RE: [libreoffice-website] Inviting a new web designer to work with us (was: LibO website dev..)

Hi Bernhard,

> > Inputs from key stakeholders is essential (including marketing,
> > design, UX team AND  copywriters). After that, he would propose some
> > "seed" designs, so that all members can brainstorm. (Normally
> > designers do that to gauge the mood of their clients.)
>
> Sorry - I don't think that anybody here will be able to provide him with
> all the necessary inputs. Either you will have the time to tell him the
> essentials or he will have to find out through our past and present
> activities. Most of them have been collected by website team members,
> when they followed the idea of Drupal implementation, but I don't know
> if anybody has the time to provide your expert with their results.

I started that initiative (NOT part of "Drupal", but phase-2), but we have not yet managed to 
collect the specific needs of each type of stakeholders (we have identified 23 types of 
stakeholders in the LibO stakeholders). But the present website mainly addresses LibO-users; and 
their needs are known. Market-study inputs are awaited from Italo, though.

> Even if he might get a first collection of preconditions, people will
> come and claim their needs afterwards: That's normal reaction to work on
> the area where you have to do most of the work, until another area shows
> possible drawbacks for future activities.

Yes. That happens in any website design, too.
Many people cannot visualize the design in advance, but once a preliminary design is ready, their 
needs/wants are raised.
In website design, we generally don't follow the waterfall SDLC anyway!

> > Based on the discussion, he would make the final design (HTML code,
> > icons). There may be one or more rounds of this.
>
> Or the team decides to use his work as a basis for *our* final design.
>
> This is an option he *will have to accept*. He is not the only expert in
> this field, but his input is appreciated.

I agree. I believe that in an open source project things ought to be improved constantly.
No one has a right to declare his work to be final/permanent.

> > [...]
> >
> > But there has to be a caveat: Everyone should respect what a
> > web-designer says about his field. Do not try to foist outside
> > concepts on web design.
>
> Sorry, you don't see the central point:
> The website is part of the community - and therefore it might be (not 
> necessarily, but I can't preclude it) that there are needs not being 
> able to be integrated in his concept.
>
> It's the community who decides about the tools - and web design is one 
> of the tools we use for our needs.
> > If there is a disagreement, we settle it by referring to reference
> > literature on UX and web design. (Like the link I quoted.) AGREED?
>
> NO!
>
> If there is a disagreement, every position has to be make understandable 
> to the other side, so everybody has to find his way to an agreement or 
> compromise.
>
> If the community will not follow your expert's opinion, it's still the 
> community to decide what to implement and what to leave.
>
> But: The community doesn't consist of idiots only! So we are capable to 
> see the advantages of a good web design.

I suppose that's reasonable.
But if you see the recent argument about adding even more text, I am not so sure whether the 
website will stay on course.
Domain expertise should be given more weight (That's why the Design team can play a vital role 
here).

> > If we are clear about our workflow, I can request my colleague to
> > come in and help. I'd like a clarity and consensus on this point, please!

> We have skilled web designers in our team - like Nik - so he will not be 
> the only "expert" (and he should avoid to behave so).

I agree completely. The more fruits a branch bears, the lower it bends.
 
> If he can stand discussion and proposals for improvement, leading to a 
> collaborative work, he is more than welcome.

> But the final result will be the communities web design - not his 
> donation (or how he might call it).

Yes, of course! 
 
Best,
-Narayan

                                          
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