On Dec 20, 2007, at 11:08 AM, Katie Albers wrote:

>> This is a mistake, imho. I don't operate like that, and my design  
>> teams don't operate like that. The division of skills I use is  
>> where the designer has to code/build the prototype.
>
> So, you don't actually have a division of skills

Not for the design portion. Designers I work with and hire are  
expected to do define, design and otherwise be accountable for the  
interaction, graphic and information part of any project they work  
on. (And if there are designers on this list that are looking for  
that kind of design environment, Involution is going to be hiring a  
lot this year, so feel free to contact us.) I even expect designers  
to know how code or script basic stuff like XHTML, CSS, PHP and some  
JavaScript, and to know technology works at a certain level. However,  
in this respect. due to project time and client's ability to pay for  
projects, designers are paired with prototypers (who also have strong  
design skills) in order to build and make prototypes for product design.

> I have known many many people who are actual polymaths...and yet  
> still most of them prefer to work on X, Y or Z aspects of their  
> respective fields. I have known many more people who consider  
> themselves to be polymaths -- for a variety of reasons, I don't  
> work with them.

Being a designer and being expected to know interaction design,  
graphic design and information architecture is not like being a  
polymath. Like I said, industrial designers and architects are  
expected to know at least as much as these three things combined, and  
in most cases, far more.

> I do not understand the apparent attraction of "everyone can do  
> everything and is trained in everything" beyond a desire to do it  
> all yourself. And even in a case where everyone does have the same  
> training and fundamental ability there will be individuals with  
> different strengths and patterns of thought -- and thank god for it.

I've never stated designers for digital products or software need to  
know everything. I've stated many times in the past that I think they  
need to know interaction, graphic and information design. That's a  
specific definition, and one I don't believe is not out of reach by  
any stretch of the imagination given what other design professions  
require.

-- 
Andrei Herasimchuk

Principal, Involution Studios
innovating the digital world

e. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
c. +1 408 306 6422


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