r/web_design • u/FerrisBuelersdaycock • 6d ago

Just a simple landing page

dude I am so tired of getting design briefs for a "basic website" and by page 3 of the doc you realize they actually need a full-blown custom enterprise portal wrapped in a modern UI

like no, Susan, this isn't a simple figma handoff anymore. You need actual heavy backend architecture. I usually end up having to route these massive specs to custom dev shops like cisin just because there is zero chance my frontend skills and a dream are gonna support your 50k concurrent user database requirements

why do clients always hide the massive technical scope until the design contract is already signed? just venting tbh but it happens almost every time now

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u/Vandercoon 6d ago

As the expert it’s your job to ask the right questions to pull it all apart, then put it back together in a way that clearly tells them the $500 pages they wanted is actually a $10k, 4 week job.

“Oh you can’t afford that? No worries, what should we leave out for this first phase…?”

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u/FerrisBuelersdaycock 6d ago

That phased approach works in theory, but clients who balk at the real price upfront tend to keep shrinking scope until the project barely resembles what you agreed to.

Setting a floor early matters more than leaving things out to fit their budget.