Thanks for being human

1st May 2025

At the end of a recent video call with one of our web design clients, they signed off by saying, "Thanks for being human!"

That simple comment meant a lot. It’s exactly the kind of thing I look for in a company myself—and it’s something we've always made a conscious effort to bring to our work. We also value this quality in our clients: those who communicate openly and naturally, without any assumptions about how to talk to "I.T. people."

Positive feedback about our approach and process is just as meaningful as praise for the finished website. That's because genuine, human interaction between collaborators is what leads to the best results. In fact, it's such a vital part of any project that we thought it was worth breaking down exactly why 'being human' matters so much in a web design partnership.

Human-centred design goes together with human-centred communication

We don't expect clients to know the lexicon of web development or UX (user experience) - but they do know their aims, why they need a website, their stakeholders and their own resources. These are the things we ask them about. Speaking in clear language encourages better discussion and more useful feedback. This sets the tone for the whole design process, which is about people, not pixels.

Approachability builds trust

Clients may understandably feel vulnerable when commissioning a website -- it can be a big investment tied to their business or personal brand. Being approachable and providing gentle leadership helps reduce anxiety and creates a safe space for questions and honest input. Trust and confidence in the web developer leads to a smoother project process that's enjoyable for everyone.

Translating tech into tangible outcomes

Clients shouldn't have to care about the technical details of their website. They care about their goals and calls to action their web users should take, such as accessing support, finding information, booking events, buying a product and so on. Stripping away the tech speak allows us to focus on discussions about outcomes and because we choose to work with organisations and individuals who are making a positive difference, their outcomes are all the more important to us.

How we feel makes all the difference

We want clients to come away from a web development project feeling respected, heard and understood and we want to feel that way too. Positive experiences like this are more likely to lead to long-term working relationships and potentially more opportunities for both parties.