Web Designers Are Their Own Worst Clients – Ugh!

If there’s one thing that many web designers have trouble with, it’s designing or redesigning their own web site. Yes, really! I hear that so often in the web design world and unfortunately, I’m one that’s right at the top of the list.  I can absolutely love an idea, go through all the work it takes to make it happen and then after it’s done … I hate it!

Why is This?

Nobody seems to know why this happens either and it’s very frustrating. Many of us (myself included) put 110% effort into giving our clients what they want but when it comes to giving ourselves a site look we’re happy with … it’s the closest thing to impossible there is it seems. I’m thinking it’s a lot like the “Doctors make the worst patients” kind of thing. A doctor should not diagnose or treat themselves (although I would imagine that many of them do) but they really should seek out another Doctor to do this for them.

Objectivity seems to play a part as well. Being objective about one’s own work is really hard to do! As a web designer, I want my own site to be perfect, no less than as perfect as I want for my clients. I can really hate a site I’ve designed for a client but they love it!  This means I’ve done the job they hired me to do and I should be proud … but if I hate how a site looks, how can I be proud of it? I’m left with the pride I feel in that the client is happy and that’s as it should be. It doesn’t matter if I love it or hate it, what matters is what they think.

But when it comes to my own site … I’m the “they” in the equation! I may get tons of compliments but if I’m not happy with it, it’s gotta go. The problem then is where do I find the time to re-do it? That’s quite a trick in itself. So, I may display a web site design for months that I don’t like myself. I wonder and worry the entire time it’s up for public viewing just how I’m portraying myself to my clients and potential clients.

To Picky or Just a Perfectionist?

People who know me tell me I’m tooooo picky, to much of a perfectionist when it comes to my own work whether it be for a client or myself. Sometimes I have to wonder if they’re right because I can drive myself stark-raving-insane trying to come up with just the right look. I love this or that designer’s site, and sometimes I make some time to try to do something similar but it never seems to turn out right. Picture my head banging on my keyboard and you’ll have a good visual as to what happens when I just can’t quite get there from here. I do take a little joy in knowing that I’m in good company because I know I’m not alone paddling this boat.

What do I do? I guess I just keep trying because I sure have no intention of giving up!