Why designers should code?

- Sunit Singh

Sunit Singh

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

—Steve Jobs

Sunit Singh

Sunit Singh

Sunit Singh

Sunit Singh

Ring’s a bell?

• WTF? This is no where close to the original design!• The original mocks were much better, the

developers screwed up!• I need a better design spec tool?• The page looks quite empty after the real data has

come in...!• Most of the key elements are going below the fold…• How am I meant to implement that?• Not possible!... Do we really need this?... Will affect

performance...

Sunit Singh

Responsive, Light Weight Experiences

• Facebook• ClearTrip• Gmail• Google Maps• Twitter• Word Press

Sunit Singh

Schools of Thoughts

• Designers should focus on design?• Coding restricts creativity?• Coding, a steep learning curve?

Sunit Singh

“…coming up with an idea is the least important part of creating something great. It has to be the right idea and have good taste, but the execution and delivery are what's key—Sergey Brin

Sunit Singh

Why?

• Know the rules if you want to bend them!• Understand the possibilities of your medium,

leverage what it already offers• Design for efficiency, performance, best design

decision given constraints, lean design• Get real - sooner than later, see how real data

looks and works

Sunit Singh

Why?

• Be ready for change, quickly iterate, reduce back and forth

• Baby step towards embracing technology• More credible/ better bargaining position• Inbuilt Accessibility / SEO• Stay ahead of the curve

Sunit Singh

Beware!

• Self-censoring - avoid compromising on the best possible user experience

• Never lose sight of the bigger picture

Sunit Singh

Good Reads• 6 Reasons Why Designers Should Code• Good Reasons Why Designers Should Code, Mike Kus• Design at Facebook - by Luke Wroblewski• Designers are not Programmers - by Lukas Mathis • The Case For Code - Alex Dunae • Should Web Designers Know how to Code? - Martin Ringlein• Web designers should do their own HTML/CSS – Davi, 37 Signals• Why Designers Should Learn How to Code - John Urban• Designers who are technical: The More You Know, The Better Your Work• The Case Against Code II - by Stuart Thursby

Sunit Singh

Getting Started

• http://www.w3schools.com/• Designing with Web Standards – by Jeffery Zeldman

• CSS - The Definite Guide – by Eric Meyer

Sunit Singh

Brushing Up

• http://24ways.org/• http://www.alistapart.com/• Web Standards Solutions – by Dan Cederholm

Sunit Singh

Questions?