Should Web Designers Know How to Code?

Comments (6)

1. • jcarbaugh

   Should a coder know how to design?

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2. • droppyale

   @jcarbaugh That's an interesting question... Ideally yes, however I don't think it's necessary for a coder to be a "designer". It all depends on what the work required is... on small projects a front-end developer might just take a PSD cut it up and create the css/xhtml... however on a larger project, a front-end developer might need to know how to take a design direction and extend it.... that means having some sort of design knowledge and/or understanding.

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3. • martin

   I don't think it is necessary for coders to know how to design. I do think it is advantageous for coders to know their way around a graphics program such as Photoshop -- it is never in anyones best interest to be completely dependent on another to accomplish small and quick tasks. If a developer needs to change a gradient or re-size an image -- does development need to be halted while the designer can have at it. Sometimes it takes more time to explain the issue than it does to just correct for it yourself.

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4. • dndrnkrd

   I think coders should know about design what designers should to know about code: not 'how' to do it per se, but what the impact is of the other disciplines involved in the medium. Just like a designer doesn't need to know which attributes are legal in an anchor or why you shouldn't put an h2 inside of a span, a developer doesn't need to know how to select a color scheme or develop a strong brand. But designers *should* understand why they can't put two backgrounds on the same element (yet), or even what design specs would involve multiple backgrounds, and developers should understand how typography fits into a grid structure and why they can't fudge it a little to make their lives easier... Working together in a real production environment is all it takes to achieve this end... offices where the designers and developers don't talk to each other should (and will) cease to exist. To take it a step further, these rules apply to content too. I haven't met a writer yet who fully understands that their word choice can make or break a layout, or that their voice is tied inextricably to the brand.

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5. • BartTheBear

   Nobody can do it all...

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6. • philscnhyder

   I believe a designer should know the basics. I mean, any job is much more easier if at the moment of designing, the basics of coding are kept in mind. Anyway, if you are a pro, and love to design (I do) there are several online applications that are useful in extreme when you just want to stick to design. I´m not sure if it is okay to post the app that I use, but it might be of great help to other designers as it was of great help at the moment for me. Just check it out, or recommend some other useful apps. www.southerncodes.com

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