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Keeping Up With The Web Design Joneses

October

25th

Char

We have not had a good ~~debate~~ discussion around here lately and frankly, I’m bored with the whole Page Rank hullabaloo already, so let’s talk about something else.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on keeping up with the Joneses when it comes to web design techniques, development, and programming.

If you are a designer or developer, you have probably come across this predicament at least once in your career. You launch a new web site for a client using the “latest and greatest” techniques, have the trendiest graphics, and all the right SEO techniques built in. The client is thrilled and you have a shiny new star to add to your portfolio.

Then, 8 months later you look back on the site and say to yourself “what was I thinking?” After all, the coolest designers are now using something new, the drop shadow effect on the logo looks so dated compared to the new glossy logos everyone is sporting, and Google went and changed the search algorithm AGAIN.

Do you:

Approach the client and ask them to pony up for a brand spanking new site design?
Recommend a few subtle tweaks to update the site a bit?
Stick with the attitude that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it?

And what about that new site you are getting ready to design - you know the one that the client wants to do everything under the sun but their budget just isn’t going to be enough? How do you approach that kind of challenge? Do you design what you know using the fastest, least expensive method even if that means reverting to older techniques that you can do in your sleep?

Keeping up with the latest design trends, platforms, techniques and standards is a lot of work! How do you balance what you invest in professional development with actually earning money using what you already know? And when is it important to keep up with the Joneses and when is it okay not to?

Yes, I know I asked a lot of questions, but these are just a few of the things that are on my mind. Join the discussion and tell me your thoughts on keeping up with the Joneses!