As you know, I’m an avid member of Low Yat forums and I’ve been bringing up case studies from there a couple of times. However, today’s case was affected due to the shameless editing done by a Malaysian. But no matter, though he might not allow me to discuss his agenda openly I could still always describe it in other manners.
I’ve answered some of the classifieds in the Job Enlistment forum before when it came to website building but I’ve not been ever so insulted as a person who designs websites to improve the status of the local user experience, accessibility and others.
And mind you, some clients have this same mentality.
My friend want to make a website exactly same like
I think this just a simple html site which need 1-2 days work.
Notice how do people phrase their words when presenting a project to be done. I know clients provide references for us to come up with something better for them but having to make a website exactly the same as a competitor is just pure ego.
It’s pure ego because you’re trying to put twins together and to see which will die first.
The other phrase I bolded just tells me how much disrespect and appreciation people in our industry are giving us. Just because it’s a website done in HTML doesn’t mean it’s merely 1-2 days work. Saying this is no better than telling an architect, “so the house can be finished in a week right?”
Remember I mentioned about shameless editing earlier? It’s because I wanted to openly discuss with other members in the Arts & Design forum about the finished website done by the poster of the thread and allow them to question the price of RM1000 charged. However, the poor poster was very concerned of his reputation and decided to erase out details of the completed project URL along with the price. I remembered the price but not the URL sad to say.
Anyway, imagine a website exactly like MalaysiaLand just that it’s grey all round except for photos. That’s the best description for it.
The other part of this case that’s funny is that the posted said;
*I can’t built it for him, you know lar….close friend talk $$$ hard lar
Right. And for the very naked dull property website you made him, you charged him RM1000.
I would be asking opinions here and at the forums if it was really worth it – might also ask for suggestions, but since the poster of [JP]Freelance Web Desinger Wanted! edited to cover up his shame I’d just wait and see if he would be courageous to step up and pass the URL.
But what’s your take on the whole ‘website exactly like this’ and ‘it’ll only take 1-2 days work’?
It’s good that you brought the topic of work appreciation up. In my humble opinion, that client you mentioned sounded like a know-it-all-but-none-at-all. I agree about the ego bit where attempting to create an exact similar page is concerned. Also, I agree that HTML coded pages aren’t as simple to make as they look. I took about 4 hours ++ just to EDIT my homepage, without linking to other self-made pages.
Similar theory applies to the case where a book reader won’t understand why the author took such a long time to produce a 200-page book, until he/she tried producing a book himself/herself.
It’s high time that more people understand the significance of the effort put into the art industry.
In all modesty, HTML is easy. However, good semantic markup isn’t. Speaking less about the programming, thoughts and ideas put into a website takes time and that’s why we have consultation.
Anyone can just build a website with HTML nowadays. All you need is a WYSIWYG editor. On the other hand, very few Malaysians ever think about the plans for the website in order to provide it more value.
But yeah, there’s no understanding of the effort being put into multimedia creations.
Seriously, a site exactly like malaysia land could really be done in 1-2 days. Since it’s “grey all round except for photos”.
You gotta think from the client’s perspective. Perhaps all they want is a “site” that people could visit. Unless you have better ideas that, at the end of the day, would translate to higher sales, no client in the right frame of mind would shell out more cash for a “standards-compliant” site.
Oh, and after reading Danny’s comment above, yes, I think the client expects you to use Dreamweaver after all. Danny, clients talk money, not the “effort put into multimedia creations”.
Btw, you can’t talk about “sematic markups” and crap like that. Clients would think you’re making it all up. Try “you’re site will look wonderful in Opera mini”. At least there’s more people with kick-ass handphones around..
Hey Jon,
You’re probably right that all the client want is a plain traditional website that’s to just showcase these simple details. However, would you commend RM1000 for such a simple job if it were really that easy?
Clients don’t talk ‘money’, they talk about ‘cheap work’ in this industry. If clients really wanted to talk money, I’m sure there’d be more recognized websites in Malaysia that international peers would’ve heard about.
I read that thread earlier and was shocked how a poor design like that could cost a thousand bucks! No wonder it can be whipped up in a day.
Anyway, if it still matters, the site is http://www.property98.com – I’ve dug it out from my history folder.
I don’t mind the ‘website exactly like this’ part, because I think it’s a familiar “phrase” across all service-based fields, professional or not.
It’s just human nature to want to emulate or imitate something or someone else that is similar to their own tastes. Also, there’s the issue of adaptability: people tend to be more inclined towards what they’re already used to. Especially when it comes to looks or UIs.
Emulating something like malaysialand’s interface (though I find it to be extremely comfusing) is probably easier and more practical because the general web doesn’t really care about all that semantics and “making a better organized web” stuff anyway.
Now, the second part, “it’ll only take 1-2 days work”, I really don’t like. It’s degrading the nature of the job itself. It’s like, you know, making webdesign just another routine. As if there’s no creativity or ideas being imbued into the creation.
Like you said, this kind of mentality diminishes the appreciation of the extent of thought and pride webdesigners put into their work.
But hey, I guess that’s what you get when you let passionless people charge RM1000 for the most amateur of designs. (Sorry, I had to say that.)
Tiger, big thank you for the website URL. :)
Xaph, I didn’t want to say it so I was waiting. *grin* As for User Interface (UI) experience being the same is true, but do clients here realize that here? I don’t think so.
They’re more likely concentrated on the work being done their way and to finish it at the quickest without quality. I suppose that’s the driver of quantity before quality in Malaysia websites today.
Hi all….I am the web designer for the property98.com that mentioned above.
I am so sorry if “I think this just a simple html site which need 1-2 days work.” sounds disrespect for the web designers…sorry.”
BTW….I just discovered this blog today. Nice blog Danny.
It might’ve sound harsh but I really can’t stand people who make absurd comments like that. It’s just so ‘you think you know me’ kind of attitude.
Anyway, apology accepted and I’m glad you’ve found this blog something of your interest. :)
Hi all!
I am the owner of this website..www.property98.com
I do not know soooo murch thing had happen here.I just discovered this blog today.
Thing had change..i am learning here… my traffic is going up.. :)
Thank for all the comment.
Hey Ken,
Welcome on board this blog. It looks like you’ve got several webpages spidered by Google already. Also, I guess it’s because part of the traffic might’ve been driven from here when you started up.
It’s using a method Yaro Starak kinda podcasted about before, something like generated publicity through a negative experience.
Anyway, I think we’ve all debated and came to a conclusion to all of this so all I can say further is good luck in your endeavours. :)
Cheers.