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Planning stage - can I assume this?

by inetmilionaire
7 replies
I am planning a website and thinking of hiring programmers individually through a freelancer site. I am wondering whether its safe to assume a competent coder will also be able to do professional looking website graphic design, or should I get a graphic designer to do the page templates and then pass the template onto a programmer for the background grunt work?

What is other programmers experience? In general can you and those you know do both, or am I better off planning for two specialists?

The template I want is all about the header - it should be html/css with "good looking" cartoon images that "breaks the frame" by reaching into the text display area (not excessively though). It will also have a static background that the text area can scroll through without moving, like many modern pages are designed to do.
#assume #planning #stage
  • Profile picture of the author lharding
    Hi,

    Don't assume that a programmer can do graphics well. They are different skills (although you could consider both an art form). You may be thinking more along the lines of a website designer, who may be able to construct basic website using PHP (through templates etc) and do nice graphics. Traditionally, programmers are a different breed from website designers.

    Of course, you can simply ask for examples (samply websites for example) that the programmer has created.

    Cheers, Lee.
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    Lee Harding
    The Architect
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    • Profile picture of the author Bruce Hearder
      Most programmers "suck" at graphics!!

      I would definitely plan on dealling with both graphic artists and programmers..

      But make sure the graphic artist know about the web. Most think a website is just the same as a piece of paper, and have no concept of fonts, image load times etc

      So check out both, and as the other poster suggested, get samples of their work

      Take care, and I hope this helps

      Bruce
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  • Profile picture of the author inetmilionaire
    Thanks Lee and Bruce, you pretty much confirmed my suspicions.

    I have another question - is there a techy title for the role of a graphic designer who is also web savvy? This will help when looking for a job quote.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bruce Hearder
      Originally Posted by inetmilionaire View Post

      is there a techy title for the role of a graphic designer who is also web savvy?
      Not real title, to ask about. Just ask for proff of what they have done.
      And when they show it to you, then ask for contact details of the owner and see if what the designer says is what the website owner says.

      In other words, its really easy for a graphic person to say they did all the graphics for XYZ.com, but did they really do it?

      There is only 1 way to find out, get them to give you the contact details of the website owner and see if what they say is true..

      Hope this helps

      bruce
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  • Profile picture of the author lharding
    You could go for a "Web Designer", they typically do the entire package, but won't go into complicated site programming, but they could taylor Wordpress, or use PHP to create something very professional. Programming implies something a little more "techie".
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    Lee Harding
    The Architect
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    • Profile picture of the author inetmilionaire
      Bruce: Great idea, I didn't think of that - I'll be sure to check.

      lharding: Cheers, I'll go for web designer stressing the visuals. I'm not too sure were to break the line between general designer/programmer, I want a membership site with some MLM capability. I guess I'll just ask.

      Cheers all!
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  • Profile picture of the author wayfarer
    Someone who excels at both code and graphic design is usually called a "designer-developer". They are rare, and usually are better at one or the other. Don't expect them to design characters or top of the line logos, they are probably better at making the rest of the site fit together than doing pure graphic arts.

    If you want to know, ask! Any developer/designer who is worth his or her salt, will be willing to tell you what they are and aren't good at.
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    I build web things, server things. I help build the startup Veenome. | Remote Programming Jobs
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