Designers do it in the browser
STOP using PhotoShop, Fireworks and any other tools that _don't_ output HTML, CSS and JS. We've all been there: endless revisions across multiple files, figuring out what "Layer 37 copy copy copy" _actually_ is, etc etc. Photoshop isn't bad, it's just not the right tool anymore. As Drupal is free and open, there are lots of free and open tools out there to make your life as a Web Designer easier. While a beginning Drupal Themer could attend this session, it is really meant for an audience that is really comfortable with HTML, CSS and JS best practices.
Intended audience:
web designers, themers, front-end developers, project managers
Questions answered by this session:
- Question 1:
- What are the problems involved in the traditional web design and client presentation practice of using image editing tools like photoshop as a primary design tool?
- Question 2:
- How can we use CSS and markup as creative tools?
- Question 3:
- What are the benefits in presenting designs to clients as html in browsers in terms of showing designs in the proper context, getting constructive feedback, and ushering speedy sign-offs?
- Question 4:
- Why should we be browser-testing early and often? / How do we make it much less painful?
- Question 5:
- How do we actually do this? From the creative, tech, and project management point of view.
Because my presentation isn't flat, and is part of the browser, I can't upload my slides. I can however post a link to it and my notes.
Presentation:Design in the browserPresentation Notes:Design in the browser - gDoc Notes
About Erik Baldwin
I'm a Front End Drupal developer. I helped start the Central FL Drupal community in 2008 with several other Drupal enthusiasts. Through the years, I've focused on helping new community members get more involved in their local communities, I'm always in IRC (20+ rooms, at least) trying to help where I can, and I travel the globe with my partner (who is also my biz partner). I bleed blue, and breath Drupal - all day, every day. I love what I do, and I love the community and the relationships I've built with many of it's members. Three years ago, sold everything except a suitcases worth of clothing, my laptop, and a few essentials so that we ( JCL324 on d.o) could follow the DrupalCons (yes, we're Drupies, a phrase coined by ME) and get even further involved with local communities.
The first community CLoud NYNE Design (our biz) visited was in the great city of Chicago. We stayed for a year, helped them plan DrupalCamp Chicago 2011 (design and theme by moi) and empowered some advanced Drupalista's to create a more focused meetup group for advanced Drupal users. While there, CND was also able to create and strengthen bonds with other Drupal based businesses.
We recently just moved to Denver, and are staying for 6 months, with the plan to move to Portland in April for DrupalCon PDX in May. Our adventure will continue until we find a place where we simply just don't want to leave. I look forward to meeting new people at every DrupalCon and especially working with Drupal businesses that require experts.
Thanks for reading, see you in April, and hopefully May!
PS: some examples of presentations from previous camps and meetups follow.
jQuery For Site Builders: Presented in 2012 at a Chicago Drupal Meetup
Theming Drupal 6 - An Introduction to the Basics: Presented in 2010 at a South FL Drupal meetup
Theming Drupal 7 - Meet your new best friend, render(): Presented at Florida DrupalCamp 2012