Web Perspectives

What is UX and why is it important for developers to learn? Carrie Mah, Staff UX Designer and founder of Carrie M Designs, details the #1 mistake developers make when working with UX designers and how to get started in UX Design as a web developer. Timestamps: * 00:02:58 - Her journey into UX design, starting from a computer science education and exploring various roles in software development. * 00:05:04 - The importance of understanding user problems and business goals when creating user interfaces. * 00:06:02 - How developers can get involved in UX design and collaborate with design teams. * 00:07:50 - The value of joining online communities and using free resources to learn UX/UI fundamentals. * 00:09:36 - The importance of sketching ideas and focusing on the architecture of an app before jumping into design tools. * 00:11:02 - The basics of visual design, including typography and spacing, and leveraging existing libraries and guidelines. * 00:11:54 - Using AI tools as assistants for brainstorming and content organization, not as a replacement for the design process. * 00:12:27 - The concept of low-fidelity prototyping and its importance in the design process. * 00:14:14 - The need for good requirements and user research to solve the right problems. * 00:15:55 - The importance of integrating developers in the design process and making sure that the final design is technically feasible. * 00:17:48 - Balancing the need to test ideas quickly with having a strategy. * 00:23:05 - Common UX mistakes to avoid, such as reinventing the wheel and using the wrong components. * 00:32:05 - The need for discoverability and accessibility of key features in user interfaces. * 00:42:38 - The iterative nature of design and development and the importance of testing and user feedback. * 00:44:17 - Steps for developers to get involved in UX design, starting with learning fundamentals, reaching out to people, applying skills, and building a portfolio. * 00:46:22 - The expanding role of UX design, requiring skills in content, business, and communication. Links: * Carrie's Website: carriemah.com [https://carriemah.com/] * Carrie's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carriemah/ [http://linkedin.com/in/carriemah/] * Carrie's Instagram: instagram.com/carriemah.play [https://www.instagram.com/carriemah.play] * calgaryux.com: calgaryux.com [https://calgaryux.com/] * wearedesignx LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/wearedesignx/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearedesignx/] * designbuddies LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/designbuddies/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/designbuddies/] * adplist LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/adplist/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/adplist/] * smashingmagazine.com: smashingmagazine.com/ [https://www.smashingmagazine.com/] * Stanford d.school: dschool.stanford.edu/resources/getting-started-with-design-thinking [https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/getting-started-with-design-thinking] * lawsofux.com: lawsofux.com [https://lawsofux.com/]

Author, writer, and front-end developer Zell Liew's self-taught journey. Featured on numerous web development magazines including Smashing Magazine, A List Apart, and CSS Tricks, Zell uncovers the single key accident that led him down his front-end web development journey to make 6 figures passively in his sleep. Topics covered: * Does it still make sense to pursue web development in 2025? * Are CSS Grid systems outdated? * CSS framework or no? Bootstrap or Tailwind? * Tailwind: the good, the bad, and the ugly * The #1 tip for new front-end developers * How to know if web development is for you Timestamps: * 1:00: Zell's background and how he got started in web development. * 7:00: Zell's first web development project: Building a clone of TutsPlus in 5 hours! * 10:00: Zell's first freelance client: Charging $50 and learning valuable lessons. * 16:00: The impact of self-development and confronting childhood trauma. * 22:00: Writing his first book on the Suzie Grid system and the turning point it represented. * 35:00: The transition from teaching "how to" to understanding "how you do it" and the importance of values. * 43:00: Zell's frustration with existing tools leads him to create Splendid Labs. * 57:00: Splendid Labs: A deep dive into its features, philosophy, and unique approach to documentation. * 72:00: A comparison of Astro, Eleventy, and other static site generators. * 82:00: The challenges of building JavaScript libraries for Astro and Zell's choice to use Svelte. * 99:00: A moving story about a teacher's kindness and its profound impact on Zell's life. * 109:00: Battling the "entrepreneur enemy" and finding balance between different aspects of himself. * 118:00: The importance of understanding your "why" and aligning your actions with your values. * 124:00: Zell shares a powerful quote from the Tao Te Ching about inner stability and cultivating the self. * 130:00: Practical advice for navigating the ever-changing world of web development and finding your place. * 139:00: Where to find Zell online: Websites, courses, and social media. Links * Zell's Website: https://zellwk.com [https://zellwk.com] * Magical Dev School: https://magicaldevschool.com [https://magicaldevschool.com] * Splendid Labz: https://splendidlabz.com [https://splendidlabz.com/] * Live Your Mark: https://liveyourmark.com [https://liveyourmark.com] * TutsPlus: https://tutsplus.com [https://tutsplus.com] * Learn JavaScript: https://learnjavascript.today [https://learnjavascript.today] * Learn Async Javascript: https://learnasyncjavascript.com [https://learnasyncjs.com]

Udemy vs. eDX vs. Pluralsight -- who wins? Tony Alicea, instructor for over 10 years on Udemy and Pluralsight, breaks down when to use online learning platforms vs. actually writing code. What's the quickest way to learn web development? What do the best learners do? Show notes https://tonyalicea.dev [https://tonyalicea.dev] https://thesmythgroup.com [https://thesmythgroup.com] Course coupons https://understandingreact.com/?coupon_code=WPP [https://understandingreact.com/?coupon_code=WPP] https://teamdynamics.dev/?coupon_code=WPP [https://teamdynamics.dev/?coupon_code=WPP]

How do you know when it's time to quit your designer or web developer job? What do signs of gaslighting and verbal abuse look like in the workplace. Matej Latin, author of betterwebtype.com [https://betterwebtype.com/], shares the crucial turning points of his designer career from corporate banking to GitLab to his self-led journey, coaching thousands of aspiring designers. Links: * Medium (Matej Latin): How my Dream Designer Job Turned into a Nightmare Job [https://uxdesign.cc/how-my-dream-design-job-turned-into-a-nightmare-70a0255499b2] * betterwebtype.com [https://betterwebtype.com/] design course by Matej Latin * Matej Latin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matejlatin/] * Matej Latin's website [https://matejlatin.com/] Timestamps: * 0:02:25 - Economics to Design: WTF? * 0:05:11 - Gitlab's #1 practice for remote work * 0:10:27 - Remote's Impact on Teams: Good or Bad? * 0:16:12 - Collaboration Secrets for Remote Teams * 0:20:56 - Engineers and Designers: BFFs? * 0:26:10 - Designers: Speak Up! * 0:35:25 - Flat Orgs: Dream or Nightmare? * 0:40:20 - Dream Job Becomes Hell * 0:50:57 - Toxic Positivity & Gaslighting at Work * 0:53:43 - Side Hustles While Working Full-Time * 0:57:37 - Fix Your Damn Portfolio * 1:00:55 - Job Interviews: Don't Be a Sheep * 1:06:42 - When to Say "F* it" and Quit** * 1:08:57 - The Importance of Passion in Your Work * 1:10:16 - How to Find Your Dream Design Job * 1:11:37 - The Importance of Mentorship for Designers * 1:12:26 - The Importance of Transparency and Expectations * 1:13:49 - The Myth of "Hitting the Ground Running"

What are the best ways to learn full-stack web development? Muhannad Nouri, full-stack developer at Enverus [https://www.enverus.com/], shares with us his #1 tip for leveraging YouTube, TikTok, and X to enhance his full-stack learning. Timestamps * 01:43: Do you need a computer science degree to be a web developer? Muhannad shares his experience. * 04:37: The #1 tip for new web developers to avoid feeling overwhelmed. * 09:15: ChatGPT and Copilot: essential tools for modern web development? * 12:18: The secret to learning new web technologies without burning out. * 18:15: Social media: Friend or foe for web developers? * 33:38: How to stay informed without drowning in newsletters. * 45:46: Is LinkedIn still relevant for tech professionals? * 50:49: The job hunt: How to make your resume stand out in a crowded market. * 53:13: How to get that first web development interview. * 57:45: Networking when you're not looking for a job. * 01:12:05: The highs and lows of web development: What keeps us coming back for more? * 01:23:03: Convincing your boss to adopt new tech: Muhannad's proven strategy. * 01:31:07: The Angular vs. React debate: Which framework is right for you? * 01:38:02: The art of mentorship: How to guide others without holding them back. * 01:43:04: Pair programming: Valuable even for experienced developers? * 01:50:02: How to get that first web development interview. * 01:57:45: Networking when you're not looking for a job. * 02:01:31: Where to find Muhannad online. * 02:01:48: Muhannad's parting words of wisdom. Links * Muhannad Nouri: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/muhannadnouri/] * Dr. Tony Tang: University of Calgary [https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/tony-tang]