8 · 09

How to be a Hybrid Designer and a Developer

Excellent article by Jolie O'Dell of Mashable.com

Good designers and developers rule the web — they’re the ones who build it, after all. And some of the most interesting and useful players in creating the modern Internet are hybrids between those two disciplines — people who can translate between the disparate languages of the visual and the technical.

Developers who can design and designers who can code are one-stop shops and hot commodities, especially in the startup world. Being a jack of all trades allows you to quickly and effectively take products from concept to shipment — something that young companies in particular are eager to do. These hybrids also make great product managers after a bit of experience in both disciplines.

So, if you’re a hacker who wants to do more than code, or you’re a designer who yearns to work on his development chops, how do you go from being an expert in just one field to a digital Swiss army knife professional?

Here are a few steps to get you started and some 140-character tips from others who’ve gone before you. And if you’ve already achieved a professional balance between the technical and the visual in your own career and skills, we welcome your advice in the comments, as well.

Improving Skills or Learning New Ones

The most difficult part of being a developer/designer is augmenting your current skill set with an entirely new group of languages, principles and knowledge. The bad news is that this will take a lot of time and effort on your part; probably years before you’re able to credibly call yourself a professional in both fields.

The good news is that there’s a boatload of information available for free and on the cheap to help you achieve your goals. For every skill you might want to learn, from programming languages to web design principles, there are books, courses, web forums and communities, and online tutorials galore. Get yourself in a sponge-like state of mind, and start researching what you need to learn to be the designer/developer you want to be.

If you’re the newest of noobs or are having a difficult time getting started, you might be interested in going a more formal route and seeking higher education courses that correspond to your interests. Personally, I have started a community college course to learn object-oriented programming, and I can tell you that a few hours in a 200-level class have actually done a lot more for my progress than days spent reading O’Reilly books and trying to get coaching from my developer friends. Because you’re learning an entirely new dialect and way of thinking, sometimes the best place to begin is at the beginning.

Having the Right Tools for the Job

While you’re learning, you’ll discover that practicing using your new skills is one of the most fun parts of the process. And practice will eventually make perfect (or some approximation thereof), but you can’t practice much without an entirely new suite of tools.

If you’re a designer, you’ll have to play with IDEs, code repositories and versioning systems, many of which are FOSS (Free and Open Source Software). Don’t be afraid to ask other developers what they use, and do some digging around to find the best tools for the languages and frameworks you’re using. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get feedback on your designs. Check out these 10 web design feedback services for starters.

If you’re a developer, we regret to inform you that your days of FOSS for professional use are coming to an end. Professional-grade design software is going to cost you, and it doesn’t behoove a professional designer/developer to use pirated software on client projects. However, if you took the higher-education route mentioned above, you could get some pretty deep student discounts. You also might want to invest in some new hardware, particularly a stylus-controlled graphics tablet, if you don’t have one already.

Some of the most exciting parts of your new toolkit will be the design/development workflows that allow you to exercise your new and more seasoned skills at the same time. For example, Adobe has some interestingdesign/development handoff software between Flash and Flex that you might want to check out. You might also want to test out split-screen design/code interfaces (these can be great as training wheels).

Networking Your Way to Greatness

As you read, practice and search for solutions to your problems, be they botched designs or buggy code. If you’re a new designer, you should be on the lookout for new blogs to add to your RSS feed (we especially recommend these people); if you’re new to coding, find a few hacker/bloggers in your preferred language or languages to follow around the web.

In the Venn diagram of web designers and web developers, there’s a healthy overlapping section of folks who’ve made successful careers from hybridized skill sets. Definitely read those blogs and make yourself a Twitter list of those people, as well.

One interesting trend we’ve seen is a new crop of microsharing sites just for developers and designers. You can post snippets of code, be they beautiful or problematic; or you can share snapshots of your latest design. Others in the community will be there to give you feedback, advice and encouragement as needed. For new designers, check out Dribbble. For people new to coding, try CodeSnipp.it, and check for good examples atUseTheSource. And both designers and developers can get something good out of Forrst.

Remember: The most valuable part of networking as a relative noob is receiving and integrating valid and constructive criticism. Be humble and devoted to self-improvement over self-promotion.

Building Something

As a web pro, you’re used to constantly building and creating new applications and sites. One of the first things you’ll be itching to do with your skills is to actually make something with them.

When practicing and learning, you’ll be creating a bunch of small, one-off programs and/or designs; however, as your skills advance, you should also start thinking about how you want to give back to the community and create a useful tool or application (or even a simple game) that others can use.

You can spend your days and nights tinkering away on solo work and personal side projects; building something from the ground up that looks and runs beautifully will give you an entirely new kind of pride in your work. You can also sign up for any number of hackathons if you want the added pressure of a hard deadline and the camaraderie of a collaborative environment. Here are a few hackathons we recommend; you can also gather a few friends and host one yourself.

Once you get the hang of designing and developing by yourself or as part of a small team, you might want to take on some small consulting projects to test your newfound skills under professional circumstances, too. Also, doing this work for a client rather than just for yourself will add a new level of legitimacy to your growing résumé.

Re-Entering the Job Market

Now that you’ve re-educated yourself and have actually built something (or, better yet, a few somethings) to attest to your hybrid skill set, it’s time to frame yourself as a designer/developer to the rest of the world.

Even if you’re staying with the same employer, make sure your supervisors know about and have seen your recent cross-discipline side projects. You might ask them to consider a lateral move including a wider range of tasks or a promotion with a pay raise.

If you’re a solo, consultant or freelancer, it’s time to give your website and portfolio a major overhaul. Put your new skills to work and build something amazing from the ground up. At this point, your client-facing web presence should show (i.e. actively and impressively demonstrate) rather than tell (i.e. list in text) your talents.

And if you’re in the job market looking for a full-time position, a new résumé is in order along with a new web presence. Get creative with how you showcase your dual-core skill set, and make sure you’re applying for companies and positions that need someone who can do it all, not just an expert in one field or the other.

Words of Wisdom

We reached out to a number of designer/devs on Twitter and asked for any advice they’d pass on to a designer or developer who was trying to transition into a broader career path. Here’s what they had to say:


Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers



Advice for Would-Be Developer/Designers


8 · 09

Quote of the day

"This company has a novel approach to keeping solicitors away: they make sure the reception area smells like a vomitorium at all times." - @ninjafish 

7 · 09

$75,000 Is the "Perfect Salary for Happiness"

pile-of-cash.jpgAccording to a study focusing on 450,000 Americans and how they evaluate their happiness, a salary of $75,000 a year is the magic number after which people's day-to-day happiness no longer improves.

The special number is the result of a study conducted by psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton. From The Wall Street Journal:

It turns out there is a specific dollar number, or income plateau, after which more money has no measurable effect on day-to-day contentment.

The magic income: $75,000 a year. As people earn more money, their day-to-day happiness rises. Until you hit $75,000. After that, it is just more stuff, with no gain in happiness.

That doesn't mean wealthy and ultrawealthy are equally happy. More money does boost people's life assessment, all the way up the income ladder. People who earned $160,000 a year, for instance, reported more overall satisfaction than people earning $120,000, and so on.

So, according to their numbers, you won't be any happier on a day-to-day basis if you making $75,000 or $750,000—though you'll likely feel like you've got a better life overall. (Of course, your results likely vary depending on your regional cost of living.) Knowing that, however, may help you appreciate the salary you have, especially if you're pulling in over the magic number. Photo by Nick Ares.

Thoughts? More?? Less?? Why??

**Scott

7 · 09

Online Workers Doing Fine, ODesk Passes One Million Hours A Month


by Erick Schonfeld on September 7, 2010

While full-time tech jobs might not be making a roaring comeback, freelance and part-time work seems to be picking up the slack. One data point just came out today illustrating the shift to freelance and online work. Online outsourcer oDeskpassed one million hours of work on its system for the first time in the month of August. A year ago, workers on oDesk were logging less than half of that, about 400,000 hours per month. Online hiring is up 129 percent since last year, compared to flat employment growth in the larger economy.

The work on oDesk is spread across 215,000 employers and 720,000 contractors, whose desktops are monitored by oDesk’s software. Thetop three job categories on oDesk are Web Programming, Web Design, and Blog & Article Writing. Cumulatively, employers have paid out more than $185 million to online workers through oDesk, up from the $100-million mark last October.

A couple other key stats: eCommerce sites are hiring 70 percent more Web developers than a year go. While many of these online workers are overseas in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Russia, the U.S. is the the largest source of online workers on oDesk. California is the top state for virtual workers, and the top ten cities in the U.S. where virtual workers live are:

  1. Manhattan
  2. Los Angeles
  3. San Francisco
  4. Austin
  5. Chicago
  6. Pittsburgh
  7. Brooklyn
  8. San Diego
  9. Miami
  10. Charlotte

 

oDesk enables both employers and contractors of technical, business and creative services to build successful work relationships across the globe. This is possible due to a “pay by the hour” service model which guarantees payment to contractors and allows employers to verify work as it happens. Employers can hire, manage and pay contractors around the world similarly to those working in the same office. oDesk is primarily funded by Benchmark Capital, Globespan Capital Partners, and Sigma Partners.

7 · 09

No you aren't....

No you aren't.  Get back to work.  

Don't be the asshole on Twitter that get's unfollowed b/c of your own self important douchebaggery.  Sure, it's ok to be silly, but provide value every once in a while.  

Now really...get back to work.  Someone has to keep the economy going.  

6 · 09

People Who Find You on Facebook

via socialnomics.net

 

6 · 09

Happy Labor Day...

 

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 6 in 2010).

The first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882 in New York City, by the Central Labor Union of New York, the nation's first integrated major trade union.[1] It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] The September date originally chosen by the CLU of NY and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, for which it had been observed to commemorate.[3] All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.

The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labor Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer recess. Similarly, some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school, although school starting times now vary.

In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The Southern 500 NASCAR auto race was held that day from 1950 to 1983 in Darlington, South Carolina. At Indianapolis, the National Hot Rod Association hold their finals to the U.S. Nationals drag race.

--source, Wikipedia

2 · 09

Best Resume Ever

BEST RESUME EVER

Curriculum Vitae of the Day: Now that’s a resume! (A bad resume, that is.) [reddit.]

1 · 09

Wisdom from Super Bad Ass - Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins

 

 

“If you hate your parents, the man or the establishment, don’t show them up by getting wasted & wrapping your car around a tree. If you really want to rebel against your parents: outearn them, outlive them, & know more than they do.”

 

 

“To hate is to show you still care. Who needs that? Focus on what’s really important.”

 

 

“The average is the borderline that keeps mere men in their place. Those who step over the line are heroes by the very act. Go.”

 

 

“Why do you think the old stories tell of men who set out on great journeys to impress the gods? Because trying to impress people just isn’t worth the time & effort.”

 

 

“Life is full of choices, if you have the guts to go for it. That’s why I get immediately bored with anyone’s complaining about how boring their life is, or how bad their town is. Fucking leave & go somewhere else. Or don’t.”

 

Rollins
1 · 09

Ever wanted to ask a headhunter something??

If you ever had the opportunity to ask a recruiter something that you've always been afraid to ask, now's your chance.  Ask me anything.   Everything is fair game.   

Bring it on muthas!!!

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The Anti Pimp

My name is Scott. I find things, people, and things for people. I'm a master of the obvious, a kool-aid fanatic and a smart ass. I'm not a social media expert.

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