Should Designers code - 2024 (opinion)

Published Aug 06, 2024

Let’s talk about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately: should designers code in 2024? From where I stand, absolutely. The landscape of work has changed dramatically, especially after the pandemic. People thought work-from-home was a temporary thing, a fad. Some CEOs even tried to force everyone back into the office, but they quickly realized they were losing talent. It turns out, WFH is here to stay, and the same goes for AI.

Now, I’ve heard people say that AI is just the latest buzzword, like a trend everyone’s jumping on. Sure, there are concerns—like in the art world, where we see copyright issues and even artists using AI for comic book covers. There’s also this fear of AI taking over jobs. While some of these concerns are valid, I don’t think AI is the big bad wolf people make it out to be. It’s not inherently evil; it’s just a tool. The problem lies with people who misuse it, lacking the right moral compass.

For me, AI is like a handy sidekick. I use it daily, not just for work but to learn new things. It’s like having a knowledgeable buddy who’s always there to help. My love for design and tech isn’t just about making things look good. I enjoy tinkering with both hardware and software. I work on a Mac OS for professional stuff, but I also run a Linux setup at home, where I manage my own server for all sorts of cool projects. If I didn’t know some basic code or use AI, this would be a lot harder to pull off.

I got into HTML, CSS, and ActionScript 2 back in university. While I’m not a developer, this coding knowledge definitely makes me a better designer. It helps me understand what’s possible and communicate better with devs. Plus, when I get stuck, AI steps in to help me out, like when I was working on this website’s React code.

So, should designers learn to code in 2024? I think so, yeah. It not only boosts your own skills but also changes how people see our profession. We’re moving beyond being just “the planners” or “the cleanup crew.” We’re merging more with developers, blending our roles. Knowing a bit of code and using AI to scale that knowledge has made me a better designer. It’s all about staying relevant and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our field.