A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

< Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 and Silverlight updates | Home | Silverlight Toolkit adds DragDrop targets! >

via Twitter:

A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

posted @ Monday, October 19, 2009 3:03 PM | 26 Comments

Since we appear to be in another revolution on user interface (UI) design and user experience (UX), I’ve seen a lot of people, companies, sites refer to the designer-developer workflow, including Microsoft. Heck we’re building tools around it for Silverlight and WPF development! One thing I see too often though is the conversation being diminished to UI only.

I’ve heard conversations between developers saying things like yeah, now we just need a designer to make things look pretty or we take what the designer made pretty and put functionality behind it.

I have a plea for my developer brethren: please stop using the word pretty and diminishing the role a designer plays in defining UI/UX.

To me when I hear this I cringe for two reasons. First, while I’m not a designer, I consider myself to have a strong appreciation for design and know that it isn’t easy to execute on a design for everyone. Second I know many talented people in the design world who understand much more about how UI affects end user productivity and emotion more than just ‘making it pretty.’ So please stop, it’s insulting to the trade I think.

Imagine if you heard a conversation of designers…

Designer A: Sweet design man, I love how you anticipate the user’s next interaction and use the typography to really identify that action.
Designer B: Yeah, it took a lot of research and usability observations, but I think we got it right. I hope the developers can finish this up so we can get it in the user’s hands.
Designer A: Totally, I’m sure they’ll finish the macros soon, I think it’s all wizard based anyway.
Designer B: Yep, I mean, I’ve created an Access application before, how hard can it be.

Yeah, see what I mean? If you are insulted by hearing someone talking about the development craft reduced to macros and Access, then you should realize you’re doing the same thing. Design is a craft just like software development and there are patterns and meaning to things that designers do, both in interactive design and print design. It isn’t just about picking the right template. Sure, palettes and animations are a part of the design, but their intent in the final design usually isn’t without thought. Reducing a designer’s craft down to a simple “pretty” isn’t cool…at all. And I’ve been guilty of it.

If you want to work with a designer, then do it, but don’t hand them your finished product and ask them to make it pretty. Make them a part of the process and have them help identify the right UI/UX for the application. I realize it isn’t easy and sometimes isn’t possible to always have a designer, but when you have that need, just make sure you respect the trade or don’t be surprised if you get this book in the mail. Take a moment and learn what makes good design. For a start, watch Robby’s session from MIX08: Design Fundamentals for Developers.

I’ve got it off my chest…and I leave you with this:

Cheers.

tags: silverlight, ria, xaml, wpf, design, designer

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution By license.

Comments

Don

10/19/2009 3:10 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

So true, and we (developers) are all guilty of it. I think it's a great exercise for developers to actually try and originate a UI, then it becomes much more clear that "pretty" falls way short of what good UI really is.
Shawn

10/19/2009 3:11 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

I totally agree. Having now worked with UX teams I have a much greater appreciation of what they bring to the table. It isn't just putting lipstick on the pig. In one of my recent UG meetings I brought in a UX person. I think most of the developers there had a whole new appreciation by the end. There were lots of questions.
mke wolf

10/19/2009 3:12 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

100% beyond agree. The workflow is just that a workflow, where a designer is part of the team from day 1 acting as a peers if not guides.
Thomas Wagner

10/19/2009 3:20 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Tim - I appreciate the sentiment. Unfortunately there is a bigger problem hovering on the horizon. As Jon Galloway pointed out on his blog a few days ago, it seems there is a movement under way to consolidate the designer / developer workflow. His argument being that its easier not to have silos and that devs should know some design. I don't know if that's such a great idea. I appreciate your point as well as Jon's but I am also afraid that more people will voice Jon's arguments - especially when it comes to saving cost. Consequently there will be lots of design centric shops pumping out awful code because the designers are being handed Flex and Silverlight - and conversely there will be code shops creating ugly designs because devs are told to do so. Yes we need both functions and yes both functions are necessary I believe - but when it comes to cost cutting mark my words, the bean-counters will push those roles together and practitioners of both disciplines will be asked to learn each others craft - while not getting paid any more for doing so. I know it sounds pessimistic and hopefully it wont completely go that way.
Joe Davis

10/19/2009 3:34 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

To continue Thomas's thought... Another side-effect of combining roles is undesirable opportunity cost from loss of specialization. I (primarly developer) was on a project recently where the designer was given different tasks and I was forced to perform design tasks. My productivity went in the toilet. It's not my specialty and I can't specialize in both design and development. If I tried I would be mediocre at everything and valuable to nobody.

Tim- important points in the post. Thx. I was able to work directly with UX professionals early in my career and have had a great respect for them ever since. Another important distinction to make is between UX Designer and Graphic Designer. Too many times I see graphic designers laying out interfaces without the expertise. It's because nobody knows that there is a difference. Graphic designers go to art schools and UX designers usually have Psychology degrees.
timheuer

10/19/2009 3:56 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Thomas -- developers should have a better understanding of design and vice versa. Does that mean that developers should *be* designers...I don't think so. To me, at least, creativity in UI and understanding user habits is a skill that is very difficult to learn. Design is part art. I don't think I could be effective/productive if I was asked to go to art school in order to paint the mona lisa. I *might*, but not in a time that would be acceptable. To me it is a similar task. Perhaps what Jon meant (or what I'd infer) is that the role of the 'integrator' -- the one who has to mix the design and the code in the hand-offs...definitely needs to understand the design they are responsible for and how they will produce it.

I guess my only point in my post (regardless of where the skill sits in whatever role) is that 'making it pretty' really seems to diminish the skill to me. Like I mention above-if someone classified me (a developer) as 'oh you do that macro stuff' -- I'd be a little insulted and hope to help them understand my craft and why it sometimes is much more than macros :-)
mke wolf

10/19/2009 4:37 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

there also is a concern of knowing too much of one way or the other. A designer should understand enough design as to know what is "time and cost" prohibitive, but not let that guide the experience. The problem is really in the loss of specialization as Joe mentions, and left versus right brain thinking. I have seen designers become to developer sided, and loose their design chops.

I would also say to follow up on your point Tim is that too offten the term designer lies with graphic designer. And I think thats where the "make it pretty" comes in. Where as a designer is a broad spectrum of skills and disciplines. A designer could design a house (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lloyd_Wright), or a print add for a house (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Saville_(artist) ). Where as software "experiences" are mixing the spectrum quite a bit .
timheuer

10/19/2009 4:56 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Mike -- completely agree...we, in the english language at least, think design==visual. While to an extent that is true, the true skill in a software/UI/UX 'designer' is really understanding how the software will be used and how to best present the information so the end user can efficiently and effectively interact with it.
Mark Tucker

10/19/2009 5:11 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Joe,

I appreciate you bringing up the difference between graphic designer and UX designer. There are specialties in software development; we should expect there to be the same in design. A concern with combining the roles of designer & developer is which role "wins" when there is a conflict? Would a developer take the time to do an appropriate UI design or due to a deadline, do what was easiest to code? I hope that UI/UX/IxD can be more highly valued going foward.
Anthony Handley

10/19/2009 8:08 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

As a designer, the phrase "go make it pretty" is one of the hardest things I'll ever have to hear. I spend a good deal of my professional and personal time promoting the importance of good user experience design and better designer/developer collaboration throughout the entire product life-cycle.

All too often I've heard a client say "we can't afford to have a designer" working on a project. These days, a better user experience is a powerful differentiator in software development. My assertion is you "can't afford NOT to have a designer" on your project.
Don Burnett

10/19/2009 8:37 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

I would just like to add to this comment when I hear the Microsoft developer community say things like this I want to throw up because many developers and believe me I have been preaching this since before we ever had a Blend 1.0 that they don't understand the value of having designers in the whole design/development. The effort is not to consolidate the designer workflow but to make them more effective.

If design is a secondary thought in your process then you probably have a competitive problem especially in a market that is seeing less and less revenue and more greater competition. If you look at why your Windows and Web applications are not getting the exposure in the market it's probably because design was an "afterthought"..

If I had to say the real reason that Windows applications aren't bringing in the level of income as they could be, I don't blame other platforms or even Microsoft. The tools are there, the developer community isn't making the integration effort.

If you look at what makes other computer platforms successful with their applications (whether it be PC, Web, or Mobile) it's the fact that design was in their process before day one..

If you really want a good introduction to why design and especially user experience design really matters..

I suggest if you want to integrate user experience design into your development process you check out the following third party slide shares..

This one below even talks about Microsoft development processes

www.slideshare.net/.../ux-design-service-design...

www.slideshare.net/.../user-experience-design-f...

www.slideshare.net/.../an-introduction-to-ux-de...

If you are waiting for a designer to "pretty up your software" after the fact, chances are you have already lost your ROI on software development already.

We all have that "one program" we don't like to use and we cringe when we have to use it, you know you do.. You have a choice not to have users think this about your software.. It doesn't take a lot to include design in your process to have more effective better selling software (even if you are a small developer).
scommisso

10/19/2009 8:38 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Totally agree!

I'm most reading this blog have already seen them, but I'd recommend watching the Mix '09 keynotes from Bill Buxton and Deborah Adler. Bill has a great book called "Sketching User Experiences" as well.

http://videos.visitmix.com/MIX09/KEY01
http://videos.visitmix.com/MIX09/KEY02
Don Burnett

10/19/2009 8:42 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Oh and for you AGILE developers (not to be left out of the mix) you should check out this slideshare too..

www.slideshare.net/.../the-importance-of-identi...
timheuer

10/19/2009 9:31 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Steve -- excellent point! I forgot about Deborah Adler's presentation -- one of the most inspiring talks I've ever attended: timheuer.com/.../...adler-user-centric-design.aspx
Scott Barnes

10/19/2009 10:42 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Tim you are officially freaking me out, the fact you have west side story ready to pump into your blog, simply makes me nervous :)

Good post.

Scott Barnes
UX Specialist and Pretty Maker.
Former Silverlight Product Manager
Former Graphic Designer turned Programmer
Former 1 line signature writer for blog posts.
timheuer

10/19/2009 11:13 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Scott - if you have not sat back and watched West Side Story my friend, you are missing out. Grab yourself a Fosters and enjoy ;-)
Jonathan van de Veen

10/19/2009 11:53 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

This is absolutely true. I've experienced working with both great designers (I work with one right now) as well as working with crappy designers. It really is a craft. A great designer is focussed on making the user more efficient and effective in using the software, having buildability in the back of his or her mind, while a poor designer is only looking at colors, fonts and images and just makes the developers live a lot harder.

One thing a designer is faced with more and more is the rapid changes in what can and can not be done (in reasonable time). Keeping up with that while not having much of a technical background is a real challenge.

I also think it's good to have some understanding of design, especially in the user interaction area. You use software every day and probably have seen more UI ideas then anyone around you, so use that experience and discuss with the designer if you think things can be done better.
Chris Anderson

10/20/2009 6:59 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

It's been said in the comments, but I'll reiterate my personal opinion that being a graphics designer doesn't automatically qualify that person to be a user experience designer (any more than being a developer does). User experience design is a skill on its own and shouldn't be lumped in with graphics design. One is making the application usable, the other is making it attractive. They may be done by the same person, but not necessarily. In addition I don't think styling needs to be done up front, but user experience design *does*. After getting some criticism in the comments for leaving styling a bit later in my article series I responded in this article: www.silverlightshow.net/.../...yling-Part-7.2.aspx. Billy Hollis responded in the comments saying to watch his (at the time upcoming) TechEd 2009 presentation (WUX-205) discussing the development process of his brilliantly designed StaffLynx software. I have to say this should be essential viewing for *every* single developer. Unfortunately it's only available to TechEd attendees but it really demonstrates the benefits of user experience design. Notably the team didn't include any graphics designers - they were all developers, but a lot of emphasis was placed on designing the user experience.

The problem with user experience design (and graphics design to an extent) is that it is an iterative process - whereas projects with tight budgets (which they all do) tend to require things to be done once only, nullifying the user experience design process. An emphasis is placed on function over form (it works and does its job, but not elegantly). Like testing, user experience design falls by the wayside as soon "slack" in the timeline is looked for. It comes down to a process issue where there are no (or few) points for something usable and pretty, but a lot for something that works (however it gets there). Anyway, getting off topic. My point? Graphics design != user experience design. They might be done by the same person, but not necessarily.
Corey Schuman

10/20/2009 8:00 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Here here; I couldn't agree more. In addition to pretty add "fancy". And while we're at it let's give the motion designers some love. They spend their whole careers knowing exactly how to make animations feel natural.

Anyway, great post!
rtpHarry

10/20/2009 9:27 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Hey, I disagree. In my usage I say it with the greatest respect. I bet if I did start trying to say "oh yeah add some typography blah blah" designers would just turn around and say to me "shut up you don't know what you're talking about"... or at least think it. I didn't realise us developers were battling the designers. At my work we are together working to appease the managers! So to all the designers: thanks for making it pretty :)
FBL

10/20/2009 10:30 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Tim,
thanks for your post.
I am introducing Silverlight within our Company and have heard exactly those comments. My impression is that we, as developers, are a lot more conservative and inflexible then we ought to be.
Over the years I have grown tired of watching programmers who thought they were designers and spoiled important customer demos by showing highly interesting stuff destroyed by bad design. You can show how a tool works in principle to programmers and to (some) architects but if you do it to descisionmakers or tosales people
you just loose them!
From now on I have a bookmark on this post and when I hear programmers complain about designers and "I know how to design, I don't need some other funny people to touch my app" I will give it to them!
Mike Hanson

10/21/2009 4:37 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

I'm with rtpHarry, in my experience the kind of statements Tim refers to are just part of the banter that goes on between people in different roles. I lead a team that includes both, but my roots are in development and we all participate in "black humour" and talk each other's role down but none of us mean it and we all have the utmost respect for the other's job. In fact those that get the most ribbing are usually the best in their role, and respect is measured by the amount of ribbing you get.
Cory Plotts

11/2/2009 1:09 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

What a great post! I really think today's developers need to make an effort to understand designers (and design) ... and vice-versa for that matter. Software with a great UX can only but come from this type of mutual respect and admiration.
3d oyunlar

11/19/2009 3:16 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

thanks admin
information is the most beautiful treasures
Raden Beletz

1/12/2010 4:48 PM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.
Edit Blog

1/19/2010 4:08 AM | # re: A plea to my developer brethren about designer/designers

Hi admin, can exchange link with me ?