No-Nonsense Advice for Controlling the Budget of a Flash Web Design Project
Filed Under Website Project Success Tips |
You have a Flash website project. You have a Flash website designer. You have a budget.
Now what?
Make a Decision to Commit
Most businesses don’t do new Flash website design projects every month. You may not even change your website once a year. So this project probably isn’t part of your normal work flow, and therefore subject to procrastination, low priority syndrome or “I’ll get to it when I’m not working on something that actually brings money into my company!”
Don’t let this attitude take over your project! Decide from the beginning to commit yourself to on-time, on-budget completion of your Flash website project.
Why do we say this to you, the hiring agent? Why aren’t we talking to the designers about staying on-time and on-budget? Because, this Seattle Flash Website Design guide is for you and these tips are for your benefit. And because many projects bog down because Flash designers don’t see committed, quick response from the companies that hire them.
Decide that you will give this project prompt attention, and you will take the first step toward staying within the budget you set for the project.
Have a Project Plan
Yes, have a plan. And write it down. Don’t forget to share it with your Flash website designer!
Your project plan should include (at least):
- a detailed scope section (what exactly is included in this project?)
- a list of objectives (what are you hoping to accomplish?)
- task breakdown and assignments (who is doing what?)
- a timeline (about how long will you spend reaching each major milestone?)
Stay Focused and Get It Done
Many times, website projects include elements of content that you will need to provide to your Flash website designer. Photos and other graphics, written content, data or databases, and more. Provide these elements promptly, and you are setting a good example for your designer to follow.
When it comes time for reviewing what the designers have created, give it prompt attention and be specific in your response.
Use the Right Medium for Your Message
Remember! Don’t use email for conveying vague value judgments about the work (”it seems too busy” or “we’re not sure about the visuals”). Pick up the phone and talk it over. Let the designer ask you clarifying questions and answer them as clearly as you can. Using the phone for this type of call will save you DAYS of back-and-forth email exchanges trying to clearly communicate fuzzy feelings about things.
Do use email for documenting your list of concerns or for long lists of concrete details that you want changed. This kind of checklist is useful for making sure that things don’t get lost in the shuffle of phone call notes on a messy desk. (Are we implying that designers might have messy desks? Hmmm, we’ll let you make the call on that.)
Stay Aware of the Project
Your Flash designer is assigned to do their part well and on time, but ultimately, it is your responsibility to manage this project. Keep project checkpoints on your calendar. Meet your own deadlines for providing content or feedback.
Check in with your Flash website designer regularly. If they miss a deadline, immediately (but gently) express your desire that the project get back on track. Ask them to be honest with you, and renegotiate the timeline if necessary. Better to agree upon a new date than to demand the impossible and generate ill will. Remember, your Flash website designer is your valued expert partner!
Follow up closely if the project shows any sign of lagging. Show the design firm that you are committed. The value of setting a good example cannot be over-emphasized.
Keep an eye out for those times when what the designer delivers indicates that they don’t understand what you want. Catching these things early will help keep it from impacting your budget.
Stick to the Plan - And Make Sure It’s a Good One
Nothing will drive the cost of a project up quicker than “feature creep” and nit-picking details. Don’t try and add new elements to the project after you’ve agreed with your designer on the scope of the project. If you are vague about certain parts of your requirements, then be prepared to pay for it later. This is where good planning up front will save you money in the middle of the project. See our article about things you should determine before you hire a Flash website designer.
Every Flash website design plan should include several early checkpoints to ensure that the Flash designer is on the right track — before they use up all their billed hours creating something that doesn’t hit the target. Even if you have an agreement with a company to do a project for a flat rate, you’ll get better service from happy Flash experts than you will from frustrated ones. Some good checkpoints might be:
- design sketches, color choices
- website wireframe / content outline / navigational flow
- website “look and feel” prototype
Different Flash design firms have different processes, and most of the good ones have a consistent work flow that they use for projects. Talk to them about this and get in synch with each other. Then be sure to do your part to verify their work is on the right track at each milestone.
Conclusion
The most common budget issues for Flash website design projects can be avoided by committing your attention to the project, having a good plan, staying aware of what’s going on, and sticking with the plan to the end.
However, a word to the wise: It doesn’t hurt to build a certain private buffer into your Flash website project budget. Your designer doesn’t have to know about it, but if you’ve already set aside a bit of money to handle opportunities to expand the scope of the project or to handle unexpected obstacles, it will take a lot of stress out of the process.
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