What is a Full-Stack Designer?

In brief, a Full-Stack Designer is: A multidisciplinary role at the intersection of design and coding. If you’re interested, let’s dive into more details 😉

The commonly used term ‘Full-Stack Developer’ refers to a software developer who is proficient in both front-end and back-end development. But this time, we have a colorful and art-filled version of this concept: Full-Stack Designer!

For them, every pixel is a brushstroke of a work of art. A Full-Stack Designer is like Van Gogh creating the Starry Night painting on one hand, and a superhero equipped with the speed and skills of Neo from The Matrix on the other. In other words, both an artist and an engineer!

A Full-Stack Designer can take a project from concept to a finished product. They not only make things more beautiful but can also transform these designs into live websites.

Thanks to their multidisciplinary skills, Full-Stack Designers can work effectively with both design and software teams and contribute at every stage of the project.

The image I saw in this article, published by Ran Segall in 2015, best illustrates the different aspects of the job a designer can be involved in. A Full-Stack Designer is crucial in the product development cycle (UX research, UI design, front-end development). They can also play a role in more outward-facing aspects of the business such as marketing activities and monetization strategies.

Let’s remember that although the term ‘Full-Stack Designer’ includes ‘Full-Stack’, this role is usually limited to front-end development. Expertise in back-end development is not expected. However, Full-Stack Designers should be able to communicate effectively with back-end developers.

Where to Start to Become a Full-Stack Designer?

Becoming a Full-Stack Designer is not easy. But if you develop yourself on this path, you can really make a difference in the digital world, adding value to projects with both your aesthetic understanding and technical skills. If you want to become a Full-Stack Designer, it’s important to know where to start this journey:

1. Acquire Basic Design Knowledge: It’s beneficial to start by learning basic concepts like graphic design and color theory. You can find many free and paid courses on online platforms (like Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning).
2. Learn UX/UI Design: You should gain knowledge about user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. Specializing in this area will help you understand how digital products work and how users interact with these products.
3. Practice with Design Tools: You should practice with popular design tools like Figma, Canva, Sketch. These tools are the cornerstones of modern digital design.
4. Learn Coding: Learning HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript allows you to turn your designs into live websites. You can find many free and paid courses on this subject.
5. Create a Portfolio: You should create a portfolio by putting what you’ve learned into practice. This will be a big advantage in job applications.
6. Update Your Knowledge: The digital design world is a constantly evolving field. You should follow innovations and constantly update yourself.

Remember, the most important thing in this journey will be your openness to continuous learning and your determination.

Final Words…

A Full-Stack Designer is a hero of the digital world with both aesthetic intelligence and technical skills. They are an artist, an engineer, and of course, a problem solver. In this exciting and constantly evolving field, you can achieve great things by combining your skills and passion. If you’re considering a career in this field, I wish you success on this journey!

Additionally, you can watch this video: