I want to second Dante's comments. I am a manager and a designer. In fact, I built my company doing both. I don't get to design as much as I would if I was without my other responsibilities, but I still take the lead on projects and spend time in the creative nexus of design -- just me and the screen.
I would also say that in many ways managing has helped me be a better designer. I appreciate the *dynamics* of creating good design -- which is more than the brilliance of a particular solution (although that is necessary). I think it also has made me a better interpreter and persuader to the business and approval team (the client). I can win them to designs that might have been left by the wayside if I hadn't been able to get them to appreciate the advantages. I am a firm believer that design is a holistic process -- and being a manager and designer has given me a more holistic understanding of the entire process. If you like facilitating teams and team processes, I wouldn't hold back from a management position for fear of not being part of the design any longer. Joseph Selbie Founder, CEO Tristream Web Application Design http://www.tristream.com -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dante Murphy Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 8:59 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [IxDA Discuss] IxD Managers (was: d schools) [snip] This is where most will end up, because too often the next step in pay grade is only achievable by moving into management. This of course is a terrible idea because it takes the best designers and promotes them into management, where they can't design. [/snip] [snip] But to become a manager, when "managing" is an entirely different discipline and requires different talent, just to conform to a broken system, seeking better rewards, seems like the wrong path to me... [/snip] I'm an IxD manager, and I still design. A lot. My boss, who is a VP, also designs. A lot. Becoming a manager doesn't lobotomize you. Sure, not everyone has the aptitude or interest to manage others, but I find it very rewarding. In fact, I won't seriously consider any position that doesn't give me the opportunity to mentor, recruit, and reward other IxD professionals. I get as much a kick out of that as I do from executing a good design. As I've mentioned in other posts, I created the role of "Principle IxD" in our group to attract and retain the kind of designer who just wants to design, and doesn't want to be burdened with managerial responsibilities. It's a role I've held in the past (and enjoyed), so I know its value. If you're in an organization that doesn't have capable designers in management positions, or doesn't have a Principle IxD-type role...the burden is on you to educate your peers and continue to demonstrate the value you add to your company. Like every other IxD with 10+ years experience, I've had to do this many times. It's a hard fight, too often unrewarded, but the landscape is much better these days than it was in 1998 when you were either a programmer, a graphic designer, or unemployed. And if you can't change the world you're in, move on. The opportunities are out there, and the IxD managers are waiting for you. Dante Dante Murphy | Director of Information Architecture | D I G I T A S H E A L T H 229 South 18th Street, 2nd Floor | Rittenhouse Square | Philadelphia, PA 19103 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | www.digitashealth.com ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help
