Page coding and design.

[Daniel Vice]

Here's a question for the new group.

As a designer, do you think the task of designing a page includes the coding of the page?

Do you prefer to code your own pages or leave it to someone else?

[Michael Render]

Um I like just designing and passing off the template to the coder or developer. Design is my strength. When designing you need to keep in mind of the functionality of the site, so I think the Developer should be involved in the design process.

[Erik Hagen]

Definitely both design and coding. As Stewart said, knowing how pages are built and what the limitations/quirks are help you design a good page in Photoshop. Many of my students with no prior web experience create Photoshop comps that just don't translate well. You have to know how varying screen resolutions and element interaction affect the design.

Even if my office had the budget for separate designers and coders, I would still prefer all of our staff to be proficient with both. That said, there are so many other topics that Web folks need to know in small shops (UI principles, usability, accessibility, frontend/backend programming) that it can get overwhelming fast.

[Jay Almers]

I have been the designer/developer for so long that I don't think I could give it to someone else and be happy. Much of my experience from the coding aspect defines what I do in the design aspect. There are just some things that work on paper but don't when translated into code. CSS is making this easier but it is still light years away from being perfect. Shameless plug here, but I am going to be working on a community project geared towards those of us who do both (design and code) called <DIV>Nation. If anyone is interested in helping out with it, let me know.

[Rebecca Bohlen]

Excellent name Jay.

[Jay Almers]

Thanks Rebecca!

Sorry for the late reply, I have been slammed.

[Chris Nixon]

As a designer, no. I would expect to just get a layered PSD file from you and I'll chop it up as I need to for my XHTML layouts.

If I am doing the design, then I will certainly markup my own layouts.

[Chris Pfeiffer]

At our school, we have one designer and one developer. I'm the designer and I typically do all of the coding that can be done with HTML, CSS, Flash and JavaScripts. When we need to add dynamic interaction with our databases, I hand the page/s over to our developer, who prefers ASPX/.Net. Occasionally we do the reverse, where the developer builds a page or application and I come in and add the CSS and general code to refine the layout.

[Riley Wills]

A personal preference has been to go from a concept form (PSD, Hand-drawn, etc...) to final version to which I guess would mean from all graphic design to the coding the design ending with any "backend" scripting that needs to be completed. Each phase has an artistic beauty whether it be the visual design to the cross-browser and standard compliant design code. The question of time available does become a question as well as what other priorities we have in line with this task. If other comrades are available to complete the task then I will definitely delegate let each of us handle what we do the best.

Favorite Phase: Design Coding (Code <3's Me!)

[Tina]

I do both. Photoshop is more of a "sketch" then I translate that design into HTML&CSS (mostly css heavy) code. I also perfer to hard code it. Although the obstacle I keep hitting is how the browser will interpret it, like when someone changes text size in the browser and such ... still learning how to best approach that.

When it comes to more in-depth programming code like Ajax, Javascript, Server-side scripting, I look into the 'big guns' as someone put it. But I like to work together with the web-developers. This is completely off tangent, but in the TNT show 'Trust Me', in the advertising agency, a Art Director is partnered with a Copy Writer and they work together. I totally agree that a web designer should be partnered with a web developer to work harmoniously together! this equals kick *** Websites!

One area I haven't really gotten my feet wet in yet is Designing with a CMS framework. based on the comments, looks like I have a lot to look ... forward too. ^_^