mindgraffiti

I recently stumbled across this post on A List Apart. It advocates using a big-picture approach to implementing web standards in harmony with a web site’s intended design. The three major mindsets ALA named are The Writer, The Engineer, and The Artist. A short summary of the article:

Start by thinking like a writer. Outline the text with headers and sub-headers. Stop and consider the content. An artist sees text as an object, something to design around or add as an element of the design. A writer worries more about semantics, content and context.

After the writer, think like an engineer.

“When you construct a web document, think like an engineer. Your inner writer has selected an element because it has a certain meaning, while your inner engineer must consider the mechanics of that element and the structural integrity of the document it resides in. Markup gives content added meaning, but it also braces that content for use, gives it a supporting structure so it can do real work.” –How to Grok Web Standards, by Craig Cook

Markup your web document with the same rigorous standards an engineer must face, and you’ll find it will perform under pressure, update easier and depreciate gracefully.

Towards the end, think like an artist. Consider white space, fonts and how to arrange the design elements on the page. CSS can be challenging at first, but it gives more control when setting up a layout versus using tables.

Sounds easy, right? This article is not just about thinking on multiple levels; it’s the consequence of a growing need. Employers are no longer looking for someone who can do just programming, only writes, or is strictly a designer. They are demanding more. Job descriptions now ask for a programmer who can also fill the gaps with small design work, designers are needed who have familiarity with scripting or can write small amounts of code. Writers who know HTML and JavaScript are a plus.

The Interactive Digital Media major, with its cross-departmental requirements in Computer Science, Mass Communication and Fine Art is leaping forward to meet these new demands. IDM majors graduate with a mind disciplined to think from all three perspectives, unfettered by tunnel vision. I found it illuminating when I understood why people in other departments complete their projects the way they do; it makes translation between media run a little smoother. Any IDM major can contribute these things to a group:

• Know how a programmer would see a project compared to a designer and suddenly you are able to explain to a designer why their requests are much more involved or complicated than they knew; it gives an opportunity to offer alternatives the artist can be satisfied with while keeping it a manageable task for the programmer.

• Understanding the role a writer plays means recognizing which pieces of content are fluid and most likely to change, and as the designer you are able to create a look that focuses on the strengths of the content.

• Appreciate what a designer contributes and know why design elements are an important part of a web site, application, or project.

Were I working for a larger company with specialized jobs, I expect I would have fit in as a usability engineer. Usability engineers have to see with the eyes of a user, and then identify how a site is used and could be improved. Convincing the programmer, writer, or designer why a change is necessary takes finesse. It takes skilled persuasion to get the changes done, meaning a usability engineer has to speak with the programmer’s, writer’s or designer’s vocabulary to explain why the change is good and also be realistic about what can be changed.

Project managers often times fill the role of translator as well. As it stands, I work for a company with a small web department and wear many hats. The best part about it is knowing when I come to work I will not be bored. My day has structure - I go to 9 a.m. meetings and have deadlines to meet like everyone else - but the rest of what I do varies by the day. I design web site comps one day and build the layout in CSS the next. I update the content on multiple sites one day and program small Flash applications the next. I value change. Learning something new or being challenged by a project is important. It keeps me interested in my job and keeps me motivated during the days I have to trudge through tedious tasks.

When I found the IDM major I knew it was the right degree for me to pursue, because the class projects varied and were always challenging. If I wanted something predictable with a strong sense of job security and a schedule, I would have picked Accounting. So know yourself. Know your major. Your major strongly reflects the attitudes and type of work you will be doing once you turn it into a career. If you enjoy what you’re doing in your classes, you’re on the right track.