This document discusses the evolution of roles in UX/UI design and development over time. It presents a brief history starting in the 1990s with webmasters and designers focused on HTML. By the late 1990s, developers also worked with HTML and usability/UX emerged. The roles continued to expand and combine skills, with modern practitioners often working across UX research, interaction design, visual design, front-end development, and considerations for accessibility. The document suggests that while specialization can be valuable, it is also beneficial for those in UX to learn some front-end development skills to enable quick prototyping and understand rich interactions and responsive design.

1. Specialise
Cross
OR
skill?

2. UX
UI
Designer
Front end
Back end
Pick only one

3. hats
anyone who has been around for long enough
has probably worn lots of

4. A brief history of
professional skills
using crappy venn
diagrams

5. Geeks
Pre-1994

6. Web masters
Around 1995
Designers
HTML

7. Developers
Around 1998
Designers HTML
Usability/UX

8. Back end
Somewhen
Web
design
Front
endUX

9. Research
User
Experience
Designer
Interaction
design
Back end
Visual
design
Front end
Web
Designer
UI Developer
Application
Developer
Information
Design
http://asinthecity.com/2011/11/10/the-difference-between-a-ux-designer-and-ui-developer/

10. But the UX diagram
is too simple!
We need more
complexity!

12. Copyright: Envis Precisely 2009

14. Copyright: Envis Precisely 2009

16. woah

17. And what about the
UI/front end
developer role?

18. Around 1995
HTML

19. Around 2002
HTMLCSS

20. 2004-2008
HTMLCSS
Dealing with IE

21. Around 2008
HTMLCSS JS

22. Around 2009
HTMLCSS JS Frameworks

23. Around 2010
HTMLCSS JS Frameworks SASS

24. Other shit
Around 2011
HTML
CSS
JS
Frameworks
SASS
GRUNT
GIT
RWD
Coffee
LESS
OOCSS
Storage

25. ahhhhhhh

26. Anything missing?

27. accessibility
what about

28. Research
User
Experience
Designer
Interaction
design
Back end
Visual
design
Front end
Web
Designer
UI Developer
Application
Developer
Information
Design
http://asinthecity.com/2011/11/10/the-difference-between-a-ux-designer-and-ui-developer/
✓
✓
✓
✓ ✓

29. vision?
Do you have
audiences with
special needs?
motor?
cognitive?
hearing?
Research

30. IA
considerations
How will these
special needs
impact on the
UX/UI
Specific
user testing
Specific
focus
groups?
Interface
considerations
Interaction
design
Information
Design

31. font-size
Design
considerations
Colour
contrast
colour alone
used to convey
meaning
Visual
design

32. Front end
Keyboard
only
Focus order
visible focus
trapping
Screen
reader &
braille
devices
additional meaning
injected content
forms
announcing
Congnitive
needs
progressive reveal
tables
access

33. “what is my title?”

34. Web Designer
Web Design

35. UX/UI
Personas
Focus groups
Card sorts
IA
Wireframes
Prototypes
User testing

36. HTMLCSS
Pattern
libraries
Frameworks
UI/Front end developer

37. Accessibility specialist
Accessibility
Reviews
Accessibility
Development

38. Can I be a specialist?

39. yes!be what you wanna be

40. 1. your interests
3. the team
2. your skill set
depends on:

41. If I am in UX,
should I learn some
front-end skills?

42. have to?
do I

43. 1. quick prototyping
3. understanding richinteraction
2. understanding RWD
invaluable for:

44. Is there such a thing
as the mythical
unicorn?

45. sure…in your dreams

46. 2. spread too thin?
3. bias?
even if they really exist
1. understanding and empathy does not
equal extensive experience

47. Time for a chat…

48. beer
I don’t wanna chat.I’m just here for the

49. Do you have cross-skills?
Let’s hear it!
what about you?
Are you a specialist?

50. Russ Weakley
Max Design
!
Site: maxdesign.com.au
Twitter: twitter.com/russmaxdesign
Slideshare: slideshare.net/maxdesign
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/russweakley