D2W: Designer/Developer Workflow Conference

So tell us a bit about the D2W conference. What made you decide to put on a conference about designers and developers and their workflow?

What I want to do here is improve the workflow; I'm trying to get designers and developers to work together or at the very least to have them be hybrids, learning the skills that will make them more than just a designer or developer. However, I'm more concerned about getting designers and developers to talk to one another.

All sessions at the D2W conference center around workflow, whether it's between designers and developers or between applications.

Is this (designers and developers not communicating) a problem you see a lot?

Maybe two years ago I came across two unrelated blogs, one from a designer griping about a developer and one from a developer griping about a designer. I thought, what can we do to bridge that gap?

So that's what you want to do, then — bridge that gap?

Personally, yes. And I started working on the concept of this conference at the time. Two years ago, it couldn't have happened. Since then, the economy has shifted and the more you know, the more marketable you are.

So now you think people are more interested in becoming hybrids?

Right now I see that there's so much more that you need to know as a designer or developer. For example, if you have a designer who knows nothing about CSS, how is that designer supposed to create a website? There is way more UI design going on these days. As a designer, if you don't understand the requirements for development, I have no idea how you could come up with something off the top of your head and expect it to be right.

So has there been a lot of interest in the conference?

Unfortunately for me, I've been out of touch for most of this year. I have to hit the ground running getting the word out about this conference. Those people who have heard about it seem very interested.

Was it hard to get speakers to talk about workflow?

In D2W, you'll find nothing that is strictly one thing or another. There were tons of sessions that I had to turn down. For example, Kevin Schmidt, one of our speakers, originally came to me with a session that was only about ColdFusion, but I turned him down. Then he came back with a topic that was more appropriate for the conference. You're not going to find the same sessions here that you'll find at CFUNITED.

I like your graphic for the conference — it looks like a variation of a Rubik's cube... What does it signify?

It was just a cute design that I threw together. There are three colors there, one for the designer, one for the developer, and of course there's the hybrid color.

Hmm... You've had a lot of experience as a designer and a developer, and you've worked for many years with developers. What is the worst thing you've ever seen happen in communication between developers and designers?

Project management is where the problem lies, in not understanding that the developer needs to be in on the project before the design is started and before the client comes in.

If a wireframe is done first, the developer, designer and client need to be part of that process. I think that project managers need to understand that they can save hundreds, if not thousands of hours on a project. I'm hoping we can get some project managers in to the sessions.

So do you think your target audience is the project manager?

If the project managers are not facilitating the designers and developers talking, then what the designer and developer learns at this conference may be for naught. Of course, sometimes the designer or developer can bring ideas back that are adapted by the project manager. But the project manager is very important in the process of communication.

Do you think that Flash Catalyst is a big breakthrough here?

Flash Catalyst 1.0 does not roundtrip to Flash Builder. As a designer, there is a ton of stuff you can do with Flash Catalyst without knowing any code. It's more in the designer's hands than the developer's.

So you think once they get that roundtripping between Flash Catalyst and Flash Builder, it will really help facilitate the designer/developer workflow?

Oh, definitely. Don't get me wrong. It's already a wonderful tool for wireframing. Designers can create a portfolio with Flash Catalyst or create their own websites. If you want a little slideshow, it's ten times easier to do a graphic design in the design tool of your choice, then to go into Flash Catalyst and create your own slideshow.

What is your goal with D2W?

My goal is for people to come away learning something new about workflow.

So this conference has three tracks, and there looks like a lot of good material here. It must cost an arm and a leg!

No, we'll only take a finger. (Laughs) Of course, not, Judith. It's only $225 for the two days, and you get two meals included — breakfast and a box lunch.

And how do people sign up for D2W?

You can register at http://d2w.eventbrite.com/?discount=fusionauthority — and you'll get $30.00 off the regular price!

Sounds great, Dee. Thanks a lot! May your conference be successful and thanks so much for this interview.

Thank you, Judith.