[Maerk]

While lots of condescending nonsense is being chucked around, generally from what I've seen designers who just do design for the web create better output than all rounder designer/developers, with plenty of exceptions. (Not to mention designers who have no concept of how something will work on the web and design something completely impossible, or something that looks crap because what works in print doesn't work nearly as well on screen.)

Not going to argue brain chemistry, but personally I simply can't code for toffee, no matter how much I get shown or taught, it won't stick, just doesn't click for me, no matter how supposedly piss easy it is.

So I guess I can see both sides, no need to be so condescending about creative energy nonsense though pixelenvy :P It's no different really than a print based designer being able to take their work through to print ready artwork (something I can do but web production wont stick hehe)

[Maerk]

Ok dusteh's post was better :P

[d*d]

Originally Posted by Dusteh

Localization of Function and Brain Lateralization

Lateralised functions aren't an old wives tale. Its a basic fact that one side of your brain is dominant, and that also each half of the brain has different functions. I wonder how many designers are left handed on here? Will it be one in ten like the national average?

well done you found a link, I get fed up of listening to the whinging of people who assume that there is some special 'creative' condition which means that their coding/mathematical abilities have been sacrificed in the gene pool for artistic talent.

The science in the link is probably sound solid stuff, being left handed does NOT make you a better designer by default though

[Dusteh]

Just because you don't like the science doesn't mean its not there. The fact you can't actually be arsed to find out more says it all.

It won't make you a better designer, it simply means there is a greater chance your spatial and visual skills (the skills we tend to link to artistic ability) will be more prominent. Of course its not set in stone and of course there will be plenty of right handed people who are better than left handed people at art-related applications, its just a statistical advantage. Since web design uses much more than artistic talent its a moot point.

**edit** It reminds me of the humanist argument that everyone is born equal - which is rubbish, they tried to argue that Einstein's brain was physically different because of the way he used it, and that it was nurture not nature. Einstein's brain was physically different from the average brain (and it was, you could see differences with the naked eye) because he was lucky enough to be born with it... the concept that any of us could think spatially about mathematics like Einstein did with the right training is insane. We are not all equal.

[pixelenvy]

I'm with Maerk.. I like your post better, Dusteh.

On another note..

I don't get why "creative energy" is nonsense? I look at energy like concentration... the more one focuses on something.. the more energy that one is giving towards something. I'm sure you've heard.. what you focus on expands?

[d*d]

Originally Posted by pixelenvy

I don't get why "creative energy" is nonsense? I look at energy like concentration... the more one focuses on something.. the more energy that one is giving towards something. I'm sure you've heard.. what you focus on expands?

Seriously

[Maerk]

Nothing is that clear cut though, its too simple and insulting to say you can't do two things without damaging one thing. For some people its true for some people its not, like for some people going out getting trashed leaves them energised and full of inspiration and ideas, others need to go chill out with some peace and quiet to get their energy back.

Likewise spending some energy on one thing, taking a step back and working on another type of thing can give better results for having that change of pace. You can't demand creativity out of yourself by simply concentrating and focussing on a single element, its not that simple, you can hit blocks, need inspiration need fresh eyes, need to spend time zoning out on other things.

If you spread yourself too thin, it can be bad, but anyone's personal definition of spreading yourself too thin is different.


Though I'm going to concentrate and expand on your last comment:

"I'm sure you've heard.. what you focus on expands?"

Like balloons? Seriously... random comment lol The more practiced you are at something the easier it can become sure though.

[pixelenvy]

Originally Posted by Maerk

Nothing is that clear cut though, its too simple and insulting to say you can't do two things without damaging one thing.

I think I said "This isn't the only way, but it does apply to a lot of people." Because it does.. why do you think business owners hire people to do the stuff?

I don't know.. it's just a possibility. I'm not trying to make anyone wrong, and I'm sorry if that how it came across as so. It truley wasn't my intention.

Originally Posted by Maerk

You can't demand creativity out of yourself by simply concentrating and focussing on a single element, its not that simple, you can hit blocks, need inspiration need fresh eyes, need to spend time zoning out on other things

Of course, I totally agree. My point was simple: In my experience, I have found that I am able to create more when I am immersing my self in my creative being.

Originally Posted by Maerk

Though I'm going to concentrate and expand on your last comment:

"I'm sure you've heard.. what you focus on expands?

Like balloons? Seriously... random comment lol The more practiced you are at something the easier it can become sure though.

Like, seriously... What you focus on expands... do you think someone that, for example, works on cars knows all the possibilities of web design? Most likely, not. They just know that when they put Google in their address bar something pops on their screen. But, what if he really focused on web design? He'd start to learn things, he'd start to see the possibilities, he'd start to see what he is able to do, and what he can't. The container for 'web design' would probably grow for him.

So, what if a web designer were able to focus just on design? And, learn things he never knew? Possibly even become a better designer because he has immersed him self in it?

It's just a possibility.


Finally, I do apologize for my perceived condescending attitude.. I felt attacked after my initial posting, and reacted. I just wanted to reiterate a good point that mystique824 had made.

[Maerk]

Its just the phrase, what you focus on expands, it sounded hilarious to me, like you stare at a glass of water and it grows or something :P

[d*d]

Originally Posted by pixelenvy

Like, seriously... What you focus on expands... do you think someone that, for example, works on cars knows all the possibilities of web design? Most likely, not. They just know that when they put Google in their address bar something pops on their screen. But, what if he really focused on web design? He'd start to learn things, he'd start to see the possibilities, he'd start to see what he is able to do, and what he can't. The container for 'web design' would probably grow for him.

you are a patronising wanker (no offence), I understand your points about the benefits of having a team of people with different skillsets - it's not a difficult thing to comprehend, but my point - which you keep missing and spouting crap about focus is that web designers who mark up their own code are not worse at design for because of it

[Dusteh]

I agree that learning one automatically doesn't affect the other... but I find there aren't enough hours in the day to learn everything, and I have stopped studying PHP in favour of advancing my 3D modelling skills for example... so in that sense, yes, learning one thing does impact upon another.

But its a conscious decision made by the individual. I don't think dedicating your life to learning 'design' inherently means you will somehow become bad at something else (coding?) - its all down to how much time you give yourself.