Risk-fraught or risk-free: which do you think of as normal when collaborating with a developer?
If you're like most other designers, you...
...assume that worry and stress are "just part of the process" when you hire a developer to build a project you've designed.
...think that there's no sure-fire way to find a trustworthy developer, and that occasionally being burned is a risk you have to take to hand off the development part of a design project.
...shrug and say that there's not much you can do to help your development projects go smoothly.
...find yourself struggling to look like an authority to your client when they ask you questions about the development process.
Like most other designers, though, you'd be mistaken.
Worry and stress don't have to go hand-in-hand with hiring a developer. There is a nearly foolproof method to vet web development prospects. You can do things before the project even begins to help things run on autopilot. You don't have to enter into your next project blind. There's no need to look foolish in front of your client when questions come up.
In fact, there's one simple system that can save you from all of that embarrassment, that risk, and that stress.
Two developers who work directly with designers each and every day (who actually used to be designers themselves!) have come up with a set of tools to make everything about collaborating with a developer as easy as completing a checklist. If you can read and follow instructions, you can use this method—no prior knowledge needed!
Imagine yourself...
...going from scared to book your first developer collaboration to confident, informed, and absolutely ready.
...knowing exactly what to look for when you're searching for a developer so you never have to get burned (or you never have to feel that pain again).
...looking like the authority you are to your clients because you can answer all of their questions about how the development process works.
...never having to fear that your next development project will fail and ruin your reputation as a designer.
...creating mockups that can be easily replicated by your developer so that there's no disappointment for your client.
Imagine your development project moving effortlessly from mockup to code.
With the From Mockup to Code Toolkit, the picture you have in your head right now—that picture of the perfect development project—can be your reality, every single time.
What does the Toolkit cover?
Lesson 1: Before You Get Started: Quoting, Timeline, Onboarding
Choose the right developer and prepare for a smooth and successful collaboration.
- Section 1 - How to choose a trustworthy developer
- Section 2 - Discussion on scope & what your developer needs to know up front for an accurate quote (with quick reference)
- Section 3 - Avoid rescheduling penalties by choosing a smart development start date (with start date calculator)
- Section 4 - Set the stage for a smooth project with communication expectations
- Section 5 - Your play-by-play guide to how the development process works
- Section 6 - The elephant in the room: the cost of custom development
Lesson 2: During the Design Stage
Make these tweaks to your design process for the best final website.
- Section 1 - Why you must look at web design in a different way...or else
- Section 2 - If you're not designing mobile-first, you're doing it wrong
Lesson 3: Prepping for Development
Ensure a smooth and enjoyable transition from mockup to code by being prepared for development to begin.
- Section 1 - Organize your virtual junk drawer (with folder template)
- Section 2 - What the heck is Retina (hint: not a part of your eye) and how you need to address it
- Section 3 - Information you have to get from your client, and how to get it without threatening bodily harm
- Section 4 - The essential elements your mockups/style guide must cover (with Asana/Trello template)
Lesson 4: During the Development Process
You really can sit back and relax while your design is being brought to life!
- Section 1 - First comes the demo, then come the revisions
- Section 2 - Revisions vs. changes: what qualifies and what doesn't
Lesson 5: After the project wraps
Know exactly what to expect after the project is complete.
- Section 1 - Support, bug fixes, and maintenance: what to expect
From Mockup to Code should be required reading for every designer that even considers working with a developer on client projects. Krista and Megan have taken an overwhelming, tedious and critical topic and broken it down into an approachable, straightforward system. I can’t even begin to imagine how much time, money, heartache and stress I could have saved if I’d had this information when I first started working with developers on my client projects (and before I had the privilege of working with Megan). ALL THE PRAISE HANDS!!
Irene Hardy | Magnoliahouse Creative
How much does the From Mockup to Code Toolkit cost?
We intentionally tried to keep the Toolkit affordable so that designers at all points in their career could take advantage of our collective knowledge. If you consider the cost of hiring a developer who ditches you or a project totally flopping—an expensive lesson that would mean hundreds or thousands of dollars spent to fix the mistakes—the Toolkit is really a no-brainer.
Grab the Toolkit for just $69 today:
$69.00 Get the Toolkit Now
Meet the developers behind the Toolkit
Two web developers—Megan Garwood and Krista Miller—created the From Mockup to Code Toolkit after seeing the same questions and pain points come up about development projects time and time again. Megan and Krista both work with designers on a daily basis to turn their designs into beautiful live websites, so they have plenty of experience to draw from.
MEGAN
Hey! I'm Megan, a web developer for brand designers. I help designers build beautifully functional websites for their clients...sites that actually match their mockups! 😉 I've been developing websites since middle-school, have a bachelor's degree in Multimedia Design & Development, and have officially been working alongside designers since January 2016. On a more personal note, I'm a military spouse, mommy to one human and one furry child, and have a borderline unhealthy obsession with horses. You can find me online at https://megangarwood.com!
KRISTA
Hey, there! I'm Krista, a WordPress developer who specializes in collaborating with passionate designers to craft strategic websites that directly support their client's goals, while helping them ditch the code and spend more time on design. When I can pull myself away from my laptop, you'll find me riding four-wheelers with my family, spending time at the gym, eating far too much ice cream, and buying every pink object in sight. Find me over at https://kristarae.co!
Toolkit FAQs
How can I purchase the From Mockup to Code Toolkit?
The Toolkit is currently available for purchase at $69! Just click the button below to purchase:
$69.00 Get the Toolkit Now
One word: wow. When I was working with Krista for the first time, there were so many things I was worried about or flat out didn't know because I had never worked with a developer. In From Mockup to Code, Megan and Krista cover ALL of those things and so much more. I absolutely love that they've taken something that can be really overwhelming to consider - working with a developer - and broken it down into easy steps that will make any designer ready for their first collaboration.
Kory Woodard | Kory Woodard
So...what are you waiting for?
You're only one step away from more confidence, less stress, and an effortlessly smooth process when working with a developer.
Click the "Get the Toolkit Now" button to get started:
$69.00 Get the Toolkit Now
