Comments on: 5 Things You Should Know About IT People

By: Brett Derricott

Brett Derricott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:18:59 +0000

@josh: Respect is definitely the key. Thanks for commenting!

By: josh

josh — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:28:45 +0000

I think one problem that designers have with IT people is that some IT people tend to think creatives (or everyone else) are beneath them. Like one comment above where the person stated that some were losers for making a comment that something was simple. But for a creative if something works simply then it’s a great product. I’ve never thought that something that works simple was a simple thing to accomplish. As a designer we are always trying to make things as simple as possible and that in it’s self can be a very difficult task. What rubs designers the wrong way are comments in this manner. Everyone has their own bent and one always needs the other. No matter if you are a designer or programmer there will always be someone that can do a certain thing better. The key is to respect each other for what we can do and the way we are. Programmers are great and I highly respect them. -Thanks

By: LinkSwitch – A Roundup of Great Links Across the Web – FreelanceSwitch

LinkSwitch – A Roundup of Great Links Across the Web – FreelanceSwitch — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:00:45 +0000

[...] at Agency Byte tells us the 5 Things We Should Know About IT People. IT people have always aided me out of massive confusion, so I have nothing buy the highest regard [...]

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:17:22 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with your point of view.

I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to combine my two passions, graphic (later web) design and programming. Along the years I’ve emphasized my programming skills (because I think I’m better at it and because -let’s face it, it’s better paid) and I can tell how much my creativity as a designer has suffered. It’s like having two opposite mindsets trying to live together.

IMHO -and based in my experience, I think that if a designer knows enough about usability and about what can be achieved through programming, then it should be up to the designers to sort of dictate the guidelines of a project. It should then be up to the programmers to do a little magic and make the graphic interface work.

In the end it’s all about having a good communication as well as about investing time in learning at least the basic concepts of the other discipline.

For large projects I believe it’s essential to have a project manager proficient in both disciplines, someone that will never lose a clear vision of how the final product should be.

By: Kjell

Kjell — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:33:02 +0000

Arun: Yes, for Designers it’s also devastating to tell them, after they finish that beautiful multi-layer cross-browser floating redesign, you need some place for your supercool input-form to “create that report”. .. they love that. ghehehe.

Good posting

By: Brett Derricott

Brett Derricott — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:27:10 +0000

@Arun: Glad you liked the article. Coders certainly need to learn more about designers too! I think coders often underestimate the amount of talent and effort it takes to consistently produce great design work.

By: Arun

Arun — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:16:06 +0000

This is so true! On the contrary, coders also need to emphasize with designers, because we designers are also funny in certain ways.

By: » LinkSwitch â€“ A Roundup of Great Links Across the Web

» LinkSwitch â€“ A Roundup of Great Links Across the Web — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:47:22 +0000

[...] Brett at Agency Byte tells us the 5 Things We Should Know About IT People. IT people have always aided me out of massive confusion, so I have nothing buy the highest regard for them, but if your aim is to understand them (rather than not even trying), then this is the article for you! [...]

By: Brett Derricott

Brett Derricott — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:54:58 +0000

@Don: You make a great point about the value of a skilled project manager. My own project managers are great examples of this and without their help, I’m sure a large percentage of our projects would fail. Great comment, Don.

By: Don Mitchell

Don Mitchell — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 23:39:51 +0000

What a wonderful discussion; But it is an insular one without a third participant.

That third party is the project manager who identifies, refines and sustains the need (business case) for the product which is so effectively acted on by the developer and the designer (at least as long as the need remains).

I have heard of conventional wisdom which suggests that 70% of all IT projects fail. If this is true I believe it’s because of a lack of ‘business case due diligence’ for a project. Building or identifying a business case must be an important key to all project success and it is just one essential element of the project manager’s skill.

A competent project manager generalist can effectively add this important skill to the mix and with the other essential skill of communication make everyone look very good. These facts together could eliminate the need for each individual professional to defend his or her special turf or ego. As a project manager I know I cannot do what you do nor function without your service.

The best suggestion that I can make to remedy the IT industry’s propensity for failure and ego bruising is for developers and designers to insist on enlisting the assistance of competent project managers who will sustain the business case for each project and encourage the disciplines of budget, scope, schedule, risk management, quality, and contract completion.