12/12/2023 0 Comments Sparkbox frontend![]() For instance, it was easier to identify content that could be styled inside a or tag as opposed to a less semantic tag. This helped me begin to think about content structure and what HTML tags I might use for different elements before ever touching code. It was helpful for me to print out the design and physically markup the page with a pen. During the apprenticeship, I took static design files (from Sketch) and then wrote the HTML for each page as clean and as readable as possible. Essentially, this means writing code that both the browser and other developers can understand at a glance.īeing a designer, I had a hard time learning this principle because it required turning off the designer in me and instead focusing strictly on the content of the page. Thinking Like a Computer with Semantic HTMLĪnother important skill for designers working in the realm of frontend code is writing semantic HTML. Better communication and closer collaboration will create empathy for both parties and help projects to move faster with better results. The roles of designer and developer are inseparable. Knowing this process allowed me to not just explain my thoughts with words or static comps, but to actually write code and then run it by the developer for approval. ![]() It allowed me to better understand the basic build process that developers use on a daily basis and even learn some tips for version control for my own design projects. Why? Because a basic knowledge of Git and Github is the starting point for a designer to build empathy in the world of web development. When Git gets hard to grasp, it is important to keep on trying to learn and to reach out for help from developers. ![]() You could even pull up someone else’s project, make some changes, and then combine your changes with the original. If you’re a designer, imagine you’re working on a project and instead of saving files with labels like version1, version2, final, final_revised, etc., you have one file that contains a clear history of your changes over time. If this all sounds very confusing, I would encourage you to read this article on the command line or take this free online course.Īt first glance, Git seemed like a foreign concept due to the lack of visual prompts however, the advantages are well worth the time and effort needed to learn the basics. Git works hand-in-hand with Github, an online service that provides repositories (a place to save code) and the ability to collaborate on projects. It all starts with Git, a version-control system run on your own computer through the command line terminal. Let’s Git Realįor a designer like myself with minimal development experience, the first major hurdle to clear was learning the basics of Git and Github. After my first week, one thing became clear: there is a whole lot about the web that I don’t know, but I soon learned that at Sparkbox, curiosity and a hunger for learning trumps fluency. This doesn’t just apply to newbies like myself it’s an ethos embedded into the culture. However, I started as a computer science major, and in coming to Sparkbox, I was itching to re-engage the left side of my brain and take a deeper dive into the world of frontend code.Īt Sparkbox, there is a deliberate emphasis on learning. Most of my formal education focused on print design and marketing with web sprinkled on top during my last few semesters. On my first day-thrilled and a little nervous-I was ready to learn. What is a frontend designer? They go by many names (including UI developer, designer/developer, and unicorn), but the essential role of a frontend designer is to bridge design and development by pushing pixels (in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch) and writing frontend code (HTML, CSS, and some Javascript). Apprentices never do any client work, so there is no direct benefit to Sparkbox rather, it is a way to grow talent and benefit the web industry as a whole. Those who are hungry to learn can build their web skills and learn from the best while getting paid to work on mock projects and read lots of articles. It’s a reinvention of the apprenticeship from medieval and colonial times. A Sparkbox apprenticeship is similar to an internship, but at the same time, it’s much more than that. Fresh out of school, I was lucky enough to land a summer position at Sparkbox as a Frontend Design Apprentice.
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