Hi Baxter, Welcome to the fold. The requirements of today's "graphic designer" -- at least if you go by current job postings -- are ludicrous. Don't believe those postings that list "HTML/CSS/PHP/JavaScript/Flash" as a requirement for a "graphic designer." That's just plain stupid talking. Front-end design and back-end development *are *two totally different disciplines (which have little to do with print design) and it's been the ignorance of HR people who have created this fictitious skill set. Not that there isn't significant front-end development these days, what with all the browser enhancements that JavaScript is providing. But I would suggest that there are copy-and-paste JS "users" and full-on JS "developers." The "users" often fall in the front-end design camp.
Now, if you freelance, you regularly have to be creative director, designer, copywriter, marketer -- oh yeah, and user interface designer, HTML/CSS coder (I know those aren't "coding" languages, stop freaking out you "coders") and even back-end solution provider. By "back-end solution" I mean, you have a client site that requires some actual server-side code and/or database like a contact form, validation cookie, etc. and you go for an off-the-shelf solution like a WebAssist php module. Sometimes, you might even stretch out and install WordPress yourself and possibly even create a custom theme. You've got no claim to be a php/MySQL developer by doing this, but you are providing your clients with these solutions nonetheless and, in most cases, that's what counts. Then there's your *own* website, which you want to completely rock. More php modules, Twitter/RSS integration and possibly even -- DUM-DUM-DUM -- Flash. Where does it end? I'll tell you: where ever you're comfort level starts waning. This also applies to all of the non-web disciplines I listed above (copywriter, marketer, etc), which may or may not be your forte. You find the dividing line and then defer to others who specialize in what you don't. In the meantime you say "yes" to every project that comes along and then figure out how the heck you'll get it done. And, fortunately, you're in Austin where there are loads of talented people in every discipline eager to help out. On a nerdy note, I think it's important to recognize (since the HR folks who post these ridiculous requirements don't) that print design and interaction design are two totally different disciplines that nevertheless share a lot of the same foundations (type, layout, color, etc). Just because someone can design a terrific logo or book cover doesn't mean they know jack about usability. Interestingly, higher education seems to be scrambling to figure out a way to integrate interaction within a core design curriculum to hopefully one day churn out such a hybrid "designer." Let's see what happens. Cheers, Art Thompson, Jr. Logical Things - Web, Design & Marketing Solutions 917-609-1158 [m] 512-692-9865 [w] www.LogicalThings.com twitter.com/LogicalThings www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings I'm growing a moustache for Movember as I'm passionate about fighting men's cancer. Please give: http://us.movember.com/mospace/441824 On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 11:41 AM, Baxter <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, I am new here and actually just stumbled across Refresh Austin > on Twitter, from what I gather it sounds like an amazing tool to bring > Austin professionals together. > > Recently like many of you I was laid off. I have been freelancing > while I actively look for new opportunities but it seems now more than > ever businesses are trying to consolidate heads and being a graphic > designer is hardly about designing and is more about being a one stop > marketing shop. It seems like so many jobs require you to be a great > print designer, proficient backend web programer, know server > technologies, be able to copywrite, be an illustrator, and be a good > photographer. > > I have a "can do attitude," and consider myself to have a pretty broad > skill set but am starting to find this is pretty unreasonable to think > anyone can excel in all of these individual areas. Especially the > mental/education disconnect between creative design and backend > programming. > > How do you think this gap will be bridged in the coming years? Will > designers be forced to be equally backend programmers to stay employed > or will programmers be forced to learn design? Will they go back to > being two very diverse fields of expertise? Or will new technologies > solve the problem and make it easier for both designers and > programmers? > > Would love to hear your opinions. > > Baxter Orr > www.baxterorr.com > www.twitter.com/baxterorr > > -- > Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Refresh Austin" group. > > [ Posting ] > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy > We do not accept job posts from recruiters. > > [ Unsubscribe ] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected] > > [ More Info ] > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin > -- Our Web site: http://www.RefreshAustin.org/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Refresh Austin" group. [ Posting ] To post to this group, send email to [email protected] Job-related postings should follow http://tr.im/refreshaustinjobspolicy We do not accept job posts from recruiters. [ Unsubscribe ] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin
