Comments on: Should Designers Know How to Code? Thoughts From a Developer

By: graphic designer who wants to learn html & css - Graphic Design | Website Design > UK Forums

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:22:03 +0000

[...] permalink There is another interesting post on the net that broaches the subject of "should a web designer know how to code" Should Designers Know How to Code? Thoughts From a Developer :: Echo Enduring Blog [...]

By: Teena

Teena — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:45:25 +0000

I also am a web designer and I don’t really code but know the basic of HTML and CSS. That way I know what can’t and can be done. I actually want to learn how to code but then, I just can’t cope up with different platforms coming-in but I always to make sure I know the logic behind and the basics.

By: Amber Weinberg

Amber Weinberg — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:27:34 +0000

I never bought that argument from IT guys that HTML and CSS isn’t “code”. It’s code by its very definition. It’s something the common public can’t read and it’s a computer language that manipulates pixels into doing something, i.e it’s code.

By: david

david — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:29:05 +0000

I’ve pondered this issue for years. I’m definitely leaning to the need for designers to know how to code — or at a very minimum to have done some coding, to that they apply that learning to their designs.

I recently posted about this from the education perspective – and the need for design schools to teach coding ot designers. ie. to not treat design and code as separate things.

http://www.inventinginteractive.com/2010/01/15/design-education-dont-be-separate/

By: Graham J

Graham J — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:15:17 +0000

I generally agree with the post but I will say this: HTML and CSS isn’t coding, it’s markup. Should designers code? I’d say no. Should they be able to translate their designs into markup? Yes.

By: Marc Pelland

Marc Pelland — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:10:43 +0000

I have always had the opinion that the more general knowledge you have around the field that you work in, the better. That being said, designers are designers.. they are not coders… People should stick to what they do / know best and let others do the rest.

If i designer knows a little about flash or html development, it might make the process a lot smoother, but i don’t think they should try to become experts.

By: OrlyDesign

OrlyDesign — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:09:06 +0000

THERE IS A GOD!!! Amber I couldn’t agree with you more. I am a 20+ year veteran in the design field. I started out as a graphic designer, eventually converted into a web designer and let me tell you the most difficult part of the transition was the coding. I totally agree with you in regards to atleast having a clue about HTML as well as CSS, but when clients (or boss) expect all the bells and whistles that’s when the frustration kicks in. I love the part where you mention how the artists now-a-day are expected to master the left brain right brain simultaneously.

I am glad that I am not alone in regards to designers being coders. Again, great job!

By: Amber Weinberg

Amber Weinberg — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:18:50 +0000

Right, well the point was, not neccessarily that they should be expert coders, but that they should have a solid understanding of what can and can’t be done on the web. I’ve had the terrible experience to code some print designers’ PSDs in the past and its been a nightmare, because there are several things you can do in print, but not on the web.

By: Henrique Erzinger

Henrique Erzinger — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:59:03 +0000

wow, I really love your articles xD”

well, i’m a webdesigner who code.. Actually I use to call myself an “interface developer”, ’cause I code as much as I design. But I also illustrate and do graphic design as well eventually..

And I agree with your text conclusion a lot. The same goes for developers.. Try put a web back-end development on a desktop programmer and what you’ll get are the some of the worst codes ever.. And I talk for my own experience developing front-ends for those (and ’cause my first professional steps were as a desktop C and VB programmer – but i dropped in time I guess xD”) They, just like the usual graphic designer, just can’t grasp the differences.

By: Bea Litao

Bea Litao — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:26:41 +0000

I know exactly what you mean. It’s like they’re looking for superhumans and expect them to get paid less that what they’re able to do.

But that’s from the point of view of an aspiring Web Designer – 1 year experience.

I think I can relate to the post pretty well. You should know what HTML could do and could not do, but be able to go against the flow and be creative. Sure, there are limitations to what HTML/CSS can do but that doesn’t mean we can’t think outside the box.