Web Mentoring

There is a massive divide between what can be taught about the web and what is actually going on in the trenches. Still I see numerous web courses of varying levels seemingly teaching old practices, it’s understandable that in a fast moving industry the academics are struggling to keep up but there’s no excuse to still be teaching table based design, for example. Some professionals are trying to help Universities provide more up to date curriculums but I wonder if there’s another approach.

Personally I love the idea that I could help someone with the knowledge I’ve gained whilst in the industry. Sure I’m not as well versed as those on the conference scene but I’m pretty positive I could have taught an 18 year old me better than some of my lecturers. The problem I see is there is a gap in the information being passed around in our community, with so much at a high level that it is making it difficult for many newbies to figure out where to start.

So would these people be better served with something a little more personal, with someone in the industry that is aware of all the newest advancements that such a person could get help from when they needed it? Something like a mentoring scheme or apprenticeships would be the best way to describe it but I like the Star Wars analogy:

In a nutshell you have our conference set as the Jedi Masters, essentially the Yoda’s of the group imparting knowledge and driving forward our understanding of what we do. Next down you have the Jedi Knights, the guys out in the field keeping the piece or in our case designing and building the websites. Then for each Jedi Knight is a Padawan learner, someone not yet fully skilled in the way of the force who can go to their Jedi in times of confusion for help and guidance.

Unfortunately it would require people much more connected than I to get such a thing off the ground, and in truth although I think the idea has merit I think it’s only likely to happen in a galaxy far, far away. But if you look past the complications and implications on the formal learning environments I think it would really improve our industry and make for a even closer community.

Comments

  • Danstyled

    Interesting concept,, I see web mentoring as something that can occur atany age. I’m still a student and have had a few jobs for web agencies and there hasn’t been a time where I haven’t taught those more experienced than myself.

    I especially agree with the point about lecturers unless they’re passionate they teach dated materials not suited for the ever improving web industry.

  • james

    Hi everyone,

    So, I like the idea of mentoring. I am a web designer in Australia and I have, at various times, trawled the internet for mentoring on design and development and hit brick walls at every turn. Maybe it’s based on my searching or just because it is not something that can be taught easily.

    What I was looking for was to find someone that works for a large agency that we see all over these galleries and showcases, to do a conference, offer mentoring or short courses in there processes and procedures to become as successful and competent at designing award winning web site designs every day.

    I believe that over 10 years as a designer that I am quite good at what I do, however, I really would love to break through to that next level and become sort after as a designer so I can choose any job I want and know that I am a big asset to a web design studio.

    I know there are various tutorials and the like over the net about designing, but I have never found real, raw inside processes and step by step cognitive processes that get a great designer from client briefs to ‘OMG’ design concepts. Do they have a library of create assets like materials, ready to go backgrounds…. I find that I am trawling for a design that is already in a showcase gallery, I replicate it but with subtle differences for my client and then the site is done. I am very strict with pixel alignment and always make a neat, clean website, but some of these awesome designers are people that build these award winning designs without borrowing from anyone. They create new fashions and trends in design and there must be a process and I’d love to know what it is and be led by someone into that elite group. Of course I, like many others, are willing to pay for the experience.

    Thanks

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