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This is a good article, but the inflammatory title basically guarantees that those who would benefit the most from reading it, designers, are going to be on the

This is a good article, but the inflammatory title basically guarantees that those who would benefit the most from reading it, designers, are going to be on the defensive going in. And that's if they would even read it at all having come across it online. I spend a lot of time at my job fixing design by designers who don't code, and I'd love for them to read it, but I'm not going to waste my time. (I'm a usability guy/front-end developer who does know how to code and design.)

nym 16y ago
Also as a front end developer (who does UX / design), I think I can get about 80% in most situations, but the additional 20% is what makes sites like airbnb stand out so much. In those cases, I'm happy to hire someone and code it myself, after all, I'd much rather they be knock-your-socks-off-good at web design than someone who is only decent at design, and okay at integrating.
- kls 16y ago
  Right, as a front end shop, we have found that having the two disciplines segmented works very well. We find the best artist we can find and task them with developing a PSD to deliver to the UX team. We get people that are really, really good artist and that is what we want from them a good artistic comp. Trying to force them to cross the bound to writing HTML and CSS that will be used in a complex web application adds additional constraints to finding talented people. In that case we would need an exceptional artist that can write HTML and CSS that is componentized so we can bust it up into widgets, if not we accept sub-par HTML for what we need. It limits the pool of talent. Now conversely if we only require a comp we broaden our pool of truly talented people. Further when we go to look for good browser app UX developers, we don't put the constraint on them of being an exceptional artist. Just finding someone who is versed in Human Factors, HCI and interaction that can produce clean reusable code is hard enough, throw in top 10%er artistic skills and you have really constrained the market. Instead of fighting those market realities we work with them. We hire artist to do art and developers to develop. It works out well because each are exceptional at their core competencies. It also works well because we can hire freelance artist on a per project basis therefore maximizing out investment in art instead of trying to force an artist to do HTML to keep them busy on the pay roll.

nym 16y ago

Also as a front end developer (who does UX / design), I think I can get about 80% in most situations, but the additional 20% is what makes sites like airbnb stand out so much. In those cases, I'm happy to hire someone and code it myself, after all, I'd much rather they be knock-your-socks-off-good at web design than someone who is only decent at design, and okay at integrating.

kls 16y ago
Right, as a front end shop, we have found that having the two disciplines segmented works very well. We find the best artist we can find and task them with developing a PSD to deliver to the UX team. We get people that are really, really good artist and that is what we want from them a good artistic comp. Trying to force them to cross the bound to writing HTML and CSS that will be used in a complex web application adds additional constraints to finding talented people. In that case we would need an exceptional artist that can write HTML and CSS that is componentized so we can bust it up into widgets, if not we accept sub-par HTML for what we need. It limits the pool of talent. Now conversely if we only require a comp we broaden our pool of truly talented people. Further when we go to look for good browser app UX developers, we don't put the constraint on them of being an exceptional artist. Just finding someone who is versed in Human Factors, HCI and interaction that can produce clean reusable code is hard enough, throw in top 10%er artistic skills and you have really constrained the market. Instead of fighting those market realities we work with them. We hire artist to do art and developers to develop. It works out well because each are exceptional at their core competencies. It also works well because we can hire freelance artist on a per project basis therefore maximizing out investment in art instead of trying to force an artist to do HTML to keep them busy on the pay roll.