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Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

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Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#31

Post by gloob »

Chris_G wrote: post #18

You sound like a programmer that is "difficult." It also sounds like you're the type of programmer that doesn't treat designers with any respect, so they likely reciprocate -- the type that doesn't like to collaborate, but just boss people around (it's more than apparent from your post that you sneeringly look down upon the design profession). In short, you come across like a huge jerk and I can't imagine what it mus…

There's something vaguely saddening about the fact that the "you suck" post has twice as many upvotes as the highest-rated post actually answering the question.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#33

Post by benhoyt »

lkrubner wrote: post #10

I'll mention some names in a moment. First, I want to offer an anecdote about the extent to which brains can be wired differently. For awhile I was in a business partnership where I wrote code and I worked with a designer. One day a friend told us that she had started a new yoga studio and she wanted to show us her new business card, which was done in the shape of a bookmark - long and narrow. At the top was a photo,…

Darren has a great last name, too.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#34

Post by palish »

kyro wrote: post #25
Chris_G wrote: post #18

You sound like a programmer that is "difficult." It also sounds like you're the type of programmer that doesn't treat designers with any respect, so they likely reciprocate -- the type that doesn't like to collaborate, but just boss people around (it's more than apparent from your post that you sneeringly look down upon the design profession). In short, you come across like a huge jerk and I can't imagine what it mus…

If it means anything, I've worked with the OP and he is a very kind, cooperative and fun person to work alongside. You come off just as judgmental as you're making him out to be.

Ah.. That may be true, but all we have to go on are little letters in cyberspace.

It's good to know he's different in real life, though.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#35

Post by Zarathu »

ErrantX wrote: post #29
kyro wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it means anything, I've worked with the OP and he is a very kind, cooperative and fun person to work alongside. You come off just as judgmental as you're making him out to be.

In fairness the opening line does scream "set in ways" to a degree that would put me off a little. Not to be judgemental but I wonder if people that do work for Zarathu for the first time might have trouble communicating if this is his usual style. And as a result dont get chance to build a working relationship. It happens a lot. I personally like direct people but plenty don't :D

My opening line was satirical. I hate text editor arguments, and the Rails v. Django thing is really old, too. I've used both Ruby and Python, vim and TextMate, and they're all great. You just need to use the right tool for the job.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#36

Post by ErrantX »

Zarathu wrote: post #35
ErrantX wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In fairness the opening line does scream "set in ways" to a degree that would put me off a little. Not to be judgemental but I wonder if people that do work for Zarathu for the first time might have trouble communicating if this is his usual style. And as a result dont get chance to build a working relationship. It happens a lot. I personally like direct people but plenty don't :D

My opening line was satirical. I hate text editor arguments, and the Rails v. Django thing is really old, too. I've used both Ruby and Python, vim and TextMate, and they're all great. You just need to use the right tool for the job.

Heh, I apologise :) I read the whole thing as one rant.

checked

EDIT: I do sympathise, finding really good people to contract work to is an absolute pain.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#37

Post by gloob »

palish wrote: post #34
kyro wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it means anything, I've worked with the OP and he is a very kind, cooperative and fun person to work alongside. You come off just as judgmental as you're making him out to be.

Ah.. That may be true, but all we have to go on are little letters in cyberspace. It's good to know he's different in real life, though.

Ah.. That may be true, but all we have to go on are little letters in cyberspace.

We may as well make sure that we're on shaky footing, then, so long as we're rushing to judgements about people we've never met. Seems like a constructive way to start a conversation.

Edit: Really, the sensible thing to do would be to answer the question, rather than rant about how our internal Internet-psychologist has provided us with shining insight into someone who is potentially on another continent.

Edit edit: Not that any of this is really directed toward you; I'm just ranting myself. :P

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#38

Post by catweasel »

Since nobody has mention it yet, one could always submit a project as a design competition at 99designs.com. Though, at design school, we were advised never to enter competitions as it undermines the design process and devalues the designer ... a view I tend to agree with.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#39

Post by niels »

oneplusone wrote: post #4

I do freelance graphic design while not working on my startup. I don't have an online portfolio because I don't really need one. I worked for FreshBooks ( http://www.freshbooks.com ) up until a month ago. You can also take a look at my startup Guestlist ( http://www.guestlistapp.com ) I specialize in interface design for web applications. My standard rate is $75/hour.

guestlistapp looks like a really great app. Both design and usability. Well done.

Re: Ask HN: Can someone refer me to a designer that doesn't suck?

#40

Post by Chris_G »

Zarathu wrote: post #30
Chris_G wrote: post #18

You sound like a programmer that is "difficult." It also sounds like you're the type of programmer that doesn't treat designers with any respect, so they likely reciprocate -- the type that doesn't like to collaborate, but just boss people around (it's more than apparent from your post that you sneeringly look down upon the design profession). In short, you come across like a huge jerk and I can't imagine what it mus…

No! I realize that I sounded like a bit of a dick in my post, but that's just how I write. Let me elaborate. I've contracted a designer before (an HNer, mind you) that literally told me that he was working on the design for about 3 weeks, without showing me any form of progress whatsoever. On the last day we were working together, he said, "I've been busy, and I haven't had time to work on it. Find another designer."…

Draw a triangle.

On each corner, write:

> Quality Work > Timely Delivery > Economical Price

You're ONLY ever allowed to choose TWO.

> If you want quality work produced in a timely fashion, then expect to pay top-dollar.

> If you want work turned around fast and don't have any money to spend, expect the quality to be crap.

> If you want quality work and don't have a big budget, expect it to be attended to whenever the the service provider has some free time.

It is a maxim of business that you will never escape.

This is true of any profession, and is especially true of both programmers and designers alike.

If you are paying proper compensation, you should never have a problem getting quality work, by a designer that makes delivery of your goods a priority. Perhaps you found a bad apple, and that is unfortunate. If so, then the market should weed them out in time. But you say the designer did great work, and it sounds like they had plenty of good-paying projects elsewhere and you simply got back-burnered (and they were not candid with you, as they should have been). I've seen it happen a dozen times is every line of work.

----------

I forgive you for how you came across in your initial post. I'm also told that I'm a friendly fellow who sometimes comes across as... blunt, in writing.

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