Do you draw first or code?

Discussion in 'Skinning, Design and Graphics' started by LiquidServe, Jan 18, 2013.

  1. LiquidServe

    LiquidServe Regular Member

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    Do you draw the design first or directly fire up the code editor and start coding?

    Well I do not just go on insanely coding.... I first draw the design and functionality of the site but later I end up getting a different design and a better product. :D

    Whats the case for you?
     
    Brandon likes this.
  2. SimplySidy

    SimplySidy Website Consultant, Developer and Strategist

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    I have always loved to do the wireframe first. That at least helps me a lot in identifying the layout, the structure of the entire side and also the CSS is lessened. I think that even those who are quite proficient in coding, still do the same
     
  3. bigbigfan

    bigbigfan Regular Member

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    I decide on specifics first, width, height and number/location of sidebars if any. When I know exactly how I want a site layout to look I proceed with code and I set up my .css file. When I'm happy that the layout is good I get the images done, if needed.

    I do it this way because I may decide to change the layout or appearance during design and don't want to re-draw images which take longer to create.

    A good tool to use in firefox to visualize code(div's, tables etc) even on a blank page is already in your tools section. Click on tools/web developer/inspect to see it all even without images.
     
  4. etc

    etc I should be busy.

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    Most designers I think would first draw their layout before slicing them and then code. its alot easier to code when you know exactly what its like after. The sad part is that I'm poor with coding, I can however draw using Gimp and inkscape. :D
     
  5. carntheroos4eva

    carntheroos4eva Regular Member

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    Draw first. Was taught this while completing an IT course at uni.
     
  6. bigbigfan

    bigbigfan Regular Member

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    But in order to draw you need to know sizes and such so how many times are you willing to draw if you keep making changes to css and such as you go?

    I find it easy to change css and don't enjoy drawing as much which is probably why I work the code first. /shrug.
     
  7. Sway

    Sway Regular Member

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    I am terrible at drawing, and very impatient. I go in over time, and modify what i need to with the code/css.
     
  8. dojo

    dojo Regular Member

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    I'm just a designer, so I can't comment on programming.

    For my clients I design a mockup, for my sites usually I get into the template coding directly, since I know what I want. Never did any 'real drawing' or 'sketching', seems a waste of time (not to mention I'm not too talented anyway :D
     
  9. cpvr

    cpvr Regular Member

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    I can't draw for the life of me but I can code some html/css.
     
  10. bauss

    bauss Regular Member

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    I'll usually design first whenever I start a new site, because I like to visually see what my site is going to look like for motivation.
     
  11. Martin W

    Martin W Regular Member

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    When someone is making me a theme design I always want to see a graphic version before getting it coded fully so I can see what it looks like from that basis.
     
    dojo likes this.
  12. limcid

    limcid Regular Member

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    You definitely want to have a plan before diving in. The "drawing" doesn't have to be hand-drawn, you can do some basic photoshop copy/pasting from elements seen in other sites. You definitely have to be able to create some kind of rough draft, though.
     
  13. webaficionado

    webaficionado Regular Member

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    I've done both. When I got bored, I used to sketch website designs to get a general idea of what I wanted the outcome to be like.
     
  14. nav0413

    nav0413 Regular Member

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    First to do is PSD and after that is coding.. :)
     
  15. xHysteria

    xHysteria Regular Member

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    I can't code any website without designing it first. I've always designed website via Photoshop, but I've never coded too many that result in the same thing. I always go out on my way to make it look better and nicer, so it never looks like what I design.

    xHysteria.
     
  16. bosconian

    bosconian Regular Member

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    I always create a mockup first using Inkscape. After that writing the HTML and CSS is pretty simple and straightforward. I'm not a graphic designer and my designs are pretty simple but still I find it easier to have a drawing with the general layout of the page and then coding the CSS that will give that same layout to my pages.
     
  17. CM30

    CM30 Regular Member

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    Code, because I suck at drawing even website layouts. Things I code tend to look better than anything I can draw.
     
  18. avantidesai

    avantidesai Regular Member

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    You got to draw your site first on a white board, conceptualize it on a piece of paper and only then you can jump to coding it.
     

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