Also, if you’re both a designer and a programmer, you can expect very high paying jobs, but you have to be prepared to work hard. Should designers learn to code? It’s 2015. Also, you’ll be able to create whatever you want. Asides from that, anything more evolved is way out of scope of what they should … But it would greatly benefit them if they knew a little about how to code HTML and CSS, maybe a little bit of JavaScript. Here we go again—one of the most hotly debated topics in the industry: should designers learn to code?. Over the past decade, the question “should designers learn how to write code?” has sparked a heated debate. Conversely, you should build the skill set and vocabulary to best express your design ideas to developers who oftentimes have conflicting technical considerations before them. A decade? An important disclaimer — I am by no means an expert, or anything close to a software engineer — and the following are insights from my personal experience, not a guaranteed path to success. We needed to fight for our place in the web development process. This is the case with designers who can code – they are in extremely high demand. How do … You’ll be that golden nugget everyone wants. Those who can have worked at the craft for years. Learning to code isn’t really that hard. While programming is not too difficult, it may be hard enough, or at the very least, it can be distracting enough. Guess what? In a 3-part series, Alan Cooper articulates why he rejects the idea that designers should to learn how to write code.He begins by pointing out that the debate is typically fueled by personal opinion, rather than facts. With the right tool, a designer simply doesn’t need to know how to code to build a beautiful, functional, and responsive website. But if they know a bit about code, they can understand a developer’s perspective. They enjoy graphics more than codes. You need to understand the gears of software. It’s underwhelming, we know, however, it’s the most honest answer to give. Knowing the basic inner workings of web technologies will help you produce designs with web constraints in mind. The Terminal And Text Editors (Part 1) Paul Hanaoka 2020-03-18T12:30:00+00:00 2020-03-18T13:05:22+00:00. Many developers see designers who code as a threat, while others see it as a facilitator. In the past, there was nothing designers could do to get around the necessary development work (if not by them, then by someone else). Should designers learn how to code? Programmers don’t even consider HTML/CSS programming, and today, it’s a must for all designers. It was a necessary nuisance. It’s no secret that the HR specialists are always on the hunt for one-person armies. Not necessarily code them. In the end, it depends on each individual person. After you master HTML/CSS, you can step into some JavaScript or even PHP, but that’s where it’s perfectly ok to stop. With a cover letter template, UX job interview questions, and links to the best UX job boards, this FREE toolkit is all you need to land your first job in UX. Of course, you can try, but if you start feeling that coding is just not your cup of tea, don’t force it. And, frankly, from a technical perspective, developing is much harder than designing. It can take a lot of time, but the amount of resources available on the internet is astounding, and they’re not … Sure, anyone can slap HTML and CSS together and pray it works across multiple devices, but most people simply can’t code well enough to be doing professional client work. Let’s put it to rest. By the end of this post, we hope to have answered most of your questions so that you’re able to make a better choice for yourself. If you can do it, then good for you, go for it! At agencies and larger corporations, it’s more about understanding what’s cutting-edge, and having the ability to prototype (the front-end) in code. Learning to code isn’t really that hard. If you’re a professional designer, you should be the best designer you can be. It’s a question that feels like it’s been around since neanderthal designers were sketching buffaloes on cave walls. At start-ups and small companies, it’s very likely you need to learn to create production level code. There is an endless amount of tools, languages, schools, guides, and other resources available for anyone who has access to the internet — so where to begin? There are many aspects to what we do, and millions of eager people are poking their head in trying to find out if it’s for them. This is a complex question that cannot be easily answered. You can be a great designer and never touch any code in your life. Before we dig into the reasons why the designers/developers are not taking a step into unknown waters, let’s check first what are the reasons why some web designers just want to focus on designing and why developers only want to just code . 1. Knowing about code empowers you to make smarter decisions as a designer. The other side of the spectrum is true as well – there are programmers out there who despise designing. Also, if you’re not an expert developer, you may involuntarily confine yourself only to designs that you can code, which leaves out a world of opportunities for better designs that you can create, and better coders can implement.It’s a misconception that all designers must learn how to code – that’s just not true. No confusion over what’s possible, in other words. Freelance designer for over 10 years, specializing in motion design. Purist designers may never have the inclination, or for that matter, requirement, to learn even the basics of coding. But the argument against learning how to code goes beyond merely having the right tools in 2015. should designers learn to code? As a designer with many years of experience, I often encourage my colleagues and reports to pick up some coding skills. Stand out from those people. If you’re a good designer, there will always be a place for you on the market. As a web designer, you should first decide if you think it’s more important to specialize or diversify your skill set.Both options come with ups and downs and you should understand all the variables before jumping to a conclusion. Webflow, for example, generates clean, W3C compliant, HTML and CSS that’s better than what most developers write by hand, it’s based on Twitter’s Bootstrap framework, and it works remarkably well. Lately, I have been reading a whole lot about the advantages and disadvantages of learning how to code. The answer is, somewhat disappointingly, maybe. Also, quite simply, you will be a better designer if you have a basic understanding of how the development process works, why certain programming languages are used, and how they restrict or expand your ability to design your intentions. To code or not to code, that is the question for Learning Designers in the new multi-device world we live in. It’s especially relevant to would-be interaction designers. If you are designing in digital and you don’t know … If you’re entirely ignoring the concepts inherent to web development, you’re going to be worse off for it. If so, don’t join the herd to head off to coding school; play it smart and skip the queue by learning one of the professional design tools available to us today. Should Designers Learn To Code? If that’s the case, then stick to what you do best and leave the coding to someone else. If you’re a designer and feel like programming is constraining you from perfecting your designs, just drop it – your creativity is your bread and butter, and you always need to be on par. Why you should learn to code anyway. What’s more, most designers simply don’t want to code. Or would learning the basics assist in adding additional value to their work? Developers Should Learn Design, Designers Should Learn to Code. © 2020 csform.com | All rights reserved. Software engineering is not engineering for no reason, and while some creativity is allowed an even necessary, programmers are usually not the most creative individuals. Should Designers Learn Code? However, knowing just the basics of HTML/CSS/JS can greatly improve your career. Much harder. It’s not coding, but it’s much less manual work than simply designing. I’ve pondered the question over the entire course of my time working as a freelancer and continue to ponder it to this day: Should developers learn to design? The long answer is slightly more intriguing, so let us jump into the reasoning a little bit further. There are two driving factors behind this: Figure out what you want. Should designers code? This way, you’ll be able to circumnavigate the potential issues even before they pop up, simply because you’ll be able to anticipate them. Sure, knowing a little code does help, but it’s not crucial, and if you find that you don’t enjoy it, don’t push yourself too hard. Further, if desired, the code generated in Webflow or Macaw can be exported off the platform entirely so you can work on it in the comfort of your IDE to develop extended functionality. Written by Irina Papuc Topics: Learn to Code Many designers think each discipline should mind their own business, while others see no problem in professionals wearing multiple hats. This might seem a bit unorthodox, but if you’re at a crossroads of how to further your development as a designer, here’s what I suggest: become a better writer. How Should Designers Learn To Code? Think about that. We would like to hear from you with any feedback about our website or products. To answer the question whether designers should code we need to take a short ride into the nature of the web development. As a designer with many years of experience, I often encourage my colleagues and reports to pick up some coding skills. 1,017. shares. A recent TechCrunch column by Anders Lassen, CEO and co-founder of app-design platform Muse, suggests that designers understanding every facet of app-making and website-building—from coding to the creation of art assets—will ease the overall app-development process. Programmers don’t even consider HTML/CSS programming, and today, it’s a must for all designers. It’s called specialization. Alex Sanchez-Olvera. Should you learn to code? When you have a better sense of what’s technically realistic before you start designing, you’ll be less likely to waste your time and more likely to focus your energy focusing on the parts of your site that aren’t up to the whims of the developer’s implementation. For as many trends and competing best practices there are in the designer community, there’s infinitely more in the developer community. In 2010, Elliot Stocks stirred up a hornets’ nest with a provocative tweet: Honestly, I’m shocked that in 2010 I’m still coming across ‘web designers’ who can’t code their own designs. Any developer who hears about UX designers learning to code will probably have two answers pop up immediately: Yes, they definitely should if they are able. And it wasn’t easy. Featured image, ladies learning code via Jon Lim. Many of the designers/developers I know have usually started hacking HTML and CSS templates on sites like MySpace, Geocities, Tumblr, Neopets, … You’re most valuable if you can cover a wide array of jobs as the company won’t have to pay multiple people for multiple roles. To code or not to code? 63. It’s also a matter of facing the emotional facts: You’re not “lame” for not knowing how to code, you’re simply realistic and efficient with your time. There are so many programming languages, but a designer doesn’t need to learn most of them. It’s called specialization. Letto | Ionic 5 / Angular 10 UI Theme / Template App | Multipurpose Starter App, Necco | Ionic 5 / Angular 10 UI Theme / Template App | Multipurpose Starter App, Coppy | Ionic 5 / Angular 10 UI Theme / Template App | Multipurpose Starter App, Jiggy - Android UI Theme / Template App - Multipurpose Starter App, Mikky | Ionic 5 / Angular 10 UI Theme / Template App | Multipurpose Starter App, Top 12 App Login Screen Examples To Spark Your Inspiration, Top 10 Highly Realistic Kids Mockups & Hero Image Scene Creators. Let’s examine both sides of the argument: With the right tool, a designer simply doesn’t need to know how to code to build a beautiful, functional, and responsive website. In the past, there was nothing designers could do to get around the necessary development work (if not by them, then by someone … Sad but true. There’s a lot to stay on top of — more than enough to keep you busy as a designer alone, let alone also being a developer. Should designers learn to code? The Terminal And Text Editors (Part 1) Paul Hanaoka. May 25, 2015 by San Diego Web Design Studio Honestly, I’m shocked that in 2010 I’m still coming across ‘web designers’ who can’t code their own designs . COM 370 Being in the design age that we are in now, the question of “Should designers learn to code?” is almost an inevitable since most designers use computers and various programs to carry out their designs. And by coding, I don’t just mean learning Objective C for developing an iOS app, or Java for an Android app, etc. Think about that. People who can do it all are very few and far between, and are always in high demand.However, the question that we posed in the beginning and tried to answer is whether you, as a designer, should or should not learn to code. Your email address will not be published. Why designers should learn to code — or at least consider it. In the end, you don’t need to code. There are so many programming languages, but a designer doesn’t need to learn most of them. Learning the basics of programming is bound to improve you as a designer, and here’s why. If you’re someone who has an interest in coding and want to push your professional limits, then, by all means, go for it. Should designers learn how to code? As with every design decision, the answer to the question “Should UX designers learn to code?” is: “It depends.” When you work with digital products, you may not always need to write lines of code, but it is an added advantage to know how to build the product that you design. That's right: You should learn to code. Plus, any professional working in this industry should be the type of person to enjoy the process of learning. The topic “should designers learn to code” is very controversial. Even if you don’t end up implementing your designs yourself, you’ll see that the developers will be truly thankful for such designs – they are just so much better and simpler to work with. The debate for whether designers should learn to code is not brand new anymore, however, it is a question that still keeps arising and baffling many. Specifically front end development, such as HTML and CSS, and maybe even getting acquainted with something like JQuery. Let’s also talk about how it’s an incredibly steep learning curve to learn how to code properly. In short … maybe. And, no, you’re not limited at all in terms of functionality. This is one of the most frequently asked questions out there in the world of UI/UX design – should you or should you not, as a designer, learn to code. Scott Morris. The quality of your work may be hindered because you may end up thinking too much like a developer. Should UX designers know how to code? Web design has come a long way. It’s been an ongoing debate for a while, should designers learn to code? If you’re a freelancer, you’ll be that one-person army that we’ve discussed earlier. Conclusion: Designers Who Code != Software Engineers Hopefully, this article has shown you that learning to code isn’t as difficult as you may have previously thought. To me “Should designers code” is the wrong question. Those that are working in established, large-scale web agencies with separate departments covering design and development have the benefit of close … And there’s nothing wrong with that. Email:  studio@csform.com. (The only answer you will need) The design industry is moving at an extremely fast pace. There may even be fewer designers who code in the future, and companies will be OK hiring specialists knowing they can pair designers with developers in small teams. Now, if you do truly want to indulge in the beautifully empowering aspects of programming, by all means buckle down and dig in — just do it for the right reasons and set your expectations appropriately. 30th August 2019. You won’t have to deal with designers and developers and their interaction, as you’ll be able to do it all yourself. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Will it just waste their time when they already have a skill in design? What designers really want is to be able to create their own websites. Website builders don’t suck anymore. You should learn the basics of coding so that you can properly understand the needs of the developers you work with. It’s not easy being a jack of all trades. Why you don’t need to code. Insightful Software. It remains a charged topic with strongly opinionated advocates on both sides. Required fields are marked *. While some designers are good and can write codes, many believe that focusing on a particular skill will make a profession stronger. Why All Web Designers Should Learn How to Code. No. A couple of years? Want to Know EXACTLY How to Land a UX Job? I agree with the all encompassing argument of designers should learn how to code. You better at least know what you don’t know. If you’re entirely ignoring the concepts inherent to web development, you’re going to be worse off for it. You should learn the basics of coding so that you can properly understand the needs of the developers you work with. However, you don’t have to do it. Learning to code for designers is not necessary. What’s more, most designers simply don’t want to code. HTML/CSS is quite easy for beginners, and it ties up nicely with what the designers are doing anyway. Email:  dev@csform.com How Should Designers Learn To Code? And there’s nothing wrong with that. While it’s true that programmers will be thankful because you take into account their perspective, knowing how to code may impact your designs negatively. You’ll make yourself much more attractive in the market. Do you simply want to be able to code in order to see your designs come to life? It’s all too easy to get caught up in a debate about what skills belong to whom - but as most designers will know, it’s rarely black and white. But that’s no longer the case — we have professional drag-and-drop tools now. In today’s so ever changing digital climate it is quite difficult to pin point what exactly one should do. We have ridiculously specialized roles now (like “User Experience Analyst”); it’s no longer one designer plowing through the full development stack on their own. There are just too many variables, and the short answer is both yes and no. But a decade ago, the dilemma wasn’t the “weird rite of passage people have to go through on Twitter” that it is today, says Alex Cornell, the designer in charge of Facebook Live. Follow. Share this. It doesn't mean that they have to be an expert coder. Why web designer doesn’t want to learn code. There is a lot of discussion about whether designers should write code. Grass is, sadly, not always greener on the other side. Designers are no longer limited to creating static wireframes and mockups. Thoughts on data, training, and consulting from Envy Labs. You never have anything to lose from learning a new skill. You better at least know what you don’t know. As a designer, you really don’t need to go all-in into programming. Why UI Designers Should Learn to Code. With tools like Macaw, designers can easily create live websites using simple drag and drop principles. Also, there are more software and tools that can automatically convert designs into code. If you don’t keep your desire to learn sharp and charged, you will quickly fall behind. Your email address will not be published. For instance, the area of UX design might be exactly what you’re searching for. Designers don’t necessarily need to write releasable code—but they should know about it. If you want to become a professional UI designer your skillset must go beyond the traditional graphic tools. If you find such a developer, you can striker the perfect balance. Design wasn’t an initial part of the web revolution. by Stefan Miodrag — in Contributors. The internet was abuzz for a long time, and the debate continues. 2020-03-18T12:30:00+00:00 2020-03-19T08:48:43+00:00. This is a clear advantage if you choose to start your own company. GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO FREEBIES AND NEWS, Exciting New Tools for Designers, November 2020, Popular Design News of the Week: November 16, 2020 – November 22, 2020, Popular Design News of the Week: November 9, 2020 – November 15, 2020, Popular Design News of the Week: October 12, 2020 – October 18, 2020, Exciting New Tools for Designers, July 2020, 17 Plugins, Tutorials, and Resources for Gutenberg. It’s an old question: should designers code? It’s a question that has divided opinion for decades, and one that never seems to reach a conclusion. And: Let’s see how long it took me to learn everything I know. Why Should UX Designers Should Learn to Code? In her talk, Kristina Olivia talks about how we can go about finding a solution. It may backfire, and your designs may suffer. No excuse. If you so choose, you can make your own products with no constraints. Each of you will be left with what they enjoy and what they’re good at, and such collaboration is destined for great things.If you still want to expand past just graphic design, there are so many other areas that you can explore. After all, design trends are constantly shifting and new techniques are endlessly being paraded about. Your designing brilliance plays a crucial role in creating a good user experience, but it’s still a mental process more than anything, so if you want a challenge, maybe give UX a try. We have better tools and efficient best practices. HTML/CSS is quite easy for beginners, and it ties up nicely with what the designers are doing anyway. Remember, you can’t be good at something you don’t fully enjoy. — a Martial Artist’s Approach; Hopefully this has cleared things up and settled the debate once and for all: designers should learn Shaolin Kung Fu. Should UX/UI/Web Designers Learn to Code? Posted on March 2, 2017 by Khanh - Blog Entries. You should learn how to turn your design into functional web elements. The common advice to designers is that yes, you should learn to code. It’S underwhelming, we know, however, knowing just the basics HTML/CSS/JS. Two driving factors behind this: Figure out what you don ’ know. The perfect balance for multiple roles to do it all yourself not being! Not easy being a jack of all trades email, and your designs to. Designers really want is to be worse off for it programmers don’t even consider HTML/CSS programming and! Wasn’T an initial Part of the spectrum is true as well – there are programmers out there who despise.. Coding, but that’s where it’s perfectly ok to stop so ever changing digital climate it is difficult! Around since neanderthal designers were sketching buffaloes on cave walls learn how to goes... Nature of the developers you work with should designers learn to code code as a designer in.... 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