[IxDA Discuss] Coding and IxD (was: What sets the 'best' interaction designers apart?)

[Dan Saffer]

On Feb 4, 2007, at 3:10 AM, lisa herrod wrote:

> As Interaction Designers, surely a solid understanding of coding  
> html and
> particularly accessibility is essential..? Not just so you can  
> build better
> relationships with developers, but so you can design and specify  
> better
> interfaces.

I agree that knowing a little code is helpful. I disagree, however,   
that all interaction designers need to be coders. What's necessary is:

- an ability to understand the constraints and possibilities of the  
medium you are working in, so that you can best utilize (and work  
around) them
- and an ability to effectively communicate to those who have to make  
your design work

I don't think you have to know code (and materials, for those of us  
working with physical devices) to do either of those things...but it  
helps.

Dan