What if a deep pocketed client want's sound and viewport blowup?

[mypointofview]

I have a very simple question that would be great for a poll:

Would you try your best to fulfill the "need" of a client to blowup a web browser's view port to full monitor screen size and include sound streaming with it?

Attention, it's a trick question. Because it's the same question as if I'd ask you: would you, as a democratic society do business with a dictatorship?

Bottom line: what's more important to you as a web developer: to teach or to earn?

The reason why I am asking is that it seems that there are many strong proponents on this board to not blow up browser windows and to not stream sound. These web designers say they would never come back to such a site. But to stay in the picture, you may never want to travel to the land of the dictatorship mentioned above, yet to implement such a deal in the name of business would make economic sense to me.

Or is there a higher ethic in web development that may haunt me later? So what's your advice: try to get the cash into my pocket while doing something that's considered as "bad" ~or~ try hard to convince (and possibly lose) the client?

Make your answer simple please.

[FWDrew]

I need to eat and cash is king. Give the client what they want and take your share of the cash. Just dont put it in your portfolio if you dont like it.

Its about what the clients want anyway, not what you feel is proper.

Drew

[oesxyl]

I have a very simple question that would be great for a poll:

Would you try your best to fulfill the "need" of a client to blowup a web browser's view port to full monitor screen size and include sound streaming with it?
sound like a excuse for prostitution, :)

I work for money but I don't do everything for them!

regards

[Dondon]

I would surely tell them the advantages and disadvantages of the things they want to happen, if they agree then great but if they don't what the hell I'll follow them anyway. There is nothing much you can do, and apparently cash is really king.

sound like a excuse for prostitution, :)

I work for money but I don't do everything for them!

regards

Great point. Really.

[BoldUlysses]

This thread belongs in the "General Web Building" sub-forum.

My current company prevailed about me, against my better judgment, to add a scrolling marquee and (as unobtrusive as I could make it) flashing gif to our home page.

what's more important to you as a web developer: to teach or to earn?

"Teaching" can only go so far when your student is your boss (or client). If I've satisfied my conscience that I've done everything prudent to bring them to a more web-friendly point of view, and their requirement(s) persist, I'll do what they ask.

[ajhauser]

My current company prevailed about me, against my better judgment, to add a scrolling marquee and (as unobtrusive as I could make it) flashing gif to our home page.

Hahahaha, oh good lord - I'm sorry. Flashing .gifs crack me up, they just scream class.

I would have to agree that at the end of the day, whether it's correct or not, it's about what the client wants. However, I also agree that it is your "ethical" web designer responsibility to at least make them aware that this may not be the best option and is in fact frowned upon - or better yet, tell them that this is an amateur mistake and might drive serious clients away.

Short answer, tell 'em then make da money!

[oesxyl]

This thread belongs in the "General Web Building" sub-forum.
no, "jobs and career", :)

My current company prevailed about me, against my better judgment, to add a scrolling marquee and (as unobtrusive as I could make it) flashing gif to our home page.
christmas tree, sad childhood, :)

"Teaching" can only go so far when your student is your boss (or client). If I've satisfied my conscience that I've done everything prudent to bring them to a more web-friendly point of view, and their requirement(s) persist, I'll do what they ask.
this is not about teaching or conscience. If a manager don't listen a profesional advice well documented something is wrong there. Marquee, resizing windows and other thing we talking about are user preferences not web developer sacred rules.

regards

[gnomeontherun]

I don't think you should just give in to rediculous things. Find ways to improve their idea in ways that make them better, and that may cause you to spend more time (in order to make more money!). So if they want sound, say the best way to make sound is to do Flash design, and then expand on that. If they want scrolling marquees, find ways to make it as stylish as possible and maybe blur the line between marquee and some kind of fading box.

Now if they won't budge on their idea, then just do it. If you've tried to show them the light, and they don't care about your opinions, then just make the money and pretend you didn't do it. Of course you want to keep their business, and its not like a marquee is illegal.

[rmedek]

Not sure what this has to do with HTML/CSS…moving to General Web.

[rmedek]

no, "jobs and career", :)

d'oh … too late :o

[oracleguy]

Also consider that trick won't work on all browsers, an increasing amount of them block that functionality in javascript. So they might think you do a bad job when it doesn't work, even though it was not your fault.

[oesxyl]

Also consider that trick won't work on all browsers, an increasing amount of them block that functionality in javascript. So they might think you do a bad job when it doesn't work, even though it was not your fault.
it is his fault if is aware of this or know the consequences and he don't prevent his client.

regards

[mypointofview]

So if they want sound, say the best way to make sound is to do Flash design, and then expand on that.

I like your approach. Make it very expensive and look complicated. Maybe to the point as to offer production of a CD-ROM. When you insert a CD into your computer you don't expect to define the viewport -- you just click here and there and go with the flow.

[oracleguy]

it is his fault if is aware of this or know the consequences and he don't prevent his client.

regards
A good point.

[gnomeontherun]

If you have to choose between doing work and sticking to the unwritten rules of the web, I'd hate to say I'd pick doing the work. Even if they want me to make a site that has midi music and animated gifs everywhere and rainbow colors and a tiny link to their product in the footer, the customer is always right. Now if they learn from their customers that it is a horrible site design, and they try to pin it on you, then make sure you have proof that you clearly warned against such a design. So in short, if you do the work against your web design instincts, make sure to have proof that you gave them your professional opinions and that they still wanted to go ahead with their plan.

Protect yourself, especially if you are dealing with someone with deep pockets who has the stuff behind them to seek legal action. Not that anyone would do it, but what if it did? For the most part, keep track of your decisions with clients, who makes them, and rationales if they are a sizable client.

All in all, I still think the best solution is to come up with a better version of their concept and find a way to make it fit the web design mantra. "Want sound? Well how about we have a gallery that lets you play all of your business's audio clips which visitors can have complete control over instead of just putting it directly into every page?"

[oracleguy]

Jeremy is right; if you have to do something you think might come back and be held against you, get it in writing that you warned the client and that they specifically chose to ignore that advice.

[bazz]

Hmm, I have an issue that fits here.

A client wants to have about a 20 corporate-type links along the bottom of the page and which imv will wreck the layout interms of neatness and professionalism. I have planned to put them into one single drop-down so that it is neater and helps keep things easier for the visitor to see what there is. I haven't yet persuaded them to see my point of view as better. So I shall take on board jeremy's suggestion.

bazz

[Millenia]

what's more important to you as a web developer: to teach or to earn?

Both of those are important. But teaching comes before earning. Teaching gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride, which feels pretty good.

[VIPStephan]

Me as ethical web developer, I would also try to convince them (http://ideasonideas.com/2007/10/disarm-10-difficult-requests/) to go better ways but if they still insist in getting something the way they want then I would do it. I’d feel really bad about it but I’d do it because after all, if the client really, really wants poo on their cake instead of chocolate despite me telling them that it will taste awful, who am I to prevent them from getting it.

Of course I wouldn’t tell anybody what I had to do.

[peteyb383]

...try to convince them (http://ideasonideas.com/2007/10/disarm-10-difficult-requests/)...

Really nice find. Good coverage of a lot of common questions.