Comments on: Rejected Designs and What We Should Do With Them

By: Eduardo

Eduardo — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:30:16 +0000

The approved design looks so random… Not a bad thing, but I can tell you that a good bunch of my designs look a lot like the one approved, which only makes me think that your client really went through the “safe” route.

The one you liked has its problems, yes, but again, very few times we manage to hit the first shoot. I’m sure if you have worked over this design the final result would have been fantastic.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:45:15 +0000

In an exam, you get points for showing your working out, so why not show them in a portfolio?

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:04:43 +0000

Great article Tom. This is something we have been exploring and brought to another level. Check out http://www.projectnever.com if interested.

By: Manz

Manz — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:53:15 +0000

A trick I was taught is to create a doggy design that the client can easily dismiss – therefore increasing your chances they’ll opt for that “non-safe” option.

However, I prefer all work that is presented to a client to look professional! The result… they’ll often go with the design I consider second best. It’s a shame.

By: Building a Better Designer | Matt Sarah

Building a Better Designer | Matt Sarah — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:45:34 +0000

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By: Tom Kenny

Tom Kenny — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:07:45 +0000

One thing I haven’t made clear in this example is that the approved design has been through multiple iterations and has been tweaked to the way it currently is. Something that I didn’t get the chance to do with the rejected version.

By: Marc Desbiens

Marc Desbiens — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:23:29 +0000

I hate to say it, but I think the approved option is better. While I can appreciate your desire to try something different, the client may not share your enthusiasm for experimentation.

I think your preferred option lacks vertical symmetry across the 4 rows of containers. Each row shares no vertical alignment with the other rows, giving it an off-balance “clutter” that clients would likely have difficulty articulating. Judith attempted to describe it above by saying “Too many focal points. I don’t know where to look first.” This problem is not present in the approved option — although the footer kind of lives in its own little world. The copyright info could be shortened and placed the left section and the width set to align with the column above, and the footer links could be place in the middle section, with the “email offers” area expanding to the width of “special offers” above. But now I’m just being a nit-picker!

The sort of multi-step form could also be a bit confusing to users, as each section appears to be it’s own unique form, but really they are all part of the same action. The arrows are subtle, and the idea that this is all one form isn’t conveyed until you see the single form button at the far right. This might be more obvious if the rest of the page wasn’t already establishing the idea that everything exists within it’s own container, in a row of several containers.

By: Rolando A. Petit

Rolando A. Petit — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:58:49 +0000

I deal with a number of clients that are just starting out or depend on the designer to provide all of the creative. There is often very little input, until you provide a layout that they do not like. Thats when the client suddenly becomes a member of the creative staff.. It can be a bit annoying as gathering input on a clients tastes is vital. I personally hate going back and forth with someone that has no idea what they want.

Its a part of the job though and with nearly 10 years in, it has gotten easier to deal with the rejections, but the thing that burns me is how much time is lost between concept & completion. Great article. I actually recycle rejected designs for other clients, massive time saver // One mans trash is anothers treasure.

By: judith

judith — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:05:18 +0000

I see why they chose the one they did. One large photo is more compelling than the three smaller ones. You can more easily place yourself in the photo. The deep warm blues of the approved version remind one of the aegean and caribbean seas. The information feels more organized. While the “big bold imagery” on the rejected one is completely obscured by the information box. (Honestly I didn’t see it at all until you referred to it). The first one is confusing in contrast, it has too many focal points. I don’t know where to look first. I don’t feel the approved one is ‘safer’, I think it’s far more compelling.

By: Rejected Designs and What We Should Do With Them - Inspect Element

Rejected Designs and What We Should Do With Them - Inspect Element — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:37:17 +0000

[...] Read the original post: Rejected Designs and What We Should Do With Them – Inspect Element [...]