All-rounder designers
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- Nightshade
Brief background: In various job roles and working freelance I've designed and built many websites- doing the role of a frontend designer, a frontend developer, and a backend developer (integrating HSBC payment gateway recently, for example). I enjoy it all, and like the fact that I am designing one day and coding another- it keeps things interesting, and its enjoying seeing a project through from start to end.
As I finish up my freelance work to find a job with bigger projects than I can find alone, I wonder are there jobs out there for 'all-rounder' designers, or is it better to specialise?
- rodzilla0
I'd say you are better off than most, but no one wants to pay you for all "three" positions. In the states that is.
Just be conscience of what your worth is...
- ukit0
Unlikely. Unless it's a super small company with like ten employees;)
They might hire you for design + front end dev or front + back end dev skills, but probably not all 3.
- clearThoughts0
you can't really work on any big scale website doing all three at once.
- acescence0
someone has to have an idea of how the whole system works, no? if you had only specialists in everything, how would they ever be able to connect it all together?
- Nightshade0
Thanks for your input. Backend development I'm happy to drop, it can be a real hassle sometimes. I've worked for two super small companies before with less than ten employees, hence my skillset.
I dont want to be working on huge sites- more likely medium sized sites, for an agency of say 30-50 employees. Would there be any crossover between design/frontend dev in such agencies - or distinctly separate roles?
- Countryman0
I think in a lot of cases its good to know all three, but to have someone implement all three on a large project is a bad idea.
- ********0
Work on what you're interested in, rather than slip into, and risk becoming stuck in roles you don't enjoy.
- Meeklo0
I like the idea of being able to develop multiple things, this way you are more likely to direct a team in the right direction if you know how more mediums/ technologies work. The key is to identify what areas are you strong in, and which ones you are not.
But if you only specialize in one area, then that is what you will be doing most of the time, and chances are someone else will be directing the team. (which is cool too, it all depends on your priorities)
- raf0
I see there is always a market for jacks of all trades.
It's easier if you can both design and build if you ever go on your own as well.
- lobstarr0
You'd be better and make alot more if you were freelance to be honest....
There's no way a functioning agency/company can accommodate for the amount of work coming in. It wouldn't be in the best interest process wise for one person doing [x] phases of a project... (unless it was a very small studio). And as said above, the payoff of making just a little bit more than say someone whoes good at one job isnt worth knowing the 'extra' things.
- Maybe not as a designer position, but he will have a better chance of handling the AD/ CD positionMeeklo
- True, but even then you'd only be involved and contribute to understanding the logistics holistically - and quite frankly, who wants that much responsibility. =)lobstarr
- who wants that sorta responsiblity =).lobstarr
- chuparosa0
I think you are in an ideal postion. It's fantastic that you enjoy the dev side and the design side of work. Being a "hybrid" designer is where it's at. However, highest paying gigs seem to desire Flash dev skills too.....
- must_dash0
Having all those skills enables you to get stuff done, without relying on other people. There is only me in my company... so if I don't know how to do something... I learn, and use that knowledge on the next project.
- ********0
we is called Generalist...