Why are there so many poor design companies?

When looking for services, I like to stick to local businesses if possible. So I was shocked when searching for local design companies and found a common trend amongst the majority of them.

The trend being they have no idea what they’re doing and are effectively killing the industry by providing poor services for cheap prices.

Designers that don’t know how to design

When the Internet was young, there was no place to turn for answers. We had yet to reach a point where design mattered, which meant webmasters, had no guidance or standards to follow when in the process of developing a website. We have moved past those times and now have what seems to be an endless amount of information at our fingertips.

Nevertheless, even with the information readily available, individuals are starting companies and providing web design services without any real knowledge of proper standards.

These companies have created an environment that breeds poor design along with cheap prices, which has resulted in an overall devaluing of the industry.

Affecting client perceptions

To start these companies are often creating websites at low prices which give consumers the appearance of what the services are worth, while in fact when done correctly are valued at higher prices.

By doing this, they devalue the overall market for everyone. Since the information and tools to create and design websites are readily available, individuals with no prior experience in the field are able to start a company with the intention of offering web design services. Due to these companies being small and not having the funds available, they mostly market locally to other small businesses which account for the largest percentage of clients seeking design services.

These clients often do not have experience in the field either and gladly accept poor work for low prices. When these clients seek services in the future they expect similar prices, but when educated design firms confront them with quotes, they reject, because they feel the prices are too high.

Affecting web usability and accessibility

It’s not the fact that they create ugly websites. I’ve always been a proponent of content over design, but I do advocate for a wide acceptance of design and coding standards, which they are not following.

Creating websites that follow current standards will make a better web environment for all.

Can we solve the problem?

Not as quick as we would like it too.

I believe these companies have every right to exist. I would never advocate the defacing of the individuals who run the company or even the designers creating the websites.

We all have the right to freely create and design.

We need to take steps to help educate the client and designer on current web standards, which will result in better usability and accessibility for everyone using the Internet.