Comments on: Are you a web designer? Do you have to ask? http://inetdevguide.com/2009/03/14/are-you-a-web-designer-do-you-have-to-ask/ Blogging IT Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:23:38 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: sandman6210 http://inetdevguide.com/2009/03/14/are-you-a-web-designer-do-you-have-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-321 sandman6210 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:14:30 +0000 http://inetdevguide.com/?p=295#comment-321 Sounds like you are after more of a UX/developer/designer. The only instances I have used jQuery & Mootools has been in pre-exisitng software templates which I chose to either use or not use. I predominantly use CSS, and have a developer on hand who can whip me up php gizmos for most things. The beauty of being a freelancer, I can target what I want for each specific job. UX is something that either designers embrace or not, the same as accessibility. I've known some great designers who just don't give a rats about UX or accessibility. It's like a smorgasbord of skills out there, sometimes I think you have to actually target specific disciplines, otherwise you end up with a 'jack of all trades but a master of none'. Sounds like you are after more of a UX/developer/designer. The only instances I have used jQuery & Mootools has been in pre-exisitng software templates which I chose to either use or not use. I predominantly use CSS, and have a developer on hand who can whip me up php gizmos for most things. The beauty of being a freelancer, I can target what I want for each specific job.

UX is something that either designers embrace or not, the same as accessibility. I’ve known some great designers who just don’t give a rats about UX or accessibility.

It’s like a smorgasbord of skills out there, sometimes I think you have to actually target specific disciplines, otherwise you end up with a ‘jack of all trades but a master of none’.

]]> By: Mikey http://inetdevguide.com/2009/03/14/are-you-a-web-designer-do-you-have-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-320 Mikey Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:44:53 +0000 http://inetdevguide.com/?p=295#comment-320 I'm currently experiencing the opposite - web designers who think they are web designers but lack some of the basic skills required to really be considered a 'web designer'. I've looked at about 20 CV's but the candidates either have great design ability and lacklustre coding ability, or great coding but average design skills. but not both. I think any web designer these days, aside from having a talent for delivering aesthetically pleasing designs with good usability (that's very important!) should also have no problem hand coding (no WYSWYG) a harmony of XHTML Strict and CSS that actually validates. No tables, no 1 pixel spacer gifs (yes, some of the work done by the candidates still do that) and at least be able to work with a JavaScript framework like jQuery or Mootools. To me, these are 'no-brainer' prerequisites that every designer these days should have. I’m currently experiencing the opposite – web designers who think they are web designers but lack some of the basic skills required to really be considered a ‘web designer’.

I’ve looked at about 20 CV’s but the candidates either have great design ability and lacklustre coding ability, or great coding but average design skills. but not both.

I think any web designer these days, aside from having a talent for delivering aesthetically pleasing designs with good usability (that’s very important!) should also have no problem hand coding (no WYSWYG) a harmony of XHTML Strict and CSS that actually validates. No tables, no 1 pixel spacer gifs (yes, some of the work done by the candidates still do that) and at least be able to work with a JavaScript framework like jQuery or Mootools.

To me, these are ‘no-brainer’ prerequisites that every designer these days should have.

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