Layout with closed eyes

    The customer gives the task for layout, and he is always interested in 2 main questions: cost and time. The beginning coder cannot evaluate the work himself and, as a rule, looks at how much others are asking for it. An experienced layout designer knows his own worth and estimates the layout based on the time spent.
    But how to determine the exact time for development, because the client wants to know it before choosing an artist. What determines the layout time?


    1. Professional experience of the layout designer.


    We can definitely say that an experienced layout designer will typeset faster. He has done many elements of the layout more than once and he only needs time to type the code. But here you can save time if, instead of writing code from scratch, use the frameworks of functional blocks.

    It should be noted that in terms of layout time it is very difficult to say something about the professional level of the layout designer. This indicator must be taken in conjunction with an indicator of the quality of the code, its semantics. By the way, I noticed one interesting point - semantic layout takes less time. This is because it makes more sense and less code.

    2. The "transparency" of the layout


    There are such models that after a single glance at him you have no questions and you can immediately start layout. Do not be lazy and agree on it in more detail! Very often, the customer forgets that “this is not the final version of the design” or “the menu should be drop-down, it is not drawn on the layout, but it must be done in the style of the site”.
    If there is TK, read it carefully and clarify all doubts about the functioning of the elements.
    It is most convenient for me to draw up a statement of work in a dialogue with the customer, asking questions that interest me. The customer often writes a lot of “water” in his TK, which I, as a layout designer, do not need or seem obvious. For example: “The block on the left should stretch downward as the text increases ...” He sometimes thinks for a long time over the same questions that I ask him, because when developing his mega-design, he did not foresee that "the horizontal menu does not fit on one line at a resolution of 800px in width, although everything on the design at 1024px is OK."
    Do not save time at this stage, you need to take it very seriously! Refinement of the layout and its correction does not bring much joy, especially when you have a "new" super order with a big budget.

    3.Experiments


    An inexperienced layout designer estimates the layout time in days, an experienced - in hours. This is due to the fact that the layout needs a lot of experimentation. Until you write code with your own pens and make sure that it works correctly in all browsers, it is difficult to give clear time forecasts.
    If you didn’t do any elements in practice, but you know that they are precisely made in theory, then it’s better to take a margin of time to develop them.
    If there are any elements in the layout that you have never encountered either in practice or in theory, you need to think carefully before agreeing to such an order. Because the failure to fulfill the order on time, this is still half the trouble, and the refusal to develop after agreeing to it will immediately bring you bad feedback from the customer and spoil the reputation. Although, on the other hand, you can still take some time to develop and risk taking on such an order with full responsibility for its implementation. It has been verified on your own that you will find out a lot of useful information and new tricks when time is running out and work is being carried out at an accelerated pace.

    4 force majeure and worldly temptations


    Of course, no one is safe from the fact that you will injure your hand, or your water supply will burst. All these force majeure circumstances will slow down development. You can “throw” time into everyday temptations. We saw on TV that Zenit was 2-0 in Bavaria - how can you resist it, or did the girl come to visit and today is the year you met, and you completely forgot :)

    Conclusion


    If you are a typesetter with extensive experience, if you know how to “scan” layouts with your professional look and ask the customer questions if you would like to experiment, but not with anything, take your calling seriously and customers will cherish you :)

    WHAT OUR LIFE IS A GAME.

    Attention, a question! What else does layout time depend on?

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