4 ms·

I disagree. Just to be clear, we're talking web design here in HTML/CSS, not actual programming in JavaScript or Ruby. HTML/CSS creates designs, just like penci

I disagree. Just to be clear, we're talking web design here in HTML/CSS, not actual programming in JavaScript or Ruby. HTML/CSS creates designs, just like pencils create sketches and paint brushes create painting. Sure, it's hard, but watercolor and oil painting is also hard and has to be learned. Web design is no different. IMO, in a team, creating the HTML and CSS is a responsibility of the designer. The developers are too busy doing real coding. At least, that's how it works in the design agencies I know personally. It's always a designer that creates the markup, whether a lowly design intern or a production artist. Maybe enterprise and tech startups are different, but that's how it works in the design agencies.

ilcavero 15y ago
I agree with you, what's next after this? designers that can't use photoshop because it is not part of their intelligence type? HTML/CSS is the designers medium and they have to learn how to use it just as a painter needs to learn how to use paintbrushes or a film director needs to learn how to use a camera.
- folletto 15y ago
  Don't worry, there's nothing "after this". "Designers should code" exists only in the web design field. It's fair to suggest that "Designers that can code are better", but it's not a must in any way. That's the point. :)
  - ZephyrP 15y ago
    I think its fair to say that if you're a designer and you can't code and your work doesn't look like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Rembrandt_Christ_in_the_Storm_on_the_Lake_of_Galilee.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Rembrandt... , It's likely you're just a untalented designer who also can't code.
    - folletto 15y ago
      It's not fair, sorry. ;) I met plenty of designers that can't code, and they are doing great working in pair with developers. :)
folletto 15y ago
Probably you never met amazing designers that can't even put a "." at the end of their sentences. People are different, with different mind, and intelligences. Forcing such a designer to "code" is just going to destroy his skillset, that otherwise would be of great use in a good and collaborative team. :)
- knieveltech 15y ago
  If someone has to be forced to learn/use the underlying medium then there's nothing to destroy, they don't have the skillset to to do the job to begin with and they should probably just stick to doing print layout. Having worked with designers ranging in skills from pure photoshop all the way to writes app code in addition to markup, CSS and javascript, in my experience a designer that doesn't have a solid understanding of raw markup, CSS and javascript is a liability.
  - folletto 15y ago
    I worked with lots of excellent designers that aren't able to write a single line of code. And still paired in a good team with a developer, they did marvels. :)
    - knieveltech 15y ago
      So what you're saying is it's cool for someone to only learn half their job if you've got other warm bodies available to cover for them. Eh. Taken to an extreme this is similar to you saying I'd make an excellent plumber if I could drive the truck and had a couple of helpers that actually knew how to do plumbing. You can't tell me with a straight face that a designer that doesn't have a solid grasp of the underlying principles of how front end code works isn't going to (at least occasionally) end up cranking out the worst sort of pie-in-the-sky speculative horseshit that's a rugged nightmare to mimic on the web, and every time they do they end up taking a big ass bite out of the project budget when the rest of the team is scrambling around trying to sort out the cross browser issues with the hot mess of a design comp they've just been handed. I'll pass, thanks.

ilcavero 15y ago

I agree with you, what's next after this? designers that can't use photoshop because it is not part of their intelligence type? HTML/CSS is the designers medium and they have to learn how to use it just as a painter needs to learn how to use paintbrushes or a film director needs to learn how to use a camera.

folletto 15y ago
Don't worry, there's nothing "after this". "Designers should code" exists only in the web design field. It's fair to suggest that "Designers that can code are better", but it's not a must in any way. That's the point. :)
- ZephyrP 15y ago
  I think its fair to say that if you're a designer and you can't code and your work doesn't look like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Rembrandt_Christ_in_the_Storm_on_the_Lake_of_Galilee.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Rembrandt... , It's likely you're just a untalented designer who also can't code.
  - folletto 15y ago
    It's not fair, sorry. ;) I met plenty of designers that can't code, and they are doing great working in pair with developers. :)

folletto 15y ago

Probably you never met amazing designers that can't even put a "." at the end of their sentences. People are different, with different mind, and intelligences. Forcing such a designer to "code" is just going to destroy his skillset, that otherwise would be of great use in a good and collaborative team. :)

knieveltech 15y ago
If someone has to be forced to learn/use the underlying medium then there's nothing to destroy, they don't have the skillset to to do the job to begin with and they should probably just stick to doing print layout. Having worked with designers ranging in skills from pure photoshop all the way to writes app code in addition to markup, CSS and javascript, in my experience a designer that doesn't have a solid understanding of raw markup, CSS and javascript is a liability.
- folletto 15y ago
  I worked with lots of excellent designers that aren't able to write a single line of code. And still paired in a good team with a developer, they did marvels. :)
  - knieveltech 15y ago
    So what you're saying is it's cool for someone to only learn half their job if you've got other warm bodies available to cover for them. Eh. Taken to an extreme this is similar to you saying I'd make an excellent plumber if I could drive the truck and had a couple of helpers that actually knew how to do plumbing. You can't tell me with a straight face that a designer that doesn't have a solid grasp of the underlying principles of how front end code works isn't going to (at least occasionally) end up cranking out the worst sort of pie-in-the-sky speculative horseshit that's a rugged nightmare to mimic on the web, and every time they do they end up taking a big ass bite out of the project budget when the rest of the team is scrambling around trying to sort out the cross browser issues with the hot mess of a design comp they've just been handed. I'll pass, thanks.