Re: web design career becoming obsolete? please no!

ROFL forgive me if my post ends up sounding elitist but here goes:

This issue is no different than the plague thats faced graphic
designers for years.

I will maintain till my last breath that having software doesnt make
one a designer. Hanging out a shingle and calling yourself one doesnt
mean that you are.

There are many people that have this attitude that "anyone can do what
you can do". I dont agree -- Ive seen enough shoddy work and have to
clean up enough messes so that I know better. A lot of clients think
too much in terms of money and not enough in terms of standards and
legitimate qualifications. They will give the job to whoever is
cheapest ---- I have had too many people tell me to my face that they
dont want to pay me what I am worth given my experience and education
and professional affilations. 

Graphic Designers are now being certified voluntarily (I am working on
the first initiative for a major Visual Arts union to be undertaken in
the US -- Canada and Switzerland already have programs -- this union is
seeing increasing numbers of Web Designers and Computer Users in its
ranks). What has to happen is that the industry has to regulate itself
and promote its own interests. Designers didnt care until the boom in
DTP software which created over 200,000 self-titled and self-styled
"graphic designers". One of the worse offenders is Microsoft. Bill
Gates talks a good game about the value of design in the media -- but
at the same time his promotion of his software suggesting that any one
can be a designer of graphics or the web undermines the interests of
legitimate professionals. 

Its not enough for us to complain amongst ourselves. The Canadians are
now working with Visual Arts Associations around the world to initiate
certification programs -- through ICOGRADA -- the International
Congress of Graphic Design Associations.

Microsoft <grumble> already has its own certification program for web
development -- but of course its about development utilizing MS tools
and software. 

Im willing to take the extra step to demonstrate my abilities -- but
not everyone is willing to do that. But this is also the concept behind
certification on a voluntary basis --- those that want to can and those
that dont arent required. But I can tell you that in the countries
where certification is underway positive changes are being seen. This
is also due to efforts by the industry to educate the public and
government about issues and standards.

Check out the Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario
http://www.argdon.org/ -- The criteria they use for evaluation includes
education and experience. They have also are their own self- governing
entity. Until this program -- graphic design was the last of the 5 core
design professions that wasnt regulated in some way -- however the
other professions answer to government.

Lisa




--- Liliane Miller <lmiller(at)carolina.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> I am a newly single mom who has studied web design,
> graphics, etc for the
> past 2 years in anticipation of entering  a new
> career in which I can both
> be fulfilled and support my kids.  i would truly
> appreciate hearing html
> professional's opinion on a disturbing issue that
> keeps coming up:   as
> "everyone and their brother" are becoming website
> designers and hosts, will
> the career of "web designer" become obsolete or at
> least be reduced to a
> minimum wage job?     with things changing so much,
> how does one choose a
> web field to study for the future?
> 
> bellsouth.net even has a radio ad here in nc about
> how they will set up a
> "website" for free with their isp service.   the ad
> features them wrestling
> a loud, resistant, outdated web designer out of his
> office;  It talks about
> how  "they (web designers) won't go down without a
> fight", calls him a
> "dinosaur" or something like that, and  intimates
> that webdesigners dupe
> people into paying them huge amounts to do something
> anyone can do
> themselves!!    It is really insulting!
> 
>  but it has the kernel of a real issue in it, in
> that more and more people
> are looking sideways at me, saying "oh, i set up MY
> OWN web page...it was
> EASY!"   with html editors becoming more and more
> "user friendly",  isp's
> offering free software and scripts,  sites being set
> up and managed by
> in-house office personnel rather than web
> professionals, etc.,  where is
> this all going?  What will web designers be doing in
> the future?   Thank you
> for taking the time to discuss this...I truly need
> some guidance here.
> 
> Liliane Miller
> Lmiller(at)carolina.rr.com
> 
> 
> 
> 

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