Forum Moderators: not2easy
Ever not known how to answer because you don't have the "required" skills?
I tried to define it last night for an overview section of our agency, but got very lost in the process. It was going well until the boundaries started to blur when discussing the reason I do not use flash... Someone then said "I couldn’t call myself a web designer if I don't know how to use it"
I was pretty taken back by this and started to machine-gun them all with reasons why, I thought I had plenty of ammo.... didn't make a jot of difference; "if I don’t use/know flash I can’t be a web designer, end of story".
So I am now disadvantaged in the work place! If I don't put Flash it on my CV will I be tossed aside as a design amateur in the eyes of a future employer.
I can’t write Webdeveloper, don’t know a server’s rear end from its … (does it have an elbow?) Neither do I consider myself a Webmaster nor would I feel comfortable telling someone I was. I am actually starting to feel inadequate because of this damn software that, to me, seems to be the inadequate one.
enter daydream ....
What will they say at the annual webdesigner parties? I will be stood there wearing the “I hate flash because it disadvantages me in the work place” t-shirt and them with there sci-fi robotic hats that blink and swoosh, all looking down on me. “Sod it!” I think to myself, I’ll go to the bar, if only I could find it, who designed this place....?
So what to do? Do I lie? Or should I risk it and stand by my guns and omit flash from my CV? Or (I can’t believe I am writing this) learn Flash just to say I can use it? What a ridiculous place to be.
"if I don’t use/know flash I can’t be a web designer, end of story".
give yourself a specalist web title something like ...
information architect
I think your colleague maybe got things back to front, its flash specialists who cannot write a scrap of html who should not be called web designers. (disclaimer: i realise there are many who can do both extremely well)
I’ll go to the bar, if only I could find it, who designed this place....?
LOL :)
you design websites, dont you? therefore: you = web designer
Yes, but if I make this assumption it may alienate prospective employers. I am in the business & have been for long enough to create sites that are useable, well ranked, acccessible....
The problem for me here, is the perception of others on my current skills, not my own perception of web design (with which I was very happy). Sure when I have a foot through the door I can begin the remonstrations, but pushing myself down the employability scale due to lack of experience in a arena that has yet to prove its worth... its a horrible notion.
information architect
Could do, but what then? I design webste sites not just the site structure. Including page layout, type, colour, icons, css, visuals, etc etc..... this to me says Designer not IA?
reserved for those people who have 25 hour days.
Yes, exactly :)
I think Web designer implies you only know about the creative side and not about any technical stuff.
I'm not a big fan of Flash, but I do get asked to do stuff with it every now and again, so I know just enough about it to do simple things - usually people just want something that looks cool and contains a link - and I think that's just enough to put it on my CV.
alienate prospective employers.
there will always be some potential employers that want flash, just as there will be ones that want php, xml, asp, javascript ... etc ad infinitum.
then again, there will also be ones that are more concerned with
sites that are useable, well ranked, acccessible....
versatile piece of software that may or may not be used according to preference
well said. :)
versatile piece of software that may or may not be used according to preference
Yes indeed. We have a team member who uses this to make interactive CD Roms (he is a multimedia designer).
I think on balance it would be an idea to glean a little knowledge, as Helen says, do enough to action script a little graphic here and there, plop a reference to it on my CV and then forget about it.
....for now.....
I got that job BTW not because I know flash but it was because I know it enough to know when, where and why to use it.
I hope this help
from another web designer
Web design firms like to compartmentalise their employees IMO.
An all rounder is considered useful in smaller companies.
In construction the architect does the design, the civil engineer makes it work, and the contractor puts it on the ground. I guess in my case I would be the engineer and contractor. *I knew I should be charging more!
After reading what I just wrote, I think I deserve a raise. :)
