I’m thrilled to share this client story with you today. For quite some time, I’ve wanted to capture what the co-creation experience is actually like for my clients. While we often focus on the end result – and yes, having a beautiful website is wonderful – we rarely discuss the journey of getting there.
The Hidden Pain of Website Creation
The truth is, creating a website can be painful. While some clients push through this pain to reach their goal, many others don’t make it. Projects stall, relationships break down, and clients end up believing all web designers are problematic – when often it’s simply a case of misalignment between designer and client. Sometimes there are bad actors, but more often, it’s just circumstance and/or communication issues.
A Different Approach
This is why I’m passionate about co-creation. In an era where AI and automation are becoming the norm, there’s something special about working human-to-human, in real-time, to create something meaningful. It’s about crafting an online presence that not only looks good and serves its purpose but emerges from an enjoyable, collaborative process.
Melody’s Story
Melody Chadamoyo’s project perfectly illustrates this approach. Working with her was an absolute joy – her openness and enthusiasm made every session engaging and fun. But more importantly, her story highlights a common challenge: her existing branding and website completely missed the mark in conveying her work and essence. Previous designers had simply built upon what was there – the existing logo, look, and content. They missed the crucial step of truly listening to Melody, understanding the heart and soul of her work, and creating a brand that reflected that reality.
Starting Fresh
Together, we: – Established a new name: Relational Harmony (fortunately, she already owned the domain) – Created a new logo using colors that resonated with her – the purples and pinks she loves – Developed a simple but effective brand identity – Extended this into a cohesive website and social media presence
The Beauty of Imperfection
Here’s what makes co-creation special: we’re not aiming for pixel-perfect perfection. Instead, we’re creating something that: – Feels authentic to the client – Involves them in the process – Stays within a reasonable budget – Can be completed quickly so the project doesn’t drag on forever… sucking the soul out of everyone! Yes, there are always tradeoffs. But Melody’s project shows what’s possible when you focus on alignment and collaboration. In just a week and a half, we created something she loves, without breaking the bank.
Moving Forward
This is the first in what I hope will be a series of client stories, sharing the real experiences of co-creation. While time constraints mean I can’t promise regular releases, I’m committed to sharing these stories when possible. I invite you to watch Melody’s interview and check out her project. It’s a beautiful example of what’s possible when we prioritise human connection and collaboration in design. 💻 View Melody’s Project 📽 Watch the interview of her experience:
— Interested in exploring co-creation for your website? Let’s chat