Hello World!
Welcome to Design With Code, and thanks to all who subscribed before I even wrote a single word. Not gonna lie, I kinda can’t believe anyone found their way to the subscribe button – pressure is on. Seriously though, I appreciate your support!
Here, I will give you a little context, state my intention for this space, and tell you what you can expect to see in the coming weeks and months.
How did we get here?
Back in the day, I went to school for graphic design. Broadband internet was only starting to become available, and the promise of the greatest communication network ever created hadn’t yet hit the mainstream. It was apparent to me, though. The printed work I was producing in class had limited reach and, therefore, limited impact. But on the internet, my work could be available to the whole world – a game changer!
The only problem was that there was no formal education on how to make the most of this new medium, learn how it worked, and build on it for an art kid like me. But I found a burgeoning community of helpful people on the internet sharing what they knew. So I taught myself how to code using a mix of books, blog posts, and experimentation and put my work online.
Eventually, with that knowledge, I ran my own design practice for a decade. I ultimately found my way to leading product teams at innovative startups. Design With Code is my attempt to pay it forward to the next generation of designers.
Let’s change the industry!
So why am I doing this now? Honestly, I expected the industry to change with me over the last 20 years, but it hasn’t. Photoshop was replaced by Sketch, which was replaced by Figma, which will ultimately be replaced by something else, and so it goes.
Essentially, designers are still delivering pictures and specifications to developers, which come back mangled and result in rounds of revisions. Which, when you think about it, is kind of wacky.
For the people involved, the process is time-consuming and frustrating for everyone. Worse, it’s incredibly wasteful and, frankly, produces mediocre products.
We need to break the cycle. Here is the impact I’m hoping to make:
I want to see a world where designers are faster, more empowered, more innovative, and more effective.
I want to see more dynamic teams that are highly collaborative.
I want to use better products and have better experiences.
I want to help designers break free of the limitations of their drawing apps and unlock the creative power that lies latent on their computers with tools that cost nothing.
So, what’s next?
You can expect Design With Code in your inbox weekly. You’ll see “just enough” tutorials for languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so you can start making cool stuff. Before you know it, you’ll be an elite hacker with an amazing aesthetic.
You’ll also see writing about tools, practical applications, and processes. And just a little bit of philosophy. It’ll be fun!
My only ask of you, dear reader, is to share this with someone you think might be interested in following along. I’m looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned so far.
Next week – Plotting the Course.