Happy medium between you and your clients design ideas?

How do you find the middle ground between the two?

[aphido]

Having had numerous experiences of jobs for clients where they have very fixed ideas about how their site should look, how have other people dealt with these scenarios? At what point is it acceptable to say when you think client has an idea about the design of their site that contradicts yours- and how have people handled their clients in a situation like this?

I have found it very difficult in the past with clients who have fixed ideas of what they think will work, whilst not heeding any ideas you may have and simply asking you to visualise what they want- this is not neccesarily a bad thing of course, but it does sometimes feel like your ideas become sidelined.

[pleeker]

If the client's ideas are just different from yours, you basically go with what the client says since they're paying the bill.

But, if the client's ideas are things you wouldn't recommend, things you think are mistakes, it's your job to tell them that and provide a clear explanation why their ideas are bad. They have, in theory, hired you for your knowledge, so it's your job to use that knowledge in servicing your client. So, very rationally and patiently, you explain the potential problems with what they're suggesting ... provide an alternative and explain why it's better ... and let them make the decision.

We quite often tell clients that we're trying to protect them from themselves. :) Ultimately, all you can do is give them the best information to help them make a decision. If they choose to shoot themselves in the foot, it's their choice.

PS - you might want to document the discussion (maybe send an email recapping the issues) so that a year later, when they wonder why their site is so bad and want to blame you, you can suggest otherwise.....