Michael++ On Mon, Dec 14, 2015 at 9:07 AM, Michael Schofield <mschofi...@nova.edu> wrote:
> Hi Dani, > > I see a lot of RFPs and while there's nothing all that weird (I guess) > about sharing list-wide, I am going to attach a recent and par-for-course > RFP individually, off list. Most folks generate one from templates in a > book or off example sites, so they all tend to look the same. > > I wanted to take the chance to reply to the crowd, though, because -- > well, there's no easy way to say this -- web designers worth their salt > hate and often outright refuse to respond to RFPs. If you want to attract > the right people to work with you on your project, I think it's important > to take consider the advice big web-industry publications and thought > leaders give: > > "Unsolictied RFPs: Just Say, No!" ( > http://www.uxmatters.com/mt/archives/2009/04/unsolicited-rfps-just-say-no.php > ) > > "RFPs: The Least Creative Way to Hire People" ( > http://alistapart.com/article/rfps-the-least-creative-way-to-hire-people) > > "Saying No to RFPs" ( http://chrislema.com/saying-no-to-rfps/ ) > > "Why we won't answer a website design RFP" ( > http://www.gorilla76.com/why-we-wont-answer-a-website-design-rfp/) > > "Why your website RFP is probably wrong" ( > https://boagworld.com/digital-strategy/website-rfp/) > > RFP Advice From the Front Lines ( > http://cognition.happycog.com/article/rfp-advice-from-the-front-lines) - > spoiler: "Avoid All RFPs Don't Google RFP. Don't do a search." > > "Why you should never provide free design in an RFP response" ( > http://blog.invisionapp.com/free-design-rfp-response/) > > So, the reality is that your hands may be tied and as part of a larger > organization you have to write an RFP. Read the above and write your RFP > with that in mind. Let me summarize, though: > > 1.) Do not ask / solicit free design advice or uniquely detailed processes > as part of your response requirements. Designers / agencies have processes > and they can provide an overview, but specific-to-you answers are > premature, well rehearsed falsehoods, and - of course - free work. > > 2.) Do not require a minimum word or page count. As per Chris Lema: "the > RFP invites companies that specialize in responding to them, and those may > not make the best development shops. But they will certainly invite more > expensive shops - which may (or may not) fit your budget." > > 3.) Loudly invite questions regarding the RFP > > Most of the articles above have really good advice for organizations > required to send RFPs. Follow them. These days there are a few alternatives > I like, namely "Project Evaluations": > > Stop Writing Project Proposals ( > http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/02/stop-writing-project-proposals/) > > Rather than solicit for whole designs, solicit for evals (or allow > respondents to offer a quote and a pitch for an eval) that may or may not > lead to a full redesign project. This may help answer questions or pinpoint > problems, user needs, and the like, which can then help you craft a much > more focused RFP down the road because you know what you want, how to > articulate it, what's good, and what's been recommended so far. > > Anyway, I'll send you a recent RFP off-list so you have something follow. > > Have a good one, > > Michael Schofield / @schoeyfield / www.libux.co > > -----Original Message----- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of > Dani Brecher Cook > Sent: Monday, December 07, 2015 7:31 PM > To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU > Subject: [CODE4LIB] Examples of Library Website Design RFP? > > Dear Code4Lib community, > > My library is in the preliminary stages of preparing an RFP to outsource > the coding of a redesign of our main library website, using a TBD CMS. Have > any of you recently done anything like this, and, if so, would you be > willing/able to share your RFP with us as an example? We've found some > generic samples online, but it would be great to see some library-specific > proposals. > > Thanks so much for considering, > > Dani > dani_c...@cuc.claremont.edu > -- Tod Robbins Digital Asset Manager, MLIS todrobbins.com | @todrobbins <http://www.twitter.com/#!/todrobbins>
