Can’t anyone do what you do?
Somebody asked Dan Cederholm this question today. I know. I couldn’t believe it either. Actually, I think their precise words were “can’t someone just get a copy of Front Page, and make their own website? I mean what’s the difference?” Once you’ve stopped shuddering, read on for some ranting.
Okay, before I get going, I should note that the offender doesn’t work in the web industry, and probably doesn’t really understand much about the workings of the web. Dan, who is known for his humility despite being profoundly talented and respected amongst his peers, simply responded with something about web standards, nodded and smiled at the inquirer’s website, and made his exit for today’s Lunch Bunch.
While great Indian food and conversation did help to distract me, as soon as we returned to the office I was fuming about the questioner’s remarks. It touches on a sore spot for me, since I got my start working at a software development company that placed no value on standards based web development, and I had to fight a lonely battle to help my superiors see the light. (Luckily, Jason and Brian came up with this amazing video presentation which weakened their resolve to suck.)
So, like George in that episode of Seinfeld where “the ocean called, they’re running out of shrimp,” I thought for most of the day about an adequate response to the (by now probably tired) question: why get the best possible web developer for the job? And why, as a growing designer, should I take the time and care that Dan uses to craft markup? If it’s something any 16 year old with Dreamweaver can do for a hundred bucks, then why should I bother?
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