Comments on: Impressions of FOWD 2008 http://www.broken-links.com/2008/04/18/impressions-of-fowd-2008/ Thoughts on web development and technologies by Peter Gasston Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:50:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Daniel Burka http://www.broken-links.com/2008/04/18/impressions-of-fowd-2008/#comment-11243 Daniel Burka Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:32:32 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/?p=158#comment-11243 Right, I agree that many people are employees, but I was hoping to convince more people to take a stand (even as employees) and push for these aspects of design to be given increased importance. People certainly don't need to fall on their swords doing so, but over time these things can change. Bosses and clients are generally more flexible than we sometimes think... and the right pressure and convincing over time can be effective. Plus, most 'minions' will become 'bosses' someday (hopefully someday soon) in which case they can exercise these kinds of practices. <em>[Edited to correct error - Peter]</em> Right, I agree that many people are employees, but I was hoping to convince more people to take a stand (even as employees) and push for these aspects of design to be given increased importance. People certainly don’t need to fall on their swords doing so, but over time these things can change. Bosses and clients are generally more flexible than we sometimes think… and the right pressure and convincing over time can be effective. Plus, most ‘minions’ will become ‘bosses’ someday (hopefully someday soon) in which case they can exercise these kinds of practices.

[Edited to correct error — Peter]

]]> By: Peter http://www.broken-links.com/2008/04/18/impressions-of-fowd-2008/#comment-11239 Peter Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:57:56 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/?p=158#comment-11239 Hi Daniel, thanks for the comment. I do take your point on that, but many of the people attending FoWD - the majority, I think it's fair to assume - are employees rather than owners or partners. If my boss tells me we're taking a job, I have to do it; I can try to convince him that iterative releases is the best way to go, but at the end of the day it's not my decision. I enjoyed your presentation very much anyway. Hi Daniel, thanks for the comment. I do take your point on that, but many of the people attending FoWD — the majority, I think it’s fair to assume — are employees rather than owners or partners. If my boss tells me we’re taking a job, I have to do it; I can try to convince him that iterative releases is the best way to go, but at the end of the day it’s not my decision.

I enjoyed your presentation very much anyway.

]]> By: Daniel Burka http://www.broken-links.com/2008/04/18/impressions-of-fowd-2008/#comment-11219 Daniel Burka Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:49:46 +0000 http://www.broken-links.com/?p=158#comment-11219 While I understand your point about wanting practical take-aways from a conference like FOWD, I'd disagree with the idea that you can't choose your clients. Sure, some people have more leeway than others in this regard, but most people have more ability to choose their clients than they think. Just like playing hard-to-get in a relationship, saying no to some clients really is in your best interest in many instances. In the early days of silverorange, we had a very difficult time making ends meet, but we still managed to steer clear of several clients who might have really buried our company financially and/or emotionally. And, I still contend that many clients can be convinced to iterate their sites, given the right encouragement and a convincing argument. As a designer, I really consider my role to be a user advocate... and when it's really in the user's interest (and hence the business's interest) to iterate, one can often make a truly convincing argument. While I understand your point about wanting practical take-aways from a conference like FOWD, I’d disagree with the idea that you can’t choose your clients. Sure, some people have more leeway than others in this regard, but most people have more ability to choose their clients than they think. Just like playing hard-to-get in a relationship, saying no to some clients really is in your best interest in many instances. In the early days of silverorange, we had a very difficult time making ends meet, but we still managed to steer clear of several clients who might have really buried our company financially and/or emotionally.

And, I still contend that many clients can be convinced to iterate their sites, given the right encouragement and a convincing argument. As a designer, I really consider my role to be a user advocate… and when it’s really in the user’s interest (and hence the business’s interest) to iterate, one can often make a truly convincing argument.

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