8 comments

  • Tyson KingsburyTyson Kingsbury, over 8 years ago

    I'm a designer. at the moment, i can't code.

    I'm actually the Creative Director where I work, and do a variety of design, from print marketing, advertising, to web design, to working on the design and UI for the software we make.

    I generally work with a large team of developers... It's never really been necessary for me to be a developer myself...I sit near about 20 guys that are all software engineers...and on the flip side, they can't design for shit....we sort of need each other ;)

    That being said, my company is paying for me to go back to school this winter for a few months to http://hackeryou.com/ where I'll be learning quite a bit....so in a few months, I'll be able to do some of the front end development work here... I'm excited about that for sure...

    but the 'designers who can't code are dinosaurs' trolling, to me, is pretty damn ridiculous. Design is a big, big world...plenty of room for all types and abilities. I'm in my 40's, and have worked in a huge variety of design related fields, all of them have had a great impact on me and helped expand my skillset...... thus far, not being able to code myself hasn't kept me from having a pretty great career.

    I'm glad I'll be learning to code...and I'm seriously lucky to work for an outfit that can afford to send me back to school to learn how to do it....and I'm looking forward to working closer with the developers on my team here....

    but my guess is that the dude who wrote that tweet is a) young (not to be ageist or anything) b) has only 'designed' for web c) may quite well be a 'great' web dev/designer...but I'll bet he doesn't know shit about how to design for other mediums...

    print's not quite dead yet dude.. before you call some of us dinosaurs, lets see how well you craft up a magazine layout for print using pantone spot colors, embossing, special glosses etc...

    2 points
    • mewo a, over 8 years ago

      Agreed, he's making the assumption all design is related to digital. I do more development than design these days but am from a graphics background. I have worked with a lot of young and older designers who can't code but are hugely talented in other areas like branding, illustration, film, motion, strategy ect which I know nothing about. It's a big industry and there is huge variation in skill sets which is what makes it great. His second tweet gets more snarky - https://twitter.com/Allan/status/535161991149932547

      0 points
      • Tyson KingsburyTyson Kingsbury, over 8 years ago

        Well said Theo... and yeah...that other tweet was even more snarky....

        I guess the take-away lesson here is it's nice that some folks spout off immature tweets like that...lets us all know who they are..like wearing a giant sign that says 'don't hire me, i make career limiting decisions'.... :)

        0 points
  • Chase ThompsonChase Thompson, over 8 years ago

    Troll.

    1 point
  • Kevin PruettKevin Pruett, over 8 years ago

    I genuinely think his statements are coming from a constructive place, as opposed to a confrontational one. I think he's looking to simply encourage "designers" to gain more control over their work by gaining an understanding of the medium on which they are applied. The tools are irrelevant.

    0 points
  • Oscar von HauskeOscar von Hauske, over 8 years ago

    This is pure rhetoric, I'd love to hear the argument with some substance. Unfortunately so far all we get are statements that sound aggressive and if you agree with them very emotional.

    However there seems to be no real substance behind these words, but if there is it would be good to hear it.

    FYI I am fully capable of coding, and I don't have a strong point of view on this meaning I can see why it's a great skill to have but not a deal breaker.

    0 points
  • David AlandíDavid Alandí, over 8 years ago

    Nope.

    0 points
  • Kevin PruettKevin Pruett, over 8 years ago

    Great discussion going on here...

    Also, see https://twitter.com/allan/status/535161991149932547

    0 points