Minnebar 2008 - Design Coding Panel Discussion

The design coding panel discussion was once again, very interesting this year in that not much progress has been made in determining what the roles/responsibilities of "web designers" should be.

We got a chance to hear the several peoples backgrounds and their current working situation. In summary, they continue to vary from a graphic artist sitting next to a code monkey sitting next to a developer, to one person who doing the graphic design, html/css, clientside coding, and server side coding.

My colleagues and I continue to be amazed that we fall in the latter of the extremes and that those types of roles are significantly less common. Although it was clear that HR reps writing the job descriptions for "web designers" are looking (or least they think their looking) for someone who falls in the latter extreme as well. However, even though the job descriptions commonly ask for experience in all aspects of web design, it was agreed upon that a solid portfolio and basic understanding of web design concepts should be enough.

Similar to how print designers need to know about the printing process, paper, and printers; web designers need to know about usability, accessibility, semantic coding (separation of presentation, structure, content, and behavioral). In addition to those basic principles, a web designer may need to about both client and server side coding, information architecture, SEO, SEM, analytics and KPIs, email, and web infrastructure. whew...and don't forget we also have to ensure the design and coding work and look acceptable in multiple web browsers, cross platform, and if we're working with email, there are too many email client/browser/ESP/ISP combinations to list here.

So should I get a raise if I understand all of these things at a high level, I think so.

But the point is, how is a student going to a 2 or 4 year college suppose to get exposed to all of these concepts and getting a working knowledge deep enough to join the industry? The answer: self-taught. Every panel member (including myself and my co-workers) are all self-taught to some extent. So what should the college teach and what should the student learn on their own? That is the real question. A two year degree will allow the student to "get their hands wet" in many of these topics, but not to the extent required. While a 4 year will require a more well rounded education, many of the topics will not be taught.

I'd like you feedback on what you think should be the responsibilities of a web designer and what should the course work for a web designer include?

MinneBar 2008

So I'll be attending MinneBar 2008 at Coffman Union on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

I'm excited to go this year, I had to miss last year, but I was at the first MinneBar in 2006. Several of my co-workers are going this year as well which only makes the lunch hours that more exciting after the event.

The sessions I'm stoked to attend are:

• Communication For Geeks: How to Influence Your Boss, Your Customers, And Your Team - Lead By: Brian 'Bex' Huff (Bezzotech)
• Design Coding Panel Discussion - Lead By: Ben Edwards (Refactr), Norm Orstad (Slantwise), more TBD
• Social Search in the Corporate Environment - Lead By: Rich Hoeg (Project Report from my Blog)
• CSS frameworks when and why to use them - Lead By: Norm Orstad and ???(Slantwise Design)
• Wordpress as a Content Management System - Lead By: Toby Cryns (The Mighty Mo! Design Co.)

So why these sessions?

Brian 'Bex" Huff just sounds cool. He's from Stellent, the CMS I'm know currently working in.

Ben Edwards is a great guy to listen to, I met and discussed Agile development with him back in 2006, I'm checking his session out cause I'm all about XHTML, CSS and all tasty morsels of chocolate.

Social Search sounds like a fun topic with Rich Hoeg, especially since I'll also be attending the MIMA session on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 which is focusing on DUALITY REALITY: WHO CONTROLS SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE ENTERPRISE?

CSS Frameworks is a hot topic at work since we've since adopted Eric Meyer's Reset CSS framework (ok, maybe it's not a framework, but maybe it is, leave your comments on this below). So what are the pros and cons, hopefully Norm Orstad can fill us in.

Finally, Word Press as a CMS is a great topic especially since it's been used at the enterprise level, check out Ford's Global Auto Show Site, and because it's been making blogs suck less.

That's what I'm planning, along with posting here a lot more, we'll see ;)