2024 - That’s a wrap!

Written by Chris Gibbons

A year of personal growth, reconnections, and some important lessons learned.

As 2024 draws to a close, it feels like the perfect time to stop and take stock. Stop to look back at everything that has happened over the year; it has been quite a journey, let me tell you!

I’ve had my fair share of challenges this year. These challenges, which on reflection have taught me some valuable lessons. It hasn’t all been doom and gloom, though. It’s also provided me with an amazing new opportunity, as well as giving me space and time to reconnect with folk.

New Beginnings

The biggest highlight of this year was, without a doubt, taking my new job as Lead Front-End Engineer.

A little over 6 months in, and it’s safe to say that this position has been revitalising. It’s the tonic I’ve needed for a while and has 100% reaffirmed my passion for real front-end development. I enjoy its impact on creating inclusive, usable, digital experiences.

One of the biggest challenges has been educating people about true front-end development.

Some still view front-end and accessibility as skills that are not essential. They prefer the bullshit myth of “full-stack” or back-end development. I’ve been advocating for its recognition. It’s critical for creating engaging, efficient user experiences.

Front-end development needs a mix of creativity and technical skill. Creating polished, user-friendly interfaces is essential for establishing the identity of our products.

My team and employers understand this, and they place a high value on my skills.

Re-connecting

Another highlight of 2024 was attending the brilliant Camp Digital conference, run by the amazing folks at Nexer .

It enabled me to surround myself with a community of passionate and innovative professionals, as well as giving me the opportunity to attend sessions packed with insightful and educational discussions - Shaun’s session particularly resonated strongly with me.

After a break from events due to the pandemic and anxiety/depression, I found a much-needed boost by reconnecting with like-minded peers. They topped up my worn-out, burnt-out battery.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have attended and look forward to attending in 2025.

Taking a break

Being able to two weeks out, without having the bullshit, anxiety or stresses of work eating away at my subconscious mind, and spending it in one of my favourite places - The Lake District - was priceless.

The Lake District, in the north of England, is a paradise. It offers peace and natural beauty. It’s the perfect escape from the daily grind.

Despite the biblical rain, every day was an adventure. I spent one week making memories with my kids. I spent the second week with my amazing, supportive girlfriend.

As ever, The Lakes - Derwentwater in this case - themselves were a highlight. A peaceful stand-up paddleboard session on a quiet, drizzly afternoon. Or a leisurely, very fucking wet boat ride. Either way, the shimmering waters were a perfect backdrop. They helped me relax and reflect, away from the endless noise of the digital world.

In those quiet moments, I found time to reflect. I wanted to set future goals with a renewed sense of purpose.

This time away was to recharge. It reinforced the need for regular breaks and time in nature. It’s vital for both physical and mental health, especially when you’re exhausted and when your reserves have been utterly fucked.

Lessons Learned

This year has had many frustrations, despite some positives. I’ve gained valuable experience in how not to do things. I’ve also learned not to be a thundercunt. I hope this helps me be more effective and empathetic as I go forward in my career.

“Design Leaders” and Accessibility

Sadly, one of the most disappointing experiences has been realising that not all so-called “design leaders” care about accessibility, or even give a shit about it.

We must weave accessibility into the very fabric of every project from the beginning. It’s about more than meeting minimum standards. It’s about creating experiences that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their abilities. I’ve kept banging on about this: good design is useless if people can’t fucking use it!

“The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect,”

Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web.

This has shown me, again, the need to advocate for accessibility. I must continue to educate, especially within leadership circles. This is something I will continue with into 2025 and beyond.

Respect for…

Specialisms

Front-end development is often underestimated. It’s seen as less critical than “full-stack” or back-end development. For me, this is complete and utter bollocks, and couldn’t be further from the truth. Front-end development is a specialism. It’s a fucking hard one. It needs a unique mix of creativity and technical skill. It’s the front line of user interaction. So, it’s vital for delivering engaging, efficient, and accessible experiences.

It’s vital to value, recognise, and respect this specialism. It’s key to the success of any digital project and for the developers. But, “leaders” often belittle their skills and don’t give a shit.

To them, I say go and have a good fucking read of this from Adrian Roselli - Reminder to Learn and Hire for Web Standards.

Direction

Another thing that has royally pissed me off is this: pushing people in uncomfortable directions is counter-fucking-productive. True leadership means supporting team members. It helps them grow and excel in their passions and skills. Forcing them in a direction they don’t want to go will cause frustration and anger. They will disengage and become pissed off. In contrast, support and guidance foster a positive, productive environment. No shit there, Sherlock.

Deadlines and well-being

Self-imposed deadlines, while often well-intentioned, can become detrimental when treated as inflexible. Enforce these deadlines only when necessary. Build flexibility into any schedule to accommodate unforeseen challenges and maintain team morale. It is crucial to know the difference between strict and flexible deadlines. This should help create a healthier work environment, not serve as a stick to beat people with.

The Power of Community

Working with like-minded colleagues, once again, has greatly helped my mental health. The camaraderie and shared vision have made challenges easier to face. It has been inspiring to work with those who share my passion for, and understanding of, accessibility and design systems. And they fucking get it. It has fostered a sense of belonging and purpose.

Support Network

Having the right support network at work and home has been crucial in navigating the highs and lows of 2024. It has helped me maintain a healthy work-life balance and stay motivated.

At work, my colleagues have given me support and encouragement. Knowing there’s a team behind me, ready to help, has been invaluable.

Outside of work, my family and my amazing girlfriend, Jen, have kept me going. They are my anchors.

Their unwavering support, understanding, and encouragement have been crucial in maintaining my sanity. Through conversation, laughter, or just time together, they’ve been my rock this year.

Looking Ahead

As we end this chapter and look to 2025, I’m finally feeling optimistic. For the first time in ages, I’m looking forward to things instead of drowning in bullshit and anxiety. A friend, who offered to proofread this post, joked. He asked whether this was a follow-up to last year’s wrap-up titled “Thank fuck ‘23 is nearly over.” In some ways, it is.

I ended last year’s post with my plans for ‘24. We all know what they say about the best-laid plans. They often go awry. But, looking at the list:

What do I want to be doing?

  • FE “stuff” - Think of the good stuff: HTML/CSS/JS, prototyping, refining UX, etc.
  • Accessibility - We all know I’m a big fan and advocate of accessibility; I want to do more in this area.
  • Training and mentoring others.
  • Public speaking
  • Work with like-minded folks, not folks who are snarky or selfish!
  • More work with design systems!

It’s safe to say that I’ve been very fortunate to be in a position to say, on this occasion, I’ve hit the jackpot.

2025 already promises new and exciting challenges, as well as opportunities for growth. There is great potential for innovation in web development and accessibility. I’m excited to be part of the journey ahead. I’m back working with people who get it and genuinely give a shit about others.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who helped me this year. I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. To those who haven’t, I could tell you to fuck off. But, I don’t want to end on that note. So, I’ll thank you instead. Thank you for the bad lessons, the bad examples, and for showing me how not to do things. I’ll carry those lessons with me.