Am I too perfectionist?
I have to admin that I am a little perfectionist when I have to develop an user interface, mainly because I used to use a Mac since I was a child, so are ingrained into my mind concepts like simplicity, elegance, consistency and so on...
Nowadays, MacOS X is a beautiful operating system and I really cannot accept applications with an ugly icon into my dock, or applications with a bad user interface.
All this preamble is necessary to try to convince myself that I am following the right direction with my latest application: SQLiteManager 2.0. I am accumulating a tremendous delay releasing it, it should be ready about a month ago, 98% of the functionality was already ready ... but again, I am really too perfectionist about my software in order to release an "almost ready" application. Yes I know, this is really bad for my business and this could be terrible for my shareholders... If just I would have one :-)
SQLiteManager is cheap, with a lot of useful features and I am sure people will like it ... but I really need to release it soon.
For the first time since I develop software, I paid an artist for icons ... he is from Ukraine, so no PayPal or other fast methods, just an old style bank transfer. I choose him (even if he wasn't the most cheaper) mainly because I really like the quality of his work and because I think he is a perfectionist like me.
I can't be sure that all my investments in this application will be repaid by sales, but I am very satisfied with result, and I really love my job ... so I think that all the time and money invested in this application will be, in any case, well spent.
Nowadays, MacOS X is a beautiful operating system and I really cannot accept applications with an ugly icon into my dock, or applications with a bad user interface.
All this preamble is necessary to try to convince myself that I am following the right direction with my latest application: SQLiteManager 2.0. I am accumulating a tremendous delay releasing it, it should be ready about a month ago, 98% of the functionality was already ready ... but again, I am really too perfectionist about my software in order to release an "almost ready" application. Yes I know, this is really bad for my business and this could be terrible for my shareholders... If just I would have one :-)
SQLiteManager is cheap, with a lot of useful features and I am sure people will like it ... but I really need to release it soon.
For the first time since I develop software, I paid an artist for icons ... he is from Ukraine, so no PayPal or other fast methods, just an old style bank transfer. I choose him (even if he wasn't the most cheaper) mainly because I really like the quality of his work and because I think he is a perfectionist like me.
I can't be sure that all my investments in this application will be repaid by sales, but I am very satisfied with result, and I really love my job ... so I think that all the time and money invested in this application will be, in any case, well spent.
4 Comments:
I'm also a little perfectionist (and never used a Mac ;) - Windows only) when developing products to sell (when it's for my personal use I don't care). I think that if a user is going to pay something for my product, it must have the quality I require when I buy software.
From the screenshot I see you've done many changes - waiting for them.
And the icon is really great! I never used an icon designer but I'll need one for my next project and it seems the one you selected is really good. Can you provide more info about the work he have done?
1. What icon dimensions did he create
2. What file types did he provide you
3. How much time did he take to create the icon
4. Did he provide also the icon for the application (to use on RB) with a black mask?
5. Did you told him what kind of icon you wanted, or he decided based on the product?
Sorry for so many questions, but if you can answer these it will help a lot.
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By CarlosM, at 4:06 PM
Hi Carlos,
1. 600x600 pixel and then I scaled it to 128x128 and 256x256.
2. A PSD file, complete with layers.
3. Well it depends on his "To Do" list, I think about 2/3 weeks as an average time.
4. No, because it is very easy to create in PhotoShop and because I haven't request it, but I am sure it can provide a black mask if you request it.
5. Well, initially he made an icon that I didn't like, and then after a couple of emails and some advices he sent me this icon.
By Marco Bambini, at 5:52 PM
Thanks Marco!
By CarlosM, at 8:44 PM
The short answer is no. (Although I would say that since I am cursed/blessed (?) with the same attitude as yourself.)
Two points;
(1) What you're talking about is craftmanship; a good craftsman respects his craft, takes the trouble to get it right, and is not satisfied with adequate/average/second-best. To me, and it seems to you, any other attitude is just not acceptable. Your closing paragraph says it all really.
(2) From a business point of view it pays, if not immediately then certainly in the medium/long term. Many people couldn't define quality in a product but enough recognize it when they see it for the determination to produce the best you can to be the best policy to adopt. A case of virtue rewarded. (And even if it weren't could you/should you do your job any differently?)
By doggett, at 1:22 PM
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