Introduction
There is an opinion among the older generation of design specialists that it is difficult or almost impossible to do serious development with a remote worker. In this article, I will try to explain and prove to the luminaries of design how and with what technical means remote development has been implemented in a number of design and manufacturing firms with a detailed calculation of costs and a forecast of possible risks.
Problematic
To begin with, let's write about the main concerns and arguments that are used in favor of the classic system of relationships in a design bureau:
- Prompt interaction due to the fact that everyone is concentrated in one room.
- Convenient, consultative interaction within the design bureau, each design engineer strives to provide mutual assistance to a colleague.
- Operational control over the development by the leading designer and chief engineer.
The ability to discuss in real time the details of the project and the development of conceptual solutions using simple tools. In the classic version, this is a sheet of paper and a pencil.
It is no secret that development in a design office is the implementation of a project in the vision of a leading or chief designer, based on the experience, wishes of the customer and the technological capabilities of the enterprise. The creativity of ordinary designers is often quite limited by the framework of the constructive and technological solutions adopted at the enterprise. Serious and large organizations do not have the opportunity to give work to a freelance designer due to her enormous laboriousness and responsibility. One person cannot complete the entire project within a reasonable timeframe. Not every leader can clearly and competently break the project into parts within the design office, often it happens like this: the initial study is performed by more experienced designers in close cooperation with the GUI and the customer, and then parts of the project are transferred to less qualified employees, mainly detailing and revision for the leaders in terms of detailed drawing. This is one of the reasons why it is difficult to give away real development
freelance designer, since at the initial stage close control over the development process is required.
In addition to purely technical problems, social problems also play a significant role in the obstacle to conducting remote activities. The most acute problem is the lack of desire for changes in the relationship with the designer on the part of the presenters, on whose shoulders the task of managing the remote designer is entrusted. Distribution of the object into separate parts, preparation of technical specifications. Of course, all this can be compensated for by a person with extensive experience in this specificity with a specific production, but what about a person who is not familiar with the enterprise and the team.
Decision
After analyzing the above-listed problems, the administration of the site www.proektos.ru developed a number of technical solutions aimed at resolving this problem.
The program for IP telephony Skype was chosen as the main means of teleconferencing. In addition to voice communication, the program also implements the ability to exchange instant messages in text format and transmit video in real-time. Transfer files in any format, no size limit. The advantage of the program is in good sound and image quality even on lines with a low data transfer rate. Theoretically, Skype works tolerably well on a classic 56K modem with an average download speed of 2-3 Kbytes / s, but in reality, apart from Skype, you will not be able to do anything else on the network, so you should think about a speed of 256K and higher for comfortable communication.
In addition to the means of communication, it is advisable to install a plugin that will allow the remote worker to display content displayed in real-time on his screen. Analogue of the remote assistance program in Windows, only without the control function, but only viewing a specific window, for example, a CAD program? The rest of the windows are invisible. The most optimal solution during testing has selected a module based on IBM Lotus.
Additional equipment for teleconferencing is a microphone and a webcam, at a cost a decent option will cost an average of 500 rubles. Webcams usually come with built-in microphones and are extremely easy to connect and configure. The average video speed for this money will be about 15-20 frames per second, which, according to our experience, is more than sufficient for comfortable communication.
In the end, what allows you to solve the above set of tools. Skype completely compensates for the problem of real-time communication, both invoices and video formats, problem number 1 is 100% solved. Skype uses a regular data transmission channel and calls are paid for using consumed traffic, with the widespread distribution of unlimited tariffs, this type of communication can be called almost free with an average price of an unlimited tariff in Moscow of 300-400 rubles. In conjunction with a plug-in for demonstrating a remote worker's program window and a webcam, you can organize a full-fledged brainstorming session and check the work done in real-time, while the presenter does not even need to get up from the chair. It is also possible to use a webcam to transmit a video image in which the presenter will draw his thoughts on a sheet of paper,
This technical solution will avoid all the difficulties described above in points 2-4.
These technical means help even in the most difficult case when a freelance designer interacts with a presenter who does not have any PC skills, even basic ones. I ask you not to be surprised at this, a case in life and the need for such a specialist in a particular company arose due to the high qualifications of this person and great experience in design and production. The technical solution looked like this. Separate computer with Internet access, webcam, and microphone. The person only pressed the button to turn on the computer, then the system started automatically, after loading a special script prompts you to call a specific employee, he himself launches Skype and the plug-in for viewing the window and other auxiliary programs. The webcam is aimed at the table area in such a way that it is clearly visible what will be drawn on a piece of paper. In the course of such decisions, it was possible to achieve operational control over the work of the designer, the leader at any time can come up and
see what is happening with the project during the period of active discussion, promptly give advice by sketching sketches on paper and monitoring their implementation. At the same time, formally, the work of the presenter has not changed; he, as before, controls the work and gives operational commands.
disadvantages
The whole system is rigidly tied to the Internet and any failure will seriously affect the active part of the discussion, in my opinion, the design is not surgery and the failure of even two or three days of duration will not greatly affect the progress of the design work, taking into account the fact that, alternatively, by phone, you can start independent studies and in the future use them.
The cost of equipping with additional equipment is the purchase of a webcam.
Security is guaranteed by a VPN connection and if required Skype can encrypt calls and information transmitted through it.
The average traffic consumption is 20-30 Mb per hour with moderate quality. In the presence of unlimited tariffs, this topic disappears altogether.
Additional user training is not required by Skype and the plugin is documented and easy to learn on your own.
In terms of the choice of software tools, various kinds of plugins that allow you to draw in the program window were especially bypassed. Let me explain why. Firstly, as the practice has shown, they turned out to be absolutely unsuitable due to the fact that a person draws with a mouse not so quickly and accurately as an explanation in the design requires, and far from everyone is happy owners of tablets. Therefore pencil and paper, while transferring the image through a webcam.
conclusions
Design is a complex creative process that requires prompt discussion and control from the lead designer. The absence of an employee in the office does not mean that it is impossible to promptly manage and control the intermediate versions of the project, make adjustments, in a word, carry out the usual design work. At the same time, the dialogue should be conducted in simple and generally accepted ways.
Based on materials from the site www.proektos.ru
Where can I find a remote job as a designer?
There are several ways to find design orders online:
- Try to search for orders on freelance exchanges. These are special services where customers publish their projects, and performers put forward their terms of work. The choice of the contractor takes place within the framework of the tender. Here you can find about a hundred services for finding remote work.
- View vacancies on websites for designers and designers. Here, too, there are offers of remote work.
- You can search for orders on message boards. For example, our site has a special section with remote jobs for engineers and designers. You can add a project to the service absolutely free.
