Over the years, I’ve often thought that one of the best things I can do for a project is to allow developers to keep their heads down and focus on meeting deadlines. This often means protecting the development team from small scope creeps, interruptions, and other distractions. In many cases, these deadlines were not set by the developers themselves, which adds to the motivation to create this buffer.
As the team at Grafton Studio has matured, the need for this kind of protection has reduced (as the realities of a project get baked into initial planning and we become better collaborators) . Of course, there are moments when it’s crucial to push forward and focus on execution. But direct collaboration with clients has proven to be a game-changer for the final product. Keeping developers isolated from key conversations removes valuable technical insight from decision-making. No matter how technically savvy a product manager may be, they can’t replace the perspective that comes from those who will be building the software. Additionally, from the client’s perspective, excluding developers from discussions prevents a true understanding of the software’s architecture and how decisions will impact the product in the short and long term.
The ongoing AI revolution brings many unknowns, but one belief I hold is that it will lead to even closer collaboration between clients and software engineers. With AI alleviating some of the pressures developers face—like building an application from scratch over a number of months—the focus will shift to ensuring that the software architecture and decisions made along the way are best suited to the use case. Achieving this requires everyone to have a seat at the table, from those who understand the market and customers (the client) to those who understand user behavior (designers) and scalability, technology, web best practices, and security (developers).
At Grafton Studio, we’re a relatively small development team of five. However, every team member has architected a project and brings unique insights to technical discussions. By fostering direct collaboration and removing barriers between stakeholders, we’re better equipped to build solutions that truly meet our clients’ needs and stand the test of time.
But as collaboration increases, so does the need for strong communication and interpersonal skills across all team members—not just project managers. In an agency setting, developers, designers, and strategists alike will need to refine their ability to translate technical concepts, actively listen to client needs, and work through ambiguity together. AI may streamline certain technical aspects of our work, but the human element—empathy, adaptability, and clear communication—will only become more valuable.
