I always had an interest in web design, but it’s hard to have all the skills of both a developer and designer. I think knowing HTML and CSS can help a designer bridge the gap to communicate better with developers, especially on the front-end. Learning HTML and CSS is relatively easy, but it’s a bit like learning a language; you have to practice and keep up with it. I love that I get to touch the code. It’s important that a designer follows up on his or her vision (or the mockups).