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Ask HN: Web designer who codes, or designer + front-end coder?

6 points by jsdalton ↗ HN
I'm trying to hire a web designer right now, and in my ad I specified that I was looking for someone who had a strong aesthetic design sense AND who knew had to code (HTML, CSS, hopefully a bit of JS, etc.).

Most of the responses I've gotten are from designers who can mock up designs in Photoshop but can't / don't really code.

Am I being unrealistic in my quest for this person? Should I instead try to find a designer with strong visual skills and pair them up with a front-end coder who can implement their vision?

I also have to confess to a personal bias, that a designer who can't code is just a graphic designer pretending to be something they are not -- and that a true web designer who understands the medium will know how to code it up themselves. I'm not sure this bias is valid though.

I'm just curious if any of you can share your experiences with web designers in this regard or other opinions you might have on the subject.

8 comments

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bgnm2000
I've been designing for 11+ years, as well as learning code (HTML/CSS/Javascript/JAVA/ROR). I do consider myself a ui designer first, and a developer second - but that hasn't stopped me from trying to learn as much as possible so I can build my vision (nothing is more satisfying that designing what you want, and then making it work - front end and back end).

That said, people like me do exist - more so as entrepreneurs though. I have met a few designers who know at a minimum HTML & CSS though. I wouldn't even look at designers who don't know that much.

ryandavies
Hire just a designer, than have me do the conversion into HTML/CSS/JS. Soup :)
faramarz
I think you're right, those people are graphic designers/designers. Don't expect them to code, they won't know how.

Front-End Developer/Designer better suits the job task.

I started out as a designer and naturally made my foray into to css and html. Now I rarely even do mock ups in Photoshop.. and just start hand coding the css.

But if you're looking for killer UI design, Hire a Designer who does nothing else. You need a specialist for the best work.

jqueryin
My experience is that you'll find more front end developers that bridge the gap than designers.

Personally, I'm frustrated that the majority of designers won't pick up such simple things as XHTML and CSS when developers are expected to know such a vast array of languages, conventions, and photoshop to boot.

I think you'd have an easier time if you specified you're looking for a frontend developer with skills in design. Just ask for work samples, I'm sure they're up to par.

proexploit
I wouldn't be confident that a designer who can't code in HTML/CSS would understand the restrictions of the medium. I've seen a lot of great "website designs" done in Photoshop that wouldn't make terrible websites due to load speed, structure, or other unconsidered elements.

I'd say the answer somewhat depends on the specific candidates and your budget. There's rockstar designer/coders out there and there's good designers and coders.

Try hiring a front-end coder who does their mockups in Photoshop. That could narrow out serial wireframers (wireframes are good, just not when used to build a design) and help you find someone who's the best of both worlds.

Maybe you're also getting a lot of non-coders because of the location you listed the job as well. Try posting a job here on HN, asking for a referral to a good designer or a more established "design+coding" marketplace.

curiousgeorge
> I've seen a lot of great "website designs" done in Photoshop that wouldn't make terrible websites due to load speed, structure, or other unconsidered elements.

Agree. We've had designers deliver good looking stuff to us that ended up being unusable because they put a lot of time into delivering what they thought we needed instead of just reading the instructions. Tech knowledge helps eliminate communication problems.

The approach that works for me is keeping things simple and only adding graphic detail when it improves the look of the service. It helps to give developers examples of existing graphics to work with when you want a certain look. When you're looking for something very, very specific you can get an outside designer to put things together. I'd be surprised if you don't get responses from this post.

lovitt
I don't think you're being unrealistic, and I think your quest is worthy. I work with a guy who fits your description: he designs screens and then implements them in HTML and CSS. And it's awesome. When those skills are in a single brain, the result is interfaces that feel native to the web (and not like pretty pictures that were sliced up and made clickable).

But these guys are indeed tough to find. It might be helpful to advertise for two positions -- web designer and front-end developer -- and in each description mention the other skills you expect applicants to have. Most people I think will naturally be stronger in one area than the other, or will just self-identify with one job title or the other for whatever reason. Framing the position in a couple of different ways might help you cast a wider net.

prgmatic
You're better off finding a skilled developer who also does design rather than vice-versa -- it will be easier for you to judge his design skills (which are his secondary) right off the bat from his work samples than it will be to judge his development skills.

My opinion is biased though, as I am a developer myself. I think intelligent developers have enough skills to pick up Photoshop/Illustrator and hack together great designs, granted you give them guidance, inspiration, and a few examples of styles that you dig.