Devs vs Designers: getting onto the same page

DEVELOPERS VS DESIGNERS

Anita Cheng | @anitaycheng

(Getting onto the same page)

ABOUT ME

• Information Architect /UX (Front-end) Dev @ City of LA

• Director of Marketing at UXPALA • Live-tweeting fiend • Former cancer scientist

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LET’S TALK ABOUT TALKING(You gotta do it!)

Koshy Koshy on Flickr

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@anitaycheng

If I’m understanding this correctly, [describe the specific context in which you’re asking about], then what happens if [the question you’re actually asking]?

OTHER (NON-TALKING) WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

Email Slack

OTHER (NON-TALKING) WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

Email Slack

YOU ARE NOT A DUMPSTERYou won’t take just anything

BE LIKE THE POST OFFICEAnything unusual will take longer or cost extra!

@anitaycheng

OUTPUT FORMATS

➤ Static image ➤ PNG/JPGs

➤ Photoshop file with layers ➤ Layer naming and order? (Up to you!)

➤ Sketch app (for Macs) ➤ Pro-tip, use with Zeplin

@anitaycheng

OUTPUT FORMATS

➤ Static image ➤ PNG/JPGs

➤ Photoshop file with layers ➤ Layer naming and order? (Up to you!)

➤ Sketch app (for Macs) ➤ Pro-tip, use with Zeplin

(yay hex color codes!)

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FRAMEWORKS

BOOTSTRAPLots of Photoshop templates

Why reinvent the wheel?

(It depends - ask!)SCREEN SIZES?

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PEOPLE(It all depends!)

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@anitaycheng

What I think it really comes down to is product/project managers are, in a lot of ways, the owner of these projects and processes without understanding the obstacles and challenges developers face on a daily basis.

-devRant.io co-founder David Fox

@anitaycheng

BE KNOWLEDGEABLE BE DIRECT BE HONEST

(Win trust!)

CODING ISN’T MAGIC(Although many think it is!)

IT’S LIKE BUILDING IKEA FURNITURE(Including the frustration!)

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@anitaycheng

Science is done by people, and people are assholes.

-A cancer researcher

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@anitaycheng

Science is done by people, and people are assholes.

-A cancer researcher

have biases and egos!

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@anitaycheng

In some companies you can run into situations where a developer’s boss is a contributing member of the team, or have been promoted from a developer role, and that introduces extra conflict.

-devRant.io co-founder David Fox

TOUCHY FEELY?(It’s the secret to getting things done!)

@anitaycheng

WHAT DRIVES PEOPLE?

WHAT KEEPS THEM UP AT NIGHT?

(Approach your work on their terms!)

@anitaycheng

ONLY DESIGNER IN DEPT - RECENT GRAD

@anitaycheng

ONLY DESIGNER IN DEPT - RECENT GRAD

“Hey, I’m going to need more clarification on this interaction to make sure it works exactly the way you picture it. It’ll really help us move the project forward. I’ll make sure to give you credit for the work you did here.”

BUILD YOURSELF UP BY BUILDING UP OTHER PEOPLE

EGO’S NOT A BAD THING(Everyone needs it, including you!)

KNOW WHEN TO WALK

AWAY(Choose your battles!)

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@anitaycheng

80% of how a person treats you is a reflection of themselves.

IT’S ABOUT THE WORKGet it done, and do it well!

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THANK YOU!Anita Cheng | design@anitacheng.com | @anitaycheng