This article reflects information as of 2020. For the latest details, please contact us.
How-to
For New Web Directors: 10 Essential Tools
2020.10.20
This article reflects information as of 2020. For the latest details, please contact us.
This article is about 1,925 characters long and takes about 7 minutes to read. Written by: Qian Yunwen, Director / PR, tentus inc.
Hello, everyone! Good evening!
Thank you as always for reading.
Please do check out the archive below as well.
For New Web Directors: Learn Adobe Products for Free on YouTube! For New Web Directors: Level Up Fast with Progate! For New Web Directors: The Content a Corporate Site Needs! For New Web Directors: Websites Have an Expiration Date. For New Web Directors: I Launched a Site with WordPress Using Free YouTube Videos!
Today we continue with the "For New Web Directors series"! I'd like to round up and introduce 10 go-to tools used in web direction. The table of contents is below.
1. Building proposals
Our company has a high Windows ratio, so we basically create proposals in Microsoft PowerPoint, but companies with a high Mac ratio will use Keynote. Also, when collaborating, few people use Google Slides, I think.
Recently, many people also create proposals in Adobe XD. Occasionally I see people using a tool called Sketch, but since it's only available on Mac, I think it loses out to its competitor Adobe XD.
https://techacademy.jp/magazine/8576
2. Schedule and task-management tools
Our company has introduced a project-management tool called Backlog, so we manage projects in Backlog.
Not only for tracking project progress, but if you have clients register via email, you can share information with them at any time, so it excels at making projects visible.
3. Creating wireframes
This is Adobe XD's time to shine!
Although it's much younger than its senior, Microsoft PowerPoint, it's overwhelmingly more convenient, isn't it? There are lots of plugins too, and it's very easy to use.
http://photoshopvip.net/115213
4. Creating documents
It's Google Docs and Google Sheets.
They may be too famous to even need introducing, but with telework I think the need for Google-family tools grew even higher. Recently Microsoft Word, Excel, and so on can also be edited online, but Google-family tools still feel more responsive, I think.
5. File sharing
Internally we use Google Drive, but with clients, Dropbox and GigaFile are overwhelmingly common. Also, since Backlog has a file-sharing feature too, the tools used vary case by case.
6. Image / GIF capture and sharing tools
I recommend Gyazo, a tool that lets you easily share captured images and GIF videos! When you take a capture, a sharing URL is automatically generated.
Since the other person can view the capture or GIF just by accessing the URL, you only need to send the URL by email or chat to whoever you want to share it with.
For a while I kept calling it Gyoza (dumplings) by mistake… lol
7. Code editors
Depending on the project, small site fixes come up that you can do yourself without specifically asking an engineer for help. In that case, if you're just tweaking a bit of code, I recommend Atom!
It's free yet very easy to use! I've also used Adobe Dreamweaver, but on my PC it was heavy and stuttered.
8. Chrome webpage capture
This is a Chrome extension called FireShot. It's free, the screen is simple and clean, it supports responsive layouts, and it doesn't have a single wasted feature. It's a tool that lives up to every expectation!
9. Chrome gradients
This is a Chrome extension called Gradient Hunt.
10. Chrome DevTools
I'm sure there's absolutely no web director who doesn't know this! It's a standard feature of Google Chrome that offers a wealth of functions — checking source code and CSS element by element, verifying mobile display, checking display speed, and more — all in the browser without any special tool!
If you don't yet know how to use it, please see the article below.
https://www.sakurasaku-labo.jp/blogs/developer-tools
Summary
How was it? I hope the tools I introduced can be even a little helpful in streamlining everyone's work.
tentus inc. official website