Why should you know about code if you’re a designer?
First off, congratulations on stepping into the world of design! It’s an exciting space, and I’m thrilled to share a bit of my journey with you. My name is Jitendra, and although I come from an engineering background, I eventually found my passion in UI/UX design. Today, I want to share a lesson I learned along the way: knowing a bit about code can make a world of difference in your design career.
The Great Debate: To Code or Not to Code?
In the design community, there’s a longstanding debate: should designers know how to code? Some argue that you should focus solely on the creative aspects, while others see coding as an essential skill for modern designers. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the answer isn’t black and white — there’s value in both perspectives.
As a designer, you don’t need to be a full-fledged developer. But having a basic understanding of coding, especially HTML and CSS, can significantly improve your design process and collaboration with developers.
The Benefits of Knowing Basic HTML and CSS
When you have a grasp of how front-end development works, you start seeing design in a whole new light. It’s like having the blueprint to build a house — you know what fits where and why. You can predict how certain design elements will function when translated into code, which helps streamline the entire process.
Too often, designers come up with amazing concepts that are, unfortunately, tough to implement. That’s not only frustrating for the tech team but can also create friction during collaboration. Understanding coding basics makes you a more empathetic team player, and it helps to avoid those “Uh oh, we can’t do this” moments.
More Efficient, More Impactful
Knowing even a bit of coding allows you to think more deeply about how your designs are built. You begin to ask: “How much time will this take to code? Is it technically possible?” With that mindset, you’re not just designing for aesthetics but for efficiency and impact. You’re reducing the workload for developers and ensuring that your designs are more practical and functional from the get-go.
Coding Enhances Creativity
Believe it or not, learning to code doesn’t limit your creativity — it expands it. When you understand how something works under the hood, you can push the boundaries of what’s possible. You’re no longer confined to just thinking like a designer. Instead, you begin to see problems through the eyes of a developer, which opens up new ways of solving them.
That’s how you move towards becoming what some call a “Unicorn Designer” — someone who can design, code, and understand both disciplines well enough to create exceptional products.
Improved Collaboration with Developers
One of the most rewarding aspects of learning code is how it improves collaboration with developers. We designers are known for being empathetic toward our users, but what about empathy for the people we work with every day — our developers? When you understand their world, communication becomes smoother, and projects run more efficiently. You’ll find that the final product is better, and so is the work environment.
Designers who know the basics of coding become invaluable members of multidisciplinary teams because they understand what’s possible, what’s challenging, and what’s simply not feasible from a coding perspective.
Where to Begin?
You might be thinking, “Okay, I’m sold. But where do I start?” The good news is, it’s never too late to learn! Start with the basics — HTML, CSS, and maybe even a little JavaScript. There are tons of free resources online to help you get going. Sites like W3Schools, CSS Tricks, CodePen, and even YouTube are great places to start your journey. Don’t rush it — take your time to understand the fundamentals, and soon enough, you’ll be coding your own design prototypes.
Some suggestions about where can you start your code journey :
