Walls

Two people are presented with the same issue. The first is asked to recommend the best possible fix. The second is asked to do the same but will also be implementing whatever solution they recommend.

Person two is in a bad spot, whether they know it or not. Their solution is unavoidably affected by the possible ramifications of implementation. The quick fix is a tractor beam, the logical path, the likely solution. In full or in part.

Person one, though… Person one is bringing the Superman punch. The proper solution. The fix you want.

It’s just math. Person two is too close to the mechanics, the politics, the history, the hows and whys to see the Beautiful Mind equations floating through the air. Person two is thinking about the work.

Let’s look at designers. Let’s look at web designers. Let’s look at web designers designing select boxes in a form. The two of you who get this can use it to frame the entire point and skip to the next paragraph. The rest of you only need to know that styling a select field is a complete pain to implement. The designer who doesn’t code doesn’t care, though. Somebody else’s problem. It’s the best solution. Deal with it. The one who codes, compromises. Quietly moves on to the submit button.

Take that up three levels. Design in the browser. Compromises. Design from a framework. Compromises. Design Responsive ‘patterns.’ Compromises. Design anything you’ll be implementing yourself, and the universe will drift you to compromises, drift you to easy. Whether you know it or not. In full or in part.

Now let’s look at web design agencies. Being on the other side of the wall is a big part of their value. They’re able to squint off the mechanics, the politics, the history, the hows and whys to come back with the best possible fix. The Superman punch.

It’s not simply that they live on the other side of the wall, but this is a boost. A rifle scope. The smart agency can get to the fix with a laser focus that can’t be replicated in-house.

It’s why agencies are not on the cliff. Not the smart ones. We have time.