tommorris/ABOUT

## ABOUT
Clearleft[1] are a clever bunch of user-experience designers and consultants
based in Brighton. They have a very useful Client Worksheet available on their
website in RTF format[2].

It's so useful that I want a copy on my iPod, computer, phone and just
available so that when I'm talking to a potential client, I can just pull it
up before a meeting to make sure I remember what kind of questions to ask them
and also to give myself a zen moment and not go in and confuse people with
chatter about microformats, MySQL, graceful degradation and other such things.

Here is the Client Worksheet in good old ASCII. I do hope @adactio, @andybudd
and the rest of the Clearlefties don't mind.

[1] http://clearleft.com/
[2] http://clearleft.s3.amazonaws.com/client-worksheet.rtf

## Client_Worksheet.txt
All about you
- What's the name of your company and intended website?
- Describe your company...
- Describe the concept/product/service your site will provide...
- We like to keep our address book up-to-date. Who are the main contacts for
  this project and what are their roles?
- When would you like to start (tomorrow is pretty unlikely, sorry!)?
- When does it need to be completed (yesterday is definitely out)?
- Is there a specific reason for these dates? (e.g. trade show, product
  launch, before the pub shuts?)
- Your budget dictates how much time we can devote to your website. What are
  you looking to spend to achieve your vision? (e.g. £10-20k, £30-40k, £50k+)

What are you trying to do?
- Give us your main reasons for commissioning a new website...
- In order of importance (most important first) what are the business
  objectives for your site  (e.g. improving sales rate, increase customer
  satisfaction, reduce time searching)
- What is your measure for success - and what are you hoping to achieve? (i.e.
  20% increase in sales)
- What aspects of your current site work well?
- Why are they successful?
- What's not so great?
- Why do you think that is?

Who are you doing it for?
- Who's coming to your site? Describe the different types of visitors to your
  website in as much detail as possible.
- How do you think your audience currently perceives your company and the
  services you offer?
- Why will people use the kind of service you offer?
- Why will people choose your site over others?
- What do you imagine people using your site for? What will they want to do
  there?
- Outline any ideas for features you have for your site.
- How do these features support your business goals and the goals of your
  user?

Design Concept
- People are coming to your new site for the first time. How do you want them
  to feel about your company?
- Tell us a bit about your competition. Who are the runners and riders in your
  field?
- What are their website addresses.
- What works for them? What doesn't?
- Leaving your competitors aside, have you seen any sites recently that you've
  liked the visual design of? What did you like about it? (if you can't think
  of any have a look through cssdrive.com or unmatchedstyle.com for a
  catalogue of good lookin' websites strutting their stuff)
- Let's briefly talk content. Aside from the features we discussed above, what
  else do you want your site to do?
- Would you like us to recommend somebody to build your content management
  system?
- If so, what features would you like it to do? (e.g. updatable news, multiple
  authors, stock control, user moderation)

Additional Comments
- We’ve tried to keep this worksheet as general as possible, but every project
  is unique. Here is your chance to add any extra information you think will
  be helpful.
	Clearleft[1] are a clever bunch of user-experience designers and consultants
	based in Brighton. They have a very useful Client Worksheet available on their
	website in RTF format[2].

	It's so useful that I want a copy on my iPod, computer, phone and just
	available so that when I'm talking to a potential client, I can just pull it
	up before a meeting to make sure I remember what kind of questions to ask them
	and also to give myself a zen moment and not go in and confuse people with
	chatter about microformats, MySQL, graceful degradation and other such things.

	Here is the Client Worksheet in good old ASCII. I do hope @adactio, @andybudd
	and the rest of the Clearlefties don't mind.

	[1] http://clearleft.com/
	[2] http://clearleft.s3.amazonaws.com/client-worksheet.rtf
	All about you
	- What's the name of your company and intended website?
	- Describe your company...
	- Describe the concept/product/service your site will provide...
	- We like to keep our address book up-to-date. Who are the main contacts for
	this project and what are their roles?
	- When would you like to start (tomorrow is pretty unlikely, sorry!)?
	- When does it need to be completed (yesterday is definitely out)?
	- Is there a specific reason for these dates? (e.g. trade show, product
	launch, before the pub shuts?)
	- Your budget dictates how much time we can devote to your website. What are
	you looking to spend to achieve your vision? (e.g. £10-20k, £30-40k, £50k+)

	What are you trying to do?
	- Give us your main reasons for commissioning a new website...
	- In order of importance (most important first) what are the business
	objectives for your site  (e.g. improving sales rate, increase customer
	satisfaction, reduce time searching)
	- What is your measure for success - and what are you hoping to achieve? (i.e.
	20% increase in sales)
	- What aspects of your current site work well?
	- Why are they successful?
	- What's not so great?
	- Why do you think that is?

	Who are you doing it for?
	- Who's coming to your site? Describe the different types of visitors to your
	website in as much detail as possible.
	- How do you think your audience currently perceives your company and the
	services you offer?
	- Why will people use the kind of service you offer?
	- Why will people choose your site over others?
	- What do you imagine people using your site for? What will they want to do
	there?
	- Outline any ideas for features you have for your site.
	- How do these features support your business goals and the goals of your
	user?

	Design Concept
	- People are coming to your new site for the first time. How do you want them
	to feel about your company?
	- Tell us a bit about your competition. Who are the runners and riders in your
	field?
	- What are their website addresses.
	- What works for them? What doesn't?
	- Leaving your competitors aside, have you seen any sites recently that you've
	liked the visual design of? What did you like about it? (if you can't think
	of any have a look through cssdrive.com or unmatchedstyle.com for a
	catalogue of good lookin' websites strutting their stuff)
	- Let's briefly talk content. Aside from the features we discussed above, what
	else do you want your site to do?
	- Would you like us to recommend somebody to build your content management
	system?
	- If so, what features would you like it to do? (e.g. updatable news, multiple
	authors, stock control, user moderation)

	Additional Comments
	- We’ve tried to keep this worksheet as general as possible, but every project
	is unique. Here is your chance to add any extra information you think will
	be helpful.