Sintwar
10-08-2006, 04:03 PM
As I understand, there are not many designers / programmers out there.
For most, you are either one or the other. I am going to share my experience with you, and if you as a designer would like to follow the same path, I hope this message will help you.
I started my career as a graphic designer, working for a small web company doing layout designs and a little HTML. Nothing too amazing, but learning HTML would be the first step I took towards becoming what I like to call and "Uber Geek". ;)
While using HTML, it is a good idea to learn a little javascript while you are at it. Most of the things you may use it for are actually very simple to master. Scripts such as button rollover scripts are fairly simple to learn, and are a great primer for anyone looking to make the transition from designer to Uber Geek.
One thing that I am glad I learned was Flash. I started learning Flash when it was still brand new, and hardly anyone knew what it was yet. But in order to use Flash to its fullest potential, you need to learn ActonScript.
ActionScript feels a lot like javascript. I actually learned more about programming from using Flash than any Javascript I had ever used, and I was also learning to create awesome Flash projects with the combination of my design skills, and what I was learning with ActionScript.
Flash ActionScript can be as simple as showing and hiding an object on the screen, or it can be used to create entire full featured games and applications.
I started off with simple button scripts, but as a result of using them, and my thirst to learn more, I learned more about programming than I even wanted to know.
I had really only been seriously using ActionScript for about a year before I had the opportunity to experience Asp.Net.
Ok, I know that Asp.Net is Micro$oft paraphernalia, but .Net is about as simple as it gets when you want to learn how to program real web applications.
With the combination of skills I had learned in the past (HTML, Javascript and ActionScript), I had no idea of how easy it was going to be to break into the web application development world.
As it turns out, one of the programming languages available to use in Asp.Net is called "C#". C# is derived from the C language, which may sound pretty scary for any designer with zero programming experience, however C# is almost identicle to JavaScript, and more importantly, ActionScript.
While learning how to use Flash, I had no idea I was priming myself for an exciting future in web development.
I would recommend a book called "Asp.Net For Web Designers" by Peter Ladka. This was the only book I read for .Net, and within 3 years, my programming skills have gone from almost null to developing my own full blown database driven web applications, and my salary as an employee has almost tripled.
More than anything, a healthy thirst to learn more all the time will help you more than anything.
Well, I hope that if you are a designer who is interested in learning programming, that this message has shed a little light for you.
Best regards,
-Me. :)
For most, you are either one or the other. I am going to share my experience with you, and if you as a designer would like to follow the same path, I hope this message will help you.
I started my career as a graphic designer, working for a small web company doing layout designs and a little HTML. Nothing too amazing, but learning HTML would be the first step I took towards becoming what I like to call and "Uber Geek". ;)
While using HTML, it is a good idea to learn a little javascript while you are at it. Most of the things you may use it for are actually very simple to master. Scripts such as button rollover scripts are fairly simple to learn, and are a great primer for anyone looking to make the transition from designer to Uber Geek.
One thing that I am glad I learned was Flash. I started learning Flash when it was still brand new, and hardly anyone knew what it was yet. But in order to use Flash to its fullest potential, you need to learn ActonScript.
ActionScript feels a lot like javascript. I actually learned more about programming from using Flash than any Javascript I had ever used, and I was also learning to create awesome Flash projects with the combination of my design skills, and what I was learning with ActionScript.
Flash ActionScript can be as simple as showing and hiding an object on the screen, or it can be used to create entire full featured games and applications.
I started off with simple button scripts, but as a result of using them, and my thirst to learn more, I learned more about programming than I even wanted to know.
I had really only been seriously using ActionScript for about a year before I had the opportunity to experience Asp.Net.
Ok, I know that Asp.Net is Micro$oft paraphernalia, but .Net is about as simple as it gets when you want to learn how to program real web applications.
With the combination of skills I had learned in the past (HTML, Javascript and ActionScript), I had no idea of how easy it was going to be to break into the web application development world.
As it turns out, one of the programming languages available to use in Asp.Net is called "C#". C# is derived from the C language, which may sound pretty scary for any designer with zero programming experience, however C# is almost identicle to JavaScript, and more importantly, ActionScript.
While learning how to use Flash, I had no idea I was priming myself for an exciting future in web development.
I would recommend a book called "Asp.Net For Web Designers" by Peter Ladka. This was the only book I read for .Net, and within 3 years, my programming skills have gone from almost null to developing my own full blown database driven web applications, and my salary as an employee has almost tripled.
More than anything, a healthy thirst to learn more all the time will help you more than anything.
Well, I hope that if you are a designer who is interested in learning programming, that this message has shed a little light for you.
Best regards,
-Me. :)