There are a lot of different titles associated with being a web designer. Lately I’ve been thinking about what exactly my job title is, so when someone asks me “What do you do?” I reply with my “official” answer.
Web designer
For a long time now I’ve been saying “web designer”. There used to be a time when people would have been like “huh?” but nowadays most people understand that to be something to do with making websites.
But I think this term can be a bit loose. And everybody seems to be a web designer so wouldn’t it be “cool” to be something different?
User experience designer
I like the sound of user experience designer. I put a lot of thought into the usability of websites I design and focus on an enjoyable experience so this title sums that up.
However, I also do front-end development (CSS/HTML/Javascript) and I want to make sure this is clear.
Also, if I tell someone outside of our industry that’s what I do, they’ll likely ask “A user experience designer for what exactly?”, which is kind of a usability defeat in itself.
Front-end web developer
This makes it clear that I code websites, specifically the front-end stuff, but it’s not clear if I do the designing or not.
Interface designer
An interface designer implies that I design interfaces, most likely focusing on user experience and interaction.
But it doesn’t say what I design interfaces for. Websites? Software? Mobile phones?
Depends who you're talking to
It does very much depend who you are talking to. If my granny asks me what I do, for example, I’m just going to say “I make websites” “I work with computers”. But if I’m at a web conference, I’ll be more specific.
Shouldn't all web designers do these things?
Shouldn’t a good web designer be automatically assumed to be a…
- User experience designer
- Front end developer
- Interface designer
…for the web? In my opinion, yes. Or you should at least know a good bit about each, whether it is your primary role in a large company or not.
Which brings us back full circle to the term “Web designer”, which covers it all.
Does it really matter?
Not really. You can call yourself a ninja or a rockstar if it works for you.
What do you do?
I asked the question on Twitter and got various responses.
- Accessibility Expert
- Art Director
- Artist
- Creative Director
- Designer
- Developer
- Front-end Developer
- Graphic Designer
- I Make Websites
- Information Architect
- Interaction Designer
- Interface Designer, UI Designer
- Programmer
- Usability Expert
- UX Designer
- Web Designer
- Web Developer
- Web Director
- Web Producer
- Webmaster
Which are you?
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