of gaining new knowledge. And its great to know that we’re adding to this!

]]> Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Becky http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1103 Becky Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:04:54 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1103 Thanks for your feedback Amanda! The Environment Agency project really was a great project to work on - it was for a meaningful cause and at the same time allowed us to flex our creative muscles to provide effective solutions that the client was really happy with. It was good to work on an ongoing campaign as it allowed us to link all the entities together and really get involved. And Florence was a stunning model and so well behaved! :) Your fake license project sounds interesting - what subject matter did it involve? Becky Thanks for your feedback Amanda! The Environment Agency project really was a great project to work on - it was for a meaningful cause and at the same time allowed us to flex our creative muscles to provide effective solutions that the client was really happy with. It was good to work on an ongoing campaign as it allowed us to link all the entities together and really get involved. And Florence was a stunning model and so well behaved! :)

Your fake license project sounds interesting - what subject matter did it involve?

Becky

]]> Comment on Graphic design case study - Environment Agency Billboard campaign by Amanda Vlahakis http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1029 Amanda Vlahakis Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:37:55 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2008/02/22/graphic-design-case-study-environment-agency-billboard-campaign/#comment-1029 Oh I love this, absolutely fabulous work, well done! And how cool that your beautiful daughter has modelled in this. Stunning photography (Florence playing amongst the waste) that really hits home, and I love the licence plate on the van :) I just did a fake licence plate today coincidentally on a client project, but it was something more glam and less meaningful than this project, lol. Oh I love this, absolutely fabulous work, well done! And how cool that your beautiful daughter has modelled in this.

Stunning photography (Florence playing amongst the waste) that really hits home, and I love the licence plate on the van :)

I just did a fake licence plate today coincidentally on a client project, but it was something more glam and less meaningful than this project, lol.

]]> Comment on Types of successful Ecommerce websites by Professional Web Design http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/08/29/types-of-successful-ecommerce-websites/#comment-918 Professional Web Design Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:04:38 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/08/29/types-of-successful-ecommerce-websites/#comment-918 Hi there Wow what a fantastic article about Professional Web Design! Your keen insight into Professional Web Design is informative and creative. I look forward to reading other articles you have. Thanks. Hi there Wow what a fantastic article about Professional Web Design! Your keen insight into Professional Web Design is informative and creative. I look forward to reading other articles you have. Thanks.

]]> Comment on Ecommerce ‘peeves’ and ‘must haves’ – boost those conversion rates by Karan http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/09/19/ecommerce-%e2%80%98peeves%e2%80%99-and-%e2%80%98must-haves%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-boost-those-conversion-rates/#comment-879 Karan Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:40:57 +0000 http://www.deckchair.co.uk/blog/2007/09/19/ecommerce-%e2%80%98peeves%e2%80%99-and-%e2%80%98must-haves%e2%80%99-%e2%80%93-boost-those-conversion-rates/#comment-879 I found your blog via Google while searching for free flash intros and your post regarding Ecommerce ‘peeves’ and ‘must haves’ – boost those conversion rates looks very interesting to me.I just just wanted to drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with the information you have posted here. I also have websites & blogs so I know what I am talking about when I say your site is top-notch! Keep up the great work, you are providing a great resource on the Internet here! I found your blog via Google while searching for free flash intros and your post regarding Ecommerce ‘peeves’ and ‘must haves’ – boost those conversion rates looks very interesting to me.I just just wanted to drop you a note telling you how impressed I was with the information you have posted here. I also have websites & blogs so I know what I am talking about when I say your site is top-notch! Keep up the great work, you are providing a great resource on the Internet here!

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