Mar 9
Does having a degree in art make you a technology illiterate?
DiscussionI believe that Web Design is an ART, not a programming language. A Web designer transcends the barrier of art and technology. But is seems that many places don’t understand that concept. In many places there is still a clear distinction between a graphic designer and an IT specialist. It’s so marked that when… applying for a position as a web designer, they say you need a degree in Technology. No matter how long you have been doing this; the degree is “all-powerful”. Does having a degree in technology give you the know how of creating nice looking and engaging web pages? Or does having a degree in art make you a technology illiterate?
Written by: Juan Rivera
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March 9th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Actually, art is a science. I don’t mean to plug myself, but you may enjoy reading this: http://www.eigentlich.info/?p=344&/typography-and-design-and-art-rocket-science/
It started out as a rebuttal to a comment much like yours, but about typography. But then I went and ruined the myth of Feenstaub for everybody.
Talking about Web Design, I actually think that it is much too watered-down a term because it can refer to both the graphic design involved as well as the programming, UX, Database design etc. etc. So it really depends on what position you’re hired for. And despite my extensive knowledge about technology in general, I prefer the actual design part of web design over sitting down and coding. That’s why I’m not very good at it, pretty much the same way a computer nerd wouldn’t know the first thing about aesthetics. I have yet to meet somebody proficient in both disciplines.
And why would you want to be anyway? Working in a team, you can build on each other’s strengths instead of mucking about with stuff you don’t feel like doing anyway.
People hiring web designers with IT degrees either need a coder (who outsources design) or creative director (who outsources everything) or have no clue what they really need.