Web Design Forums

linus · 28-03-2007, 14:33

I'm new to web desgin, still familar myself with the web standard and css markup, there are heaps of things I want to learn. I see a lot of job ads requires programing skills such as PHP/SQL ASP Java etc. Is that means designers also need to play a developer's roll, how this works, how to balance the two, it seems to me its hard to be good at both. Anyone has the same confusion?

pgo · 28-03-2007, 15:02

You should be OK specializing in one or the other.

However, it can't hurt to have skills across the board. My focus is front-end design, but I'm currently learning PHP/MySQL, so there's that.

Limbo · 28-03-2007, 15:37

Agreed. Specialise - do one or two things thing really well (maybe HTML+CSS or Flash). And then try and get at least the basics down on the rest of it. PHP is a big undertaking. I'm just scratching the surface and beggining to see the application from a creative perspective.

I find job ads tend to punt for more, to see what they can attract. It's rare to find a designer/developer who can do it all well. Many can do some of one a most of another.

wolve · 28-03-2007, 18:28

I agree, it's impossible to be good at everything so you do need to specialise. My focus is on the back-end programming of websites with PHP and MYSQL, although I also design the front-end of my websites with xhtml and css. However, I do rely on a graphics designer for some websites.

Larixk · 28-03-2007, 19:18

I disagree, I think it's important when you're starting out to stay as broadly interested and skilled as possible.

I myself speak Java, Actionscript, Javascript XHTML and CSS fluently, know quite a bit of php, mysql and ruby on rails and I do make an excellent tomato soup.
It just helps when you're freelancing and are able to confirm when clients ask for some client side scripting to go with a webdesign and implementation.

When your goal is getting sucked into a larger internet business and being appointed your little segment of work on larger projects; go for it! Dive deep into your topic of choice.

But if freedom of clients and jobs is your goal you should know your way around all sides of the spectrum.

wolve · 28-03-2007, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larixk

I disagree, I think it's important when you're starting out to stay as broadly interested and skilled as possible.

I myself speak Java, Actionscript, Javascript XHTML and CSS fluently, know quite a bit of php, mysql and ruby on rails and I do make an excellent tomato soup.
It just helps when you're freelancing and are able to confirm when clients ask for some client side scripting to go with a webdesign and implementation.

When your goal is getting sucked into a larger internet business and being appointed your little segment of work on larger projects; go for it! Dive deep into your topic of choice.

But if freedom of clients and jobs is your goal you should know your way around all sides of the spectrum.

I agree with your points, it does help to be as broadly skilled as humanly possible when working freelance, but it does sound like linus is wanting to focus on being a designer as part of a team.

I too learn a lot of languages that might prove useful while working freelance, but I do think it's important to focus on the ones you use the most. I am fluent in PHP, MYSQL, XHTML and CSS, but I also know how to code Java, Perl, Ruby, Python, Javascript and SMIL with the help of an API.

djeglin · 29-03-2007, 05:34

It really dependa on which direction you want to go in your career...

If you intend to work as a freelancer, or in small agencies, then having that very broad knowledge can be a good thing. However, if you are looking to work in very big companies, then having just one or two things that you are very good at is much more valuable.

I still think a general understanding is helpful over a broad spectrum, but for me, finding a focus really helped me in my learning process - I eventually settled on the design side of things, specifically user centred design, which encompasses interaction design, usability, accessibility, information architecture etc. This was an area that I had a real interest in, and that for some reason I just 'got'.

I think that's really important when you're looking at these things - Find something you're interested in, and dive in to it. From my point of view, whilst it can be helpful at times to be able to do a little bit of everything, in my experience you are never as strong in any of those areas as if you were more focused.

Add to that the fact that being a good designer, and being a good coder are worlds apart, and it it becomes an interesting predicament for you.

David

geoff_ · 29-03-2007, 05:58

I vote specialize - its entirely down to you however. I mean, I do really, really wish I could make applications, but its just one of those things.

kiteflyer · 29-03-2007, 10:42

I think it's a personal choice. I am taking languages in bits and not trying to learn everything at once. Become really good at one things and then move onto the next. For me it's XHTML and CSS which I specialized in. Throw in Photoshop at the same time and that's me right now. In order to get into Wordpress I have decided to also start learning PHP and after who knows... probably flash and actionscritping.
but I agree as a freelancer the more you know the more work is out there for you...

combat sheep · 30-03-2007, 05:35

In todays world you can't have a large successful website without some sort of backend programming, this is why designers have needed to adapt to a more programmatic approach to their projects over time which leads to clients requiring more and expecting more.

Most of the sites I do in work use a mixture of XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, XML, AJAX.

It's pretty much down to what works best, if you want to make something work but don't know how, read a tutorial.

28-03-2007, 14:33	#1 (permalink)
linus Web designer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 13	designer and developer in one I'm new to web desgin, still familar myself with the web standard and css markup, there are heaps of things I want to learn. I see a lot of job ads requires programing skills such as PHP/SQL ASP Java etc. Is that means designers also need to play a developer's roll, how this works, how to balance the two, it seems to me its hard to be good at both. Anyone has the same confusion?

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28-03-2007, 15:02	#2 (permalink)
pgo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,340	You should be OK specializing in one or the other. However, it can't hurt to have skills across the board. My focus is front-end design, but I'm currently learning PHP/MySQL, so there's that.

28-03-2007, 15:37	#3 (permalink)
Limbo Another turn. Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,021	Agreed. Specialise - do one or two things thing really well (maybe HTML+CSS or Flash). And then try and get at least the basics down on the rest of it. PHP is a big undertaking. I'm just scratching the surface and beggining to see the application from a creative perspective. I find job ads tend to punt for more, to see what they can attract. It's rare to find a designer/developer who can do it all well. Many can do some of one a most of another.

28-03-2007, 18:28	#4 (permalink)
wolve Web Designer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 41	I agree, it's impossible to be good at everything so you do need to specialise. My focus is on the back-end programming of websites with PHP and MYSQL, although I also design the front-end of my websites with xhtml and css. However, I do rely on a graphics designer for some websites.

28-03-2007, 19:18	#5 (permalink)
Larixk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Posts: 1,052	I disagree, I think it's important when you're starting out to stay as broadly interested and skilled as possible. I myself speak Java, Actionscript, Javascript XHTML and CSS fluently, know quite a bit of php, mysql and ruby on rails and I do make an excellent tomato soup. It just helps when you're freelancing and are able to confirm when clients ask for some client side scripting to go with a webdesign and implementation. When your goal is getting sucked into a larger internet business and being appointed your little segment of work on larger projects; go for it! Dive deep into your topic of choice. But if freedom of clients and jobs is your goal you should know your way around all sides of the spectrum.

29-03-2007, 05:34	#7 (permalink)
djeglin goober :-) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 533	It really dependa on which direction you want to go in your career... If you intend to work as a freelancer, or in small agencies, then having that very broad knowledge can be a good thing. However, if you are looking to work in very big companies, then having just one or two things that you are very good at is much more valuable. I still think a general understanding is helpful over a broad spectrum, but for me, finding a focus really helped me in my learning process - I eventually settled on the design side of things, specifically user centred design, which encompasses interaction design, usability, accessibility, information architecture etc. This was an area that I had a real interest in, and that for some reason I just 'got'. I think that's really important when you're looking at these things - Find something you're interested in, and dive in to it. From my point of view, whilst it can be helpful at times to be able to do a little bit of everything, in my experience you are never as strong in any of those areas as if you were more focused. Add to that the fact that being a good designer, and being a good coder are worlds apart, and it it becomes an interesting predicament for you. David

29-03-2007, 05:58	#8 (permalink)
geoff_ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 16	I vote specialize - its entirely down to you however. I mean, I do really, really wish I could make applications, but its just one of those things.

29-03-2007, 10:42	#9 (permalink)
kiteflyer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 83	I think it's a personal choice. I am taking languages in bits and not trying to learn everything at once. Become really good at one things and then move onto the next. For me it's XHTML and CSS which I specialized in. Throw in Photoshop at the same time and that's me right now. In order to get into Wordpress I have decided to also start learning PHP and after who knows... probably flash and actionscritping. but I agree as a freelancer the more you know the more work is out there for you...

30-03-2007, 05:35	#10 (permalink)
combat sheep Trained to Kill. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southport, UK Posts: 307	In todays world you can't have a large successful website without some sort of backend programming, this is why designers have needed to adapt to a more programmatic approach to their projects over time which leads to clients requiring more and expecting more. Most of the sites I do in work use a mixture of XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, XML, AJAX. It's pretty much down to what works best, if you want to make something work but don't know how, read a tutorial.

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