Vol. I — No. 3
Should (web) developers design?
Young Programmer Hears “I Hate CSS” Once Too Often
Recalls Boyhood Awe at Websites “So Awesome” He Knew His Calling; Asks Why Craft and Code Must Part Ways
Throughout my still young career I’ve heard plenty of time stuff like “eww CSS” “I hate CSS” “I can’t design” when talking design with developers and I…
This. This is something I don’t get. Because one of the main reason why I’m in
this industry is because 10 years-old-Nayed saw websites that were so awesome he
knew that this is what he wanted to do when growing up. So I’m always wondering
how can people want to work as a software enginer web developer without
liking the design part of the job? Yo how did you end up here, don’t tell me
it’s because younger you saw databases transactions or tree algorithms and you
were in such awe that it was your call to be a web developer.
So as you can guess, this is a very opiniated post.
Should (web) developers design?
For me, it’s a yes. Definitely. But when I’m talking design, I’m not saying devs should know how to use Photoshop/Sketch/Figma/[insert your favorite design app]. Or not saying they should know how to design Awwwards level. Nope. That’s not even the same job. All I’m saying is devs should know basic CSS stuff, how to not make your users run away of your website because of bad design decision and you should be proud of your design.
I am not a designer but I believe the design is an important step of the website. It’s how you want people to see what you have envisioned. I know this is not a simple task but I always try to have different design website to website. Not to brag (again, I’m not a designer), here are some of my latest open source toy project:
I am no expert, nor trying to revolutionize the design industry, but I can say that I’m damn proud of those design and how these website feel.
The Early Years
Off course at the beginning of my journey CSS was hard (and still is, let’s not pretend it’s an easy programming language because it is not). Here are some of my first websites when I was in school around 2011-2013 (I think):
In french we have this proverb:
“It’s by smithing that one becomes a blacksmith”
which means “practice makes perfect” (the literal translation would be “it’s by smithing that one becomes a blacksmith”) and this is also why devs should design. How can you expect to upgrade your design skills and your design “sensibility” if you despise and avoid it?
The Verdict
Yes, in their own way, developers should design. Again I know this is a very opiniated view, but for me a web developer that doesn’t want to design it’s like a baker that doesn’t want to bake. That doesn’t make any sense.
Design is the best way to show your user what you have pictured. It is the part of the iceberg that people will see first. And let’s be honest, it feels damn good to be proud of your own design when showing off.