Programming Languages and Graphics Training

Programmers are in high demand these days--their fluency in coding language is invaluable.

Reason 1

The combination of a designing in Photoshop (or whatever software you use) along with HTML & CSS is greater than the sum of their parts. Many people view code as a restriction to a designer but when I learnt to code I found it liberating. Far from being a restriction, it opened up a whole new realm of creative possibilities. Basically, learning code made me a much better Web Designer.

Reason 2

Your designs will be executed in exactly the way you want them too. If you completely split the duties of designing and coding there inevitably comes a point in a project where the coder ends up doing bits of design, at which point the design can start to degrade. This isn t the fault of the coder; it s just real life. It s just not practical to go back to the designer for a Photoshop mock-up every time a new section of the site needs to be designed/added.

Reason 3

The bridge between designing in Photoshop and code is relatively small. It s even arguable that HTML & CSS is more a designer s tool than developer s. I know some people will say thing like but you don t see architects building their designs etc etc, but in their case it s far more obvious why.

For example, an architect who wished to build their house after designing it would then have to learn how to drive a JCB, lay bricks, be a carpenter etc. Comparing an Architect and a Web Designer just doesn t make any sense in this context.

However, when I design a website, after designing the homepage in photoshop I ll often carry on designing in HTML & CSS. It s at this point where designing and building almost become one and the same. This is something quite unique to Web and Graphic Design. It just can t happen when your designing products, cars or buildings.

So, if you re a designer who doesn t code it might seem like a daunting task to learn, I know, I ve been there but it s not that hard. Learn it, you won t regret it.

Reason 4

It s massively time saving to be able to both design and code. Like I said in my last point, once you reach the point in a project where you feel comfortable designing in the browser you instantly cut out all those Photoshop mock-ups you would have handed over to a coder, only to re-do in code what you ve already done in Photoshop.

Reason 5

If you re a designer who can t code, learning code opens up a whole new world of job opportunities, whether you re looking for freelance gigs or permanent employment. One of the main reasons I learnt to code was because I was so frustrated by the lack of opportunities for designers who can t code.