Alas, No Mind Meld: Designer-Developer Communication for a Harmonious Future

@melchoyce choycedesign.com

Not a developer

Not you

Step One:Become an easier designer to work with.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Consistent.

Be Consistent.Use consistent typefaces and font sizing.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Consistent.Use consistent colors.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Consistent.Use consistent spacing.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Consistent.Use consistent column widths.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Consistent.Style elements consistently.

Become an easier designer to work with

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Clean.

Be Clean.Logically organize your source files.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Clean.Name your layers.

Become an easier designer to work with

This is bad

This is good

Be Clean.Group related layers.

Become an easier designer to work with

This is bad

This is good

Be Clean.Delete unused layers.

Become an easier designer to work with

What is this?!

Be Clean.Use whole pixel values.

Become an easier designer to work with

Bad

Be Clean.Name your source files appropriately.

Become an easier designer to work with

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Knowledgeable.

Be Knowledgeable.Learn how to code... just a little.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Knowledgeable.Learn how to user developer tools.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Knowledgeable.Learn about browser compatibility.

Become an easier designer to work with

http://browsehappy.com/

Be Knowledgeable.Learn the right buzzwords.

Become an easier designer to work with

Be Knowledgeable.Get to know WordPress (or whatever you’re using).Protip: Have your developer insall the Theme Unit Test on your dev site (http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Unit_Test)

Become an easier designer to work with

Remember:Even if you are knowledgeable, your developer is the expert on development. Not you.

Become an easier designer to work with

Step Two:Work on your communication skills.

When should you involve a developer in your design process?

Work on your communication skills

Immediately.

Work on your communication skills

...Or a least before you show any designs to your client.

Work on your communication skills

What’s their process?Go over your developer’s process and how you fit into it.

Work on your communication skills

What’s your process?Go over your process and how you would like it to work with your developer’s.

Work on your communication skills

What about giving your developer feedback?Establish a protocol for doing check-ins and reviews.

Work on your communication skills

Giving Handoffs.Double-check your source files.

Work on your communication skills

Giving Handoffs.Try to give handoffs in person, if possible. If not, try video, then phone.

Work on your communication skills

Giving Handoffs.Walk your developer through your psds.

Work on your communication skills

Giving Handoffs.Go over interactions.

Work on your communication skills

Giving Handoffs.Include relevant assets.

Work on your communication skills

Watch this.http://www.geekwire.com/2011/comedydevelopers-designers-communicate/It’s funny.

Work on your communication skills

Thanks.

Any questions?

@melchoyce choycedesign.com