09 Jun 2003 | Darrel said...

And along those lines...how come large companies don't hire same-profession people to hire and manage their vendors?

Ie, hire a graphic designer to handle all graphic design vendors or a computer programmer to hire all programming consultants or a custodian to handle all maintenance vendors, etc.

09 Jun 2003 | Charlie Park said...

Darrel -

Not a bad idea, but frequently, people that are obvious picks for one job (due to a specific skillset ... or is it skills set?) don't work out well for other jobs. A great designer might be an awful manager. Frequently, good designers can't even manage themselves.

But to hire a combo ... a designer and a manager to work together to hire and manage vendors ... that could be solid.

Keep in mind, though ... I'm an idiot.

09 Jun 2003 | ~bc said...

I've always thought a good service would be a web designer who works as an agent for a company who needs a website. This web agent wouldn't make the website, they would only do the bargaining. That is, the agent would be hired by the company to be their temporary web department, seeking out studios and staying through the completion of the project to ensure the studio hired for the actual design was operating in the best interest of the company. The agent would be an insurance policy so that the client wouldn't be shafted into paying too much for a bad site, one that used outdated code, scripts, technologies, and anything else I, a web designer would know, but a client would not.

It would be somewhat like a real estate agent without the slimey feeling. If anyone needs one, let me know.

09 Jun 2003 | JR said...

Jason, have you done this recently? What did you personally learn from the experience, other than its difficulty and that everyone should do it?

09 Jun 2003 | LukeW said...

have you done this recently?

I have done this many times (outsourcing) and can only say that being a designer helps you to explain your goals and critique within a shared vocabulary. That makes it easier. On the flip side you bring lots of preconcieved notions/expectations to the table. That makes it harder. I find I work best with designers that excel in areas in which I only occasionally dwell: logo design, illustration...

09 Jun 2003 | Cam said...

The other major issue I run into all the time is Project Managers who think they are designers and end up trying to micro-manage the design process. I have no hair left. And my back hurts.

10 Jun 2003 | Darrel said...

A great designer might be an awful manager.

True, but a great manager may have no clue as to how to manage design jobs.

I've worked with large companies where the client contact was really not able to judge the quality of what they were getting. Actually, I see this a lot, where consultants walk in, talk a lot of 'blah blah blah' and walk out with a big check.

But to hire a combo ... a designer and a manager to work together to hire and manage vendors ... that could be solid.

Ah. Good idea!

Keep in mind, though ... I'm an idiot.

As am I.

BC's agent concept is a good one too! I don't know the first thing about cars or mortgages, so I'm glad their is agents for those. Sometimes middle-men/women are a good thing!

As for the outsourcing comments, I think that's the best way to run a design firm. I've seen many succesful design firms that really didn't have any designers on staff. Just a smart bunch of people who knew how to buy good graphic design services.

A lot of graphic designers just want to design, so there's always a willing pool of hires out there.

10 Jun 2003 | JF said...

Jason, have you done this recently?

I did it a few years ago and I just thought about it a few days ago. It was really eye opening.

11 Jun 2003 | alisha said...

I know that I would hire my friends Chris and Ka right away.
Their work is fabulous! Oz Design
But I could never afford them... :-(

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