Should UI/UX designers know how to code? My honest opinion as a Product Designer | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

No, learning how to code is not necessary to become a great UX designer, but it can be helpful to understand the technical aspects of development.

Key Insights

• 👨‍💻 A UX designer's main focus is on solving problems through design, not coding.
• 👨‍💻 Coding knowledge can improve communication and understanding between designers and developers.
• 🎨 Technical feasibility and scalability should be considered during the design process.
• 🎨 Clear and consistent design files make it easier for developers to understand and code designs.
• 🥺 Communicating and involving developers early in the design process can lead to better results.
• 👨‍💻 Learning to code is beneficial, but not necessary for a UX design role.
• ❓ FreeCodeCamp is a recommended resource for learning HTML and CSS.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Is learning how to code necessary to become a great UX designer?

No, the main focus of a UX designer is on solving problems through design, not coding. However, coding knowledge can be helpful to communicate with developers and understand technical feasibility.

Q: How does coding knowledge make a designer better?

Knowing how to code, especially HTML and CSS, can help designers better understand how developers work and transform their designs into code. This knowledge improves communication and awareness of technical feasibility in design.

Q: What should designers do if they don't know how to code?

Designers can focus on practicing and understanding technical feasibility while designing and delivering clear design files. They can also communicate with developers, involve them early in the design process, and learn about their pain points to make their lives easier.

Q: Is it necessary to learn how to code to meet job requirements?

It depends on the role. For a pure UI/UX design role, coding knowledge is not a requirement, but it can be a nice-to-have skill. However, if the role requires multiple hats, including coding, then learning how to code becomes necessary.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A product designer's main job is to solve real problems through design, not code.

• Coding knowledge can make you a better communicator with developers and help you understand technical feasibility and scalability.

• If the role requires wearing multiple hats and coding, then learning how to code is necessary. However, for a pure UI/UX design role, coding knowledge is not a deal breaker.