Attn Designers: the case for front-end mobile devs & why designers have to code

One day a couple decided to get a new table. This table couldn’t just be any table because you see this couple was nerdy AF when it came to craftsman ship. They wanted to know everything about the entire process: where the materials came from, how the table was built and the team who built the table.

In order to get what they wanted this couple decided to hire the world’s greatest table designer (they were obviously of the means). Let’s call him Joe. Joe, the table designer, met with the couple and they voiced their concerns. Then the couple presented a deal-breaker: we will hire you but only if you can tell us WHY we should hire you over anyone else.

Joe calmly nodded and set down his pencil on his notepad. He looked the couple in the eyes and said: I’m the best designer because I love to do everything by hand. No detail escapes me. I labored as a lumberjack so I could know how to source the best trees. I labored in a lumber yard to know how to process the best wood. I became a wood-worker so I could know how to intricately carve the best wood. And then, only then did I feel ready to design tables. I could not build tables any other way.

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The case for front-end mobile developers

As a software designer I aspire to design and ship the greatest experiences possible. However, I could never set myself on a path for greatness without learning to code. It would be like trying to design a table without having ever built one before.

The details that you miss when you don’t fully grasp all the intricacies that go into computers, networks, object oriented programming and IDE prevent today’s UI designers from being great.

In web application development we often see this division of labor:
i. a ux designer works on wireframes
ii. a front-end engineer implements those wireframes
iii. and a back-end developer implements the functionality

However, the line between i. and ii. has slowly been blurring. In fact, I’d argue today’s best web application designers are also proficient front-end developers.

In order to craft beautiful experiences, these designers have learned to know their tools. The rise of front-end designer/developers hybrids is still relatively new but it’s important because it sets a precedent for mobile application development.

In mobile application development we often see this division of labor:
i. a ux designer works on wireframes
iii. an iOS or Android developer implements the design and the functionality

What’s missing?

ii. a front-end mobile engineer implements those wireframes

Today’s mobile application designers have become comfortable with the tools (shortcuts) their taught to use. I know I did. That’s why I decided to learn iOS development.

It’s time for designers working on mobile apps to learn how to code just like designer have for web apps. Otherwise how do you design and build the greatest tables in the world?