The Third Kind

The following is a response to “But Who Owns Javascript Anyway” by Jeff Croft. It was originally posted as a comment to the article.

As well as increased demand for skilled Javascript peeps AJAX type web stuff is also leading to a higher demand in those skilled at user interface/experience/interaction type stuff and this is also often lumped in with the “designer” role.

I think Steven Ametjan’s workplace with it’s three tier system is going to be a strong future trend. There will still be designers, focusing on, you know, design, but also the UI/UX stuff. There will still be developers who know Java, PHP DB’s and similar and can do it in their sleep. Then there is going to be a new breed of web peep filling this gap in the middle. They know HTML, CSS, Javascript and by know I mean they REALLY know their stuff. They will know enough about design to take photoshop comps and wireframes and make them functional and know enough about development to deal with templating systems and similar ilk.

I get the impression that designers often come to the web from print design or some other design trade backgrounds and that developers often come from traditional computer science software engineer type backgrounds. This new role are people coming straight into the web, people that have grown up with the web and want to go straight into it.

I dunno if you agree or not but I think my hypothesis will play out. The question is what do we call these people? Client-side developer isn’t as cool as just “designer” or just “developer”.