Three Principles That Drive Communication Between Developers And Designers
Recently, we covered the importance of synergy to decentralize the work places as well as tools that can be implemented to induce this collaboration amongst members throughout the organization. One of the most challenging areas of alignment Is between designers and developers. Tools alone won’t fix miscommunication with initial implementation. They are simply the vehicle that drives communication but if there’s no interpersonal alignment, the tools are useless.
A key source to this collaboration is empathy. In addition to empathy, three core principles will allow you to align your team members and create a centralization of expectations, perspectives, and passions.
Finding a Common Ground
To kick off any project, you need to establish a common ground among all members of the team. Who has knowledge in what elements of design? What prior knowledge or foundational processes is each member familiar with? What deliverables do the developers need to successfully implement the UI?
It’s critical that the expectations of both sides find a balance. Not that one side is expected to conform to the others ways. The design team should have an understanding of the workflows in development. The same goes for developers when it comes to design processes. It’s not that they have to know every detail, but they should know the core processes and deliverables.
This will form a degree of alignment in which the designers are aware what needs the developers have to properly translate the UX/UI experience, while developers can identify key areas in which they can assist with driving the process and requesting specific materials within a deliverable set. This way, there’s no additional communication or missing assets that must be generated once the process is complete.
The only way in which individuals and execution will improve is through learning to communicate with one another. Both sides should remember that they stem from a creative passion and it is core to their craft. Utilizing the common foundation to form an empathic relationship that will enable them to stay objective and execute effectively.
Mindsets Over Intricate Details
Changing the way you think and see individuals on a team can revolutionize the way you execute. Too often do we look at a team as a compilation of individual units or skillsets that can execute a task or assignment. Instead, you should aim to look at the net value of the team and emphasize the range of abilities and work with others on the team that complement your weaknesses.
Designers and developers are a great example of this relationship and where this perspective can change everything. Rather than looking at graphic designer vs. interactive designer vs. frontend engineer or backend engineer, look at the way each one things and the value they bring to the table.
The modern web design process requires intense collaboration between designers and frontend developers. The mindset needs to change from “title/role involvement” to a lens based on “skillset, passion or value” to ensure you have the right people in the right places.
Often so much focus is placed on the technique and method that people we forget to remember and internalize what was learned from the process on a human level, rather than a binary and technical one.
Meeting Halfway and Progressing Together
In this ever-evolving environment, becoming overwhelmed is easy. It can be difficult to stretch yourself to learning coding as a designer or the inner perspectives of design as a developer. You don’t need to stress it. The idea is to carry a degree of understanding and evolvement as an individual where you can meet the other person halfway.
Mastering each other’s skills doesn’t matter as much as learning each other’s processes, preferences and quirks. Projects come one by one and there is no guarantee that on the next one you will utilize the same technology or skill. But with empathic synergy, there will be a lasting effect in your workplace and establish you as a leader.
