Web design: the new print

Out of context: Reply #35

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    I've yet to meet a designer that knows zero code but can produce really top shelf digital work. I'm not saying you have to be a wizard but with no foundation I feel you're just too distanced from the mechanics of how things actually exist online. Also, too many print designers get caught up in aesthetics and completely overlook how the fucking thing works. The interactivity aspect, the way people actually use what you create is a complete after thought for most of them. That's insane. How people interact with things online is just as important as how they look. If your product is shit usability-wise and has piss poor content strategy then your sick-ass design doesn't mean squat.

    It comes down to changing how we think about designing for the web. Simply making a nice looking homepage and interior page comp, then handing it off to the dev isn't going to cut it. As mentioned above, most devs are rather awful when it comes to aesthetics and, in my experience, really don't pick up on details. They just don't see the little things. As such, designers need to be involved in the process from start to finish to ensure the site is not only built to spec, but also to QA the thing as it's rolled out to ensure no usability holes have appeared or major disconnects in the sites functionality.

    As someone working in a digital only shop, I can say for certain that a designer that understands the core of front-end development (html and css) has considerably more value than one that doesn't (all other things being equal).

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    • In my experience, it's A LOT harder to find a developer that also has a good sense of design, that's why agencies pay them a lot moreMiguex
    • them a lot more.
      and will also guess that most of the the top agencies, theres a designer and a developer working together      Miguex
    • in regards of the interaction comment, big agencies have UX designers tooMiguex
    • I suppose I'm talking about smaller shops that can't afford a dedicated UX person.bort
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