The graphics designers that I've worked with on SharePoint projects don't know/understand a lot of SharePoint. Particularly they don't know SharePoint Designer which is basically required for developing publishing sites.
To get around this, I've found the following workflow typically eventuates:
- Use a web browser to save off a copy of 'major' pages in the site.
- Send copy to designer.
- Designer makes changes and sends updated files back.
- Developer performs a diff between the original and changed copy and incorporates changes to CSS and HTML into master pages and page layouts.
- Find problems, restart from step 1.
There are problems with this such as:
- The designer doesn't know that some of the changes they make cannot be easily reflected in SharePoint. This is due to control renderings that can't easily be altered.
- Some dynamic parts of the SharePoint site don't work/behave as they should when saving pages from the web browser.
- Some design work needs to be done by the developer in order to incorporate the changes.
What are your recommendations for working with a CSS/graphic designer on SharePoint sites to get speedy, accurate results?