How to set a task for a designer and what to demand from him?

Question

Design

You just need to say: I want an online store similar to ...? Do I need to draw the entire structure of the site on pieces of paper or should it concoct something itself? If you don’t like the work at all (hack, absolutely not what you wanted), how long is it worth “raping his brain”? I would be especially grateful if you describe the algorithm of normal work between the design customer and the designer. Thank you!

Answer 1

If this is a typical small online store, then you first need to
Then, it would be nice to think over the technical specifications, since you didn’t take into account a lot of things 100%, and the designer should not be an e-commerce guru to point out all this. Further, if what you drew on paper still looks like some kind of analogue (which, in fact, is unlikely if you really approached drawing on paper responsibly), then go on
Then talk to the designer

he has to do something himself

and so on for several iterations. Unfortunately, the number of iterations is a very individual matter, depending on a huge variety of factors. Some say that in any case, you need to reject 1 (2, 3, 4) first options, "whatever the designer tries." 90% of the time it's nonsense.
This should not be. If this happened, then all the blame is on the customer, because. could not determine what he needed (most likely, in typical projects, because he was looking for faster and cheaper)
In general, this issue is solved by hourly payment - and force as much as you like. In any case, you must pay the agreed amount. You don't tell the taxi driver that he picked up a lot of bumps along the way, so pay 50%?
Being a customer is also a responsible position. The customer must be well versed not only in the subject area (sell in a store), but also understand what design is, what is possible, what is not (if he orders a design, of course). That is why the "order" stage is often entrusted to specialists (managers, analysts ...)
The simplest and most correct answer, especially for typical projects with a low level of complexity, is to find a contractor that you subjectively trust.

Answer 2

To facilitate the work as much as possible, the designer needs to start not immediately with the design, but in wireframes (wire frames, wireframes). Well, this is after you sketch something on a piece of paper. A designer can screw them up in just an hour, and it's easy to change if you don't like something. And then you can fill it with "meat".
In principle, you can even sketch them yourself, there are programs for this, google it.

Answer 3

It depends on how much you are willing to pay him) Such things should be divided into stages and each stage should be evaluated. Each stage can be done by different people (different professions).

Answer 4

First of all, if there is no ready-made TOR, it is necessary to outline the general picture of the desired result. It will also be useful for a designer to study an i-shop from “I want an online store similar to ...”, such examples for an experienced designer will say much more than blurry ideas of the customer. If you have a ready-made structure - well, if you need to create it, then this is precisely the task of the designer: to propose a concept of a structure that will be as clear as possible in use and fulfill business objectives. And yet there is a difference between hack work and “completely not what I wanted.” Nothing can be done about hack work, and most likely, to save your nerves and money, you will need to change the designer. If the designer proposed concepts, spent his time, provided the customer with the result, but did not like it, perhaps don't panic. At least because if he didn’t provide an option, you would never fully understand what exactly you need. A negative result is also a result, and it brings us closer to the most correct solution. An experienced designer fully understands that, probably, not all projects ideologically “shoot” the first time, and is ready to work further, either within the budget or stipulate the conditions for additional payment.