[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoHLYtEmWMk&w=560&h=349] Code is analytical, correct? So, wouldn't you say it's a left-brain pursuit? Developers are stuck in left-brain mode because they work with code all day. Everything they do is about order and process. In a development shop, it's often believed that all the “creative thinking” should be done by visual designers. But it doesn’t have to be that way, nor should it be, argues Dave DeSandro, Web Designer and Developer for design agency nclud. “We work on machines. We work in the language of machines. It’s interpreted by machines and displayed by machines,” he says. “But in the end, it’s for people. And people aren’t machines. They have emotions.” Animation is one way for machines to interface with people and their emotions. Even the simplest animation tells a story, and a collection of stories helps us understand our world. To improve the right-brain developer approach, DeSandro recommends:
  • Know your tools so you understand your options.
  • Think about how you’re going to get the user involved.
  • Create demos, experiments and prototypes to sell your vision.
  • Ultimately, build for people.

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