I am artistic and have an aesthetic eye for what looks good, however a specific distinction is screaming to be pointed out.  If you ARE an artist ... stop reading unless you have thick skin!!!

Admittedly I am using the term "artist" loosely.  Of course you want your website designer to have the tools and the skills to perform killer website work for your needs.  Maybe Artsy would be a better term.

I am NOT ARTSY - and therefore NOT fartsy - and therefore ...

When interviewing a website designer ... if they seem "Artsy" remember it rhymes with "Fartsy" ... that stinks ... and chances are you will soon want to leave the room till the airy aroma in the room leaves and you can come back to earth and deal with the real goals and needs of your company or organization.

The artsy smell reaks of idealism, utopian perceptions and attitude.  The first two offenses are easily glossed over by a strong CEO or project manager, however the attitude you are faced with is not easily dealt with.  Once you are some time into your time table still waiting for your first mach up you will do the unthinkable.  You will criticize some aspect of his/her artistic rendering of your company's goals and experience.  An artsy designer is married to his/her work and will not readily remove themselves from their initial idea.  You will then receive various renderings of the mach up that strangely resemble the first mach up.

I'm just trying to save you some headaches in your planning.  Get it right now before you dive into a project and have to call me later.  Call me now and save yourself the drama.