Web devs: Do you just do code, or layout too?

[SunnyD]

I'm curious, as I'm trying to branch out so to speak. I'm a programmer, but I have some ideas for web sites. The only problem is, I don't consider myself a graphic designer, and I really suck with things like Photoshop and Dreamweaver. I can do the code, but the artwork will definitely need to be done elsewhere.

My question is, do web devs usually do layout too? And if you do, do you do your layout in things like Visual Studio (if doing ASP, or whatnot), or do you do your layout in another tool (Dreamweaver, Notepad, whatever) and do the code in VS?

 

[Drakkon]

I've always found myself or worked with a separate graphics person. I've usually taken a concept in the form of PS or Illustrator and will run the CSS unless the graphic person is so inclined to be able to do so.

 

[aceO07]

I found that a design person will do it much better than I can. She will do it in Illustrator and pass it to someone who does the html/css and I just plop in my code. It definitely helps out my web pages.

 

[Markbnj]

No question that a designer can do a much better job, but for a lot of sites that are more functional than aesthetic I either do the layout myself, or have a lot of involvement in it.

 

[imported_Dhaval00]

From a strictly professional standpoint, I don't think you can sell yourself aggressively as just a Web Designer in today's world. Of course there are jobs for this role out there, but they are limited in nature... and the pay is on the lower side, too. Personal opinions aside, most of the people I have come across in the Bellevue/Seattle area (it is competitive environment for developers in general) carry varied skills. Specifically, most Web Designers, so to speak, are more or less Web Developers, in that they handle accessing the data sources (your back-end), the design, the layout, and the hardcore code that goes into making the Website a one-stop shop. The code in most cases would include C#/VB.NET (this is M$ land!) and JavaScript.

I use VS 2005/2008 for almost all my development. I would still love to get some experience in Dreamweaver... have heard from a bunch of folks that it is quite an interesting environment.

 

[Hyperblaze]

can do both, but better at code. A good layout (designer) can be much more creative then I can be look and feel wise, however, the code that I write can be done rather well.

 

[Modeps]

depends on the project.

 

[SunnyD]

Cool, good to see/hear what people do. I know I can definitely get the functional side of things done myself, but I have no idea where to even begin in putting the functional with the aesthetic parts.

 

[JACKDRUID]

designer do a much much better job... it could just be me... i suck at layout.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'm a .NET web developer. I leave the presentation up to the designer. In my designs everything is tables and strong tags.

 

[SinNisTeR]

I can design only with html & css, when it goes to photochop/illustrator and coming up with professional logos, images, etc. I absolutely flop. I do much better programming in JSP/Java Servlets/ASP.NET (C#)/PHP.

 

[Snapster]

Usually I'll get a psd from the designers and I'll make the html for the layout and then do my work on the code behind. Our designers are pretty much pure graphic designers, stuff for print/presentation etc so they aren't hot on html/css so they just do it badly with dreamweaver. I'd rather do it quickly and correctly myself than clean up that awful code. We used to have a guy who was a good inbetween guy who could design and could code a bit and then hand over to me, but he left for pastures new.

 

[PhatoseAlpha]

The website work I've done has always involved me writing the markup for the page. The designers give me a picture of what they want, and any art assets I need, and I turn that into HTML.

Could you really call someone who doesn't do any of the front end page html a web developer per se? Seems like they'd be more a pure coder writing classes that happen to be consumed by websites.

 

[txlonghorn]

Our designer has the title of UI Engineer. He does more than just the layout. He designs the flow of the application, the color palette, and the entire user experience from beginning to end. I thought I was a complete developer who can code all tiers. But I have to concede that our UI Engineer completely blew me away with his UI knowledge. Now, I stick to coding only.

 

[ahurtt]

I can't draw or paint except for stick figures. But given a photoshop art file or something from illustrator, I can take that, chop it up, and turn it into a functional web app. I can create the layout and make it fully functional from a picture, I just can't make the picture. Unless you want a website that looks like stick figure art. Then I'm your man.

 

[Martin]

Well, I am a developer first and foremost, but I do some UI work:
- I can create a site from a picture, even though my CSS is kinda weak.
- I like doing UI design from the perspective of how widgets need to work, what elements the user needs to see to accomplish their task etc.

What I really suck at is choosing colours, creating logos, etc, so I usually rely on other people for these things. However, right now I'm working alone on my own site, so perhaps for the first time ever, I gotta do everything myself.

My advice is to keep everything as simple as possible. Pick the colour scheme of a site you like, don't use too many colours, make your logo nothing more than gradient+text (or even, single colour+text) etc. Your site might end up looking a bit generic, but probably still presentable.

 

[tfinch2]

I can do UI work, but not graphics work. Most of my interfaces are for web applications, not so much front-end web pages on the web, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

I know HTML/CSS well enough to do a nice web-application UI.

 

[spamsk8r]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I can do UI work, but not graphics work. Most of my interfaces are for web applications, not so much front-end web pages on the web, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

I know HTML/CSS well enough to do a nice web-application UI.

Exactly what I do. Lots of back-end coding and adding UI components, but no graphics stuff.

 

[hi tek]

Depends on the size of the company mostly IMO. If its big then you'll just do one aspect. But smaller companies make you do everything b/c the lack of manpower assuming you know how to

 

[troytime]

at my dayjob (when i was a programmer) i just did code, with minor UI stuff (non graphical)

but as a freelancer, i do both.
i typically have design help though, as my design skills have gotten pretty rusty over the years

 

[f1sh3r]

i like to grab something from http://www.freecsstemplates.org and just use it or modify it to my needs. im no designer.

 

[skrilla]

I usually do just the code. I get the PSDs from the designer and work from there.

 

[TruePaige]

I'm mostly a designer, but I write a little code here and there, learning more as I go just don't have as much time.

I think it's mostly one or the other, but you have to know enough of both to get around.