I really wish I had the time to read the responses in detail (way too busy today!)... but from snippets:
1) Program Manager as a title is both outdated and nebulous. I don't know any two people who would agree on what a program manager does. If you want to move more into the business side, go with Product Manager. 2) The implication that "anyone can design" (and I may be misinterpreting... please tell me I'm misinterpreting) - that a program manager (or developer or product manager or janitor...) can "learn" UI design and perform that function in addition to their other responsibilities/skills GROSSLY devalues the knowledge, experience, and training required to perform "good" design (notice the term "good"). No offense to Steve Krug, he is a friend, but reading his book does not make you a designer... just like picking up a copy of "A Pattern Language" doesn't make me an architect. 3) I consider myself a design evangelist. I created my role (VP of Product Design) at my current company and have done so at other companies as well. I encounter skepticism, confusion, and misunderstanding regarding the value, role, and skills associated with "good" design all the time... but what's shocking is to see these same things on this very list, what I consider my "safe place"... what does this say about user interface / interaction design? Am I fighting a losing battle? We can't even make up our own minds? To see people say things like "let's just call ourselves program managers", ready to jump ship after one article, is maybe a sign of frustration, uncertainty, ?? Crud... must run... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=39701 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
