I use a lot of Lorem Ipsum in my mocks, but real headlines. Too much real text, and people start reading it. I generally do not show real working features, but rather separate static screens. You want to invest the effort in your thinking and in the execution of the elements you show, but you also want to reserve as much budget for completing the chosen idea as possible. So the answer is, “just detailed enough to get them to choose one”.
I use a lot of Lorem Ipsum in my mocks, but real headlines. Too much real text, and people start reading it. I generally do not show real working features, but rather separate static screens. You want to invest the effort in your thinking and in the execution of the elements you show, but you also want to reserve as much budget for completing the chosen idea as possible. So the answer is, “just detailed enough to get them to choose one”.
That depends on the client. The real number will vary based on lots of variables, but basically you want enough so they feel like they are getting a choice, but you also want to make them clearly different from one another, and also clearly visually incompatible with one another. You want to make it extremely difficult for anyone to say “let’s use this part of this design, and that part of that design, and this napkin scrawl my niece made on the train this morning…” Every presentation I give I have a clear favorite, and one or three alternates that I don’t actively hate. Don’t ever show anything you hate, because the client will choose it.
THank you for your help. I do not have the client yet - I am presenting tomorrow am with (i think) 2 others. I have a keynote presentation and a printed version. so you think i should walk in w at least 2 mock ups.
what else should I include on the mock up I have done? PLease and thank you… I am so nervous.
That depends on the client. The real number will vary based on lots of variables, but basically you want enough so they feel like they are getting a choice, but you also want to make them clearly different from one another, and also clearly visually incompatible with one another. You want to make it extremely difficult for anyone to say “let’s use this part of this design, and that part of that design, and this napkin scrawl my niece made on the train this morning…” Every presentation I give I have a clear favorite, and one or three alternates that I don’t actively hate. Don’t ever show anything you hate, because the client will choose it.
I would fix the height issue (the footer is Waaaaay down the screen
from the bottom of your content). Also lose the made with stuff –
that screams hobbyist. Typo in the slogan – two dots instead of one
or three (meaning an ellipsis). Replace the e-mail us bit with a link
to the contact form. Show as one of your pages a well laid out contact
page with a form for people to send messages, not bare e-mail
addresses. Point out in your meeting that you will try to reduce their
spam load through this measure.
And you are going to show at least one other version of the page with
a completely different look and feel, right?
Walter
On Aug 18, 2010, at 9:42 AM, Julie Maxwell Allen wrote:
Ok.
THank you for your help. I do not have the client yet - I am
presenting tomorrow am with (i think) 2 others. I have a keynote
presentation and a printed version. so you think i should walk in w
at least 2 mock ups.
what else should I include on the mock up I have done? PLease and
thank you… I am so nervous.
That depends on the client. The real number will vary based on lots
of variables, but basically you want enough so they feel like they
are getting a choice, but you also want to make them clearly
different from one another, and also clearly visually incompatible
with one another. You want to make it extremely difficult for
anyone to say “let’s use this part of this design, and that part of
that design, and this napkin scrawl my niece made on the train this
morning…” Every presentation I give I have a clear favorite, and
one or three alternates that I don’t actively hate. Don’t ever show
anything you hate, because the client will choose it.
I will bring the footer up - take off the made in and fix the slogan.
Ok a well laid out contact page and the front page as the screen shots? only two?
and I will have another front page as a different look… just the front page?
thank you so much
Julie
On Aug 18, 2010, at 11:11 AM, Walter Lee Davis wrote:
I would fix the height issue (the footer is Waaaaay down the screen from the bottom of your content). Also lose the made with stuff – that screams hobbyist. Typo in the slogan – two dots instead of one or three (meaning an ellipsis). Replace the e-mail us bit with a link to the contact form. Show as one of your pages a well laid out contact page with a form for people to send messages, not bare e-mail addresses. Point out in your meeting that you will try to reduce their spam load through this measure.
And you are going to show at least one other version of the page with a completely different look and feel, right?
Walter
On Aug 18, 2010, at 9:42 AM, Julie Maxwell Allen wrote:
Ok.
THank you for your help. I do not have the client yet - I am presenting tomorrow am with (i think) 2 others. I have a keynote presentation and a printed version. so you think i should walk in w at least 2 mock ups.
what else should I include on the mock up I have done? PLease and thank you… I am so nervous.
That depends on the client. The real number will vary based on lots of variables, but basically you want enough so they feel like they are getting a choice, but you also want to make them clearly different from one another, and also clearly visually incompatible with one another. You want to make it extremely difficult for anyone to say “let’s use this part of this design, and that part of that design, and this napkin scrawl my niece made on the train this morning…” Every presentation I give I have a clear favorite, and one or three alternates that I don’t actively hate. Don’t ever show anything you hate, because the client will choose it.
If you haven’t got the project yet, then it’s perfectly fine to show three home pages, or three home pages and one drill-down page of any kind per design (contact would work as your drill-down, but you want to put more thought into it than just a form and a button. Here’s one I did quite a long while ago: http://www.goodserviceguide.com/contact/contact_us.html ).
If you want to, show the contact form as your drill-down page for one design, and a different type of content page as the drill-down for another design. That gives you more canvas to show off your design skills, and a way to introduce the idea that you are thinking about security for your prospective client.
Think carefully about what you want to say to your client during the presentation. The mocks are props, used to steer the conversation and emphasize points you want to make. They are not entirely how you will be judged or chosen.
Clients want to establish a relationship with someone who they trust and believe will help them get what they need. Given a choice between a brilliant design by a completely Asberger’s designer and an okay design by a thoughtful and articulate designer with a nice smile, most clients will go with the smile every time.
I will let you know how it goes… say a prayer tomorrow am…
J
On Aug 18, 2010, at 11:28 AM, waltd wrote:
If you haven’t got the project yet, then it’s perfectly fine to show three home pages, or three home pages and one drill-down page of any kind per design (contact would work as your drill-down, but you want to put more thought into it than just a form and a button. Here’s one I did quite a long while ago: http://www.goodserviceguide.com/contact/contact_us.html ).
If you want to, show the contact form as your drill-down page for one design, and a different type of content page as the drill-down for another design. That gives you more canvas to show off your design skills, and a way to introduce the idea that you are thinking about security for your prospective client.
Think carefully about what you want to say to your client during the presentation. The mocks are props, used to steer the conversation and emphasize points you want to make. They are not entirely how you will be judged or chosen.
Clients want to establish a relationship with someone who they trust and believe will help them get what they need. Given a choice between a brilliant design by a completely Asberger’s designer and an okay design by a thoughtful and articulate designer with a nice smile, most clients will go with the smile every time.