Redesigns have a way of spiraling out of control. When you try to fix one part of your web site, or improve the UI on one part of your product, the project tends to creep. It's tempting to fix some other things. More people get involved. A laundry list of ideas and pet peeves roll in. Meetings become long. Coordination issues become impossible. Analysis paralysis sets in. Then you hire an outside firm.

It's in the best interest of your average design firm to convince you that everything needs to be jettisoned. It's not that they want more billable hours (usually) -- it's because it's much easier to start over. It's faster and more creatively satisfying to bring the dynamite and begin again. The work product that emerges from the other end of the process is all theirs, and they can show it to potential clients. Besides, who wants to clean up a mess?

Over the years I have cleaned up a lot of messes. Clients for whom I've created great new designs come back around and ask for help with a UI or a web site they aren't ready to throw away, either because of money, time to market, or a shortage of people.

I have encountered potential clients who need a quick fix before launching into a redesign with me. (Sometimes that sweeping redesign happens, sometimes not, because the quick fix makes the pain go away.)

I finally realized that when I fixed something, it went a lot faster, the constraints actually made me more creative, and the sigh of relief from the client was so much deeper.

Bring me your worst problem -- your home page, a dashboard, a complex data display, a checkout sequence -- and I'll fix it.

• I take a history -- I ask you why it's bothering you (or your users).
• I make my own examination and diagnosis of what's right and what's wrong.
• I write a prescription for what will solve the problem.
• If you like, I can treat the problem by furnishing a revised design.

By keeping the project scope tightly defined, avoiding endless revision loops, we all stay engaged and finish quickly. You send the fixes to your development team, or deploy them to your web site, and you check it off your to-do list.

If you've read this far, you know I like words. Sometimes the problem with your UI is poor labeling or poorly written documentation. Sometimes the problem with your home page is a value proposition that doesn't grab anyone. Many firms I've encountered let the client supply the content, and pour it untouched into a beautiful new web site. To me, the right words are part of any good user experience. If your physician stitched up the cut on your arm but ignored your persistent cough, that wouldn't be right, would it?

If you don't feel you got your money's worth, you get it all back. No questions asked.