What am I - web designer or web developer?
I signed up for the Future of Web Design Conference recently and the name badge registration asked whether I was a web designer or web developer. Hmmm. Tricky question. I'm not sure I fit in either of those two categories.
I think I fit somewhere in the middle
I wouldn't really class myself as a designer (you can probably tell) in the true graphic design sense but I am not a hardcore coder either. I think I fit somewhere in the middle. I work mainly with cascading style sheets (CSS) and HTML mark-up but I am also happy to dip my toes into the PHP and JavaScript waters when the occasion calls for it. I work freelance and the name of the company is 'web design' but I also build ecommerce websites using ecommerce web templates. Is that web design or web development?
I asked myself a similar question when I signed up for another meeting, the £5 App Meet in Brighton. I'm not sure I can blag it as a web developer but I'm interested in web application ideas. Given the time, I'd like to learn Ruby on Rails or something equally cool - but I also want to look at CSS showcase websites.
Back to the question. Web designer or web developer? I think I'm stuck for an answer but maybe that's not a bad thing? I quite like the freedom to move around.
Related Posts
Comments
Stunning CSS3: A Project-Based Guide: Use this book to work through a series of practical yet cutting-edge projects. Each chapter walks you through standalone exercises that you can integrate into projects you're working on, or use as inspiration.
» Buy from Amazon.com · Amazon.co.uk
We Like
ThemeForest sell a range of site templates from some fantastic designers. They also sell some great WordPress themes!
Online invoicing made easy with CurdBee!
» Sign up
Join SugarSync for online backup. Sync your files between Mac, PC and mobile phone. Get 5 GB FREE and up to 10 GB bonus space!
Featured Book
HTML5 and CSS3 for the Real World will show you how to create websites using these new methods.
This easy-to-follow guide covers everything you need to know to get started. You’ll master the new semantic markup available in HTML5, as well as how to use CSS3 without sacrificing clean markup or resorting to complex workarounds. Buy the Book! · FREE Chapters
Mike Dillamore 19 March 2007, 20:23 1
Well said! We should all follow your example and resist the temptation to be pigeonholed. The best things happen near the margins and where cross-fertilisation is rife.