Well said, Art! btw - some of us coders put it all in one basket, it's a "language" if you gotta know how to speak it. I like to think we are the emotional mature ones hehehehe
Diana Art Thompson wrote: > 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 <http://www.LogicalThings.com> > twitter.com/LogicalThings <http://twitter.com/LogicalThings> > www.linkedin.com/in/LogicalThings > <http://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 <baxter...@gmail.com > <mailto:baxter...@gmail.com>> 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 <http://www.baxterorr.com> > www.twitter.com/baxterorr <http://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 > Refresh-Austin@googlegroups.com > <mailto:Refresh-Austin@googlegroups.com> > 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 > refresh-austin-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > <mailto:refresh-austin-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com> > > [ 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 Refresh-Austin@googlegroups.com > 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 > refresh-austin-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > > [ 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 Refresh-Austin@googlegroups.com 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 refresh-austin-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com [ More Info ] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Refresh-Austin
