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?
January 13th, 2010
Gabe Harris says:
I’m a “Creative Technologist” at my “real” job. That surely confuses everyone.
January 13th, 2010
GeekGrunge says:
“I Make Websites” from a href to z-index
January 13th, 2010
susan says:
i agree, website designer seems to be all encompassing, but i think the terms has got very weird connotations as if ‘oh my 15 year old nephews’s a webdesigner…’, i think in more industry circles it’s good to just elaborate a little or say all three
January 13th, 2010
Dave says:
Great Post Lee,
Been thinking about this recently also!
I have started with “Web Designer” but recently been telling people “Web Developer” as i do more than “Design” Websites.
It’s a hard one to pin down and no matter what who i tell, most people outside the industry give me a glazed look
January 13th, 2010
Gilbert says:
I thought a lot about what my title should be last year and decided that I’m a “Web Developer”. Although strictly I’m a Software Engineer and I also do design for websites the bit I’m best at is developing stuff on the web. Hence “Web Developer”.
January 13th, 2010
Mark McCorkell says:
I find it hard to nail down exactly what I do as being strictly “Web Design”, because I do design for print too, and love designing logos. So I would say I’m a “Web & Graphic Designer”. To anyone that works in the industry I’d just say “Designer”, but that’s a bit ambiguous to some folks!
January 13th, 2010
Dougal Matthews says:
I officially call myself a software consultant and developer. However, I often add something like specialising in web development.
However, it really depends who I’m speaking to and what I think would sound the best to them.
January 13th, 2010
Colin McGerty says:
Nice post Lee.
I would call myself “Web/Graphic Designer”
I do web work along with graphic work so it’s not all web.
When people ask me what I do i tend to just say “Web Designer”. Some people think I am a computer whizz kid just because I know how to make web sites. That’s not true. It kinnda gets annoying. I’m a web designer not a “COMPUTER TECHNICIAN”.
January 13th, 2010
Hamza Bahlaouane says:
For your last question and here in my country, not all people will know what does mean any of these things ( Front-end Developer, Graphic Designer, Webmaster … ) so i find my self using a lot “i make websites” … but sometimes i get “huh?” too
.
January 13th, 2010
ryanb says:
I’m officially a Web Designer/Developer (formally Web Designer, earlier Internet Specialist). I find myself having to explain what all I do no matter what, as people interpret the title(s) differently and their respective responsibilities.
Much like your description above, I do it all. I design interfaces, I code, I do front-end, I do back-end. I create imagery/graphics, I sometimes even do logo work. It varies.
Some people consider all of this Web Design, others break them down into separate niches. Perhaps Web Extraordinaire would be more apt!
January 13th, 2010
Joe Stevens says:
Trying to figure out what to call myself is almost as difficult as trying to figure out what to charge people. I think Web Designer fits best though. I may do some design work and some development work but at the end of the day I am designing an experience for the end user visiting my website. When I redo my website that is how I am going to brand myself. Thanks.
January 13th, 2010
Lee says:
Thanks for the comments guys. Another good point – it depends on the type of work you’re after.
As a freelancer, if you like designing for small businesses e.g. a restaurant, then they’re more likely to be looking for a “web designer” when they come across your website.
A web startup developing a new app on the other hand may be specifically looking for an “interface designer”.
So it’s worth keeping in mind the type of client you’re after.
January 13th, 2010
Usman says:
i am a hunan who happens to be in love with Web
January 13th, 2010
Mark Poppen says:
I tend to reply to the question: “So, what do you do?”, with: “I run my own business, creating websites for other businesses”. I often get the “Oh, interesting” as a response, and hand over my business card
January 14th, 2010
John Braine says:
I also just say “I make websites” – but depends who’s asking.
January 14th, 2010
Liam Burns says:
I mostly say ‘I make websites’ and sometimes ‘I do whatever you want me to do’.
January 14th, 2010
Callum Stewart says:
Most of the time I think of myself as a problem solver, because I’m usually having to try and fix something that has went wrong in a website. Though I’m usually the one who creates the problem in the first place.
But I’d called myself a web developer. The term is pretty self explanatory – I develop websites. I believe this term covers most areas.
January 14th, 2010
wendy says:
I love this post. I think about this question constantly. As a business owner as well as a designer, I definitely see the need to tweak my response depending on who I am speaking with. Like many of us, I design for print as well as web, and I do front-end development and logo and branding work as well. So one title doesn’t cut it in all situations. I like Web Designer or Visual Designer, but I have clients who really like call me their Web Master. So I go with that when it suits the situation. Thanks for the discussion, its nice to read how others grapple with this too. I like a lot of suggestions.
January 15th, 2010
Carlos Hermoso says:
I specialize in both, print and web design, so according to the definition of ‘graphic design’ I’d say I’m a graphic designer myself.
A graphic designer is someone who design stuff. It doesn’t matter really what they do (i.e. print design, web design, fashion design, packaging desing, ux design, …).
But of course I think ‘graphic design’ involves so many different subjects, so you have to get specialized in something (print and web design in my personal situation).
I also specialize in search engine optimization, but I don’t put that into ‘graphic design’ of course.
Print design, web design, fashion design, packaging design, ux design, … all of those are creative works for sure where you have to apply some design skills and passion to get your work done.
You can call yourself whatever you want as far as you are loving what you are doing. That’s what I think.
January 16th, 2010
Jonny says:
I think in your business every man and his dog can call themselves web designers. There’s no regulations or entrance exams, so anyone call set themselves up as a web designer. I think this can reduce the credibility of your industry.
January 18th, 2010
rod rodriguez says:
great article, there’s really nothing wrong with what job title you use, but I’m always finding it difficult for employers to distinguish between some of the job titles mentioned and if you work in a small sized company your small title can even mean by extension “lap dog”. Thanks for sharing this.
January 18th, 2010
Mark McCorkell says:
@Jonny: Surely though the credibility of those individuals you are referring to would be determined by their portfolio of websites?
It is true though that there are a lot of guys out there that offer what I call “lucky bag” website solutions. But I wouldn’t say that takes away from the professionals too much.
There may not be “entrance exams” as such, but there are specific degree’s that are tailored towards the industry, like Interactive Multimedia Design for example, so there are degree’s that qualify one to be in such an area.
A degree + portfolio = credibility.
January 18th, 2010
Lee says:
Lots of great feedback. Really interesting to see what everyone calls themselves and the type of work everyone does.
You could make a good Venn Diagram out of all the roles that designers take on. There are quite a few of you who do graphic design for example, which is something I shy from now.
January 18th, 2010
Mark McCorkell says:
@Lee This is definitely one of the most interesting posts I’ve read on here yet! It is something I’d think about a lot too.
I’m working full-time for an small creative agency so I have to do both Web and Print. Which I like because it keeps me on my toes on both ends of design!
If I was actively Freelancing though, I’d love to be able to keep it as simple as possible and successfully niche it as a logo designer – a bit like Graham Smith. Highly unlikely that will ever happen though!
January 19th, 2010
James Compton Boyce says:
I’d usually say Multimedia Designer, as this will then inevitably lead to further discussion on what that actually involves.
I’m not a huge fan of simply labelling myself a Web Designer, as I’ve been in the position before where saying that has almost lost me work (eg: print)
January 20th, 2010
Lee says:
@Mark: Thanks Mark. Going by your portfolio you’re obviously a talented graphic/logo designer but if I guess you have to go by the role your employer designates you, which may include a full spectrum of design responsibilities.
January 20th, 2010
Mark McCorkell says:
@Lee Thanks Lee! One of the downsides to being a designer in full time employment is that the best work I’ve done is in the company’s name. I must get some new stuff done for my own portfolio!
January 20th, 2010
John Braine says:
@Mark I’ve never let that put me off putting stuff in my portfolio. If I designed the site, then I designed the site, regardless of who I was working for at the time.
I gues it depends just how much of a tem effort it was.
January 20th, 2010
Mark McCorkell says:
@John If someone asked me what I was working on then I’d maybe link them to a few sites, but technically it’s not legally my work if it’s done 9-5 for a company – they own the rights to it (I think)!
January 20th, 2010
Ayman Aboulnasr says:
Yeah, if you think alot about how the website in hand is organized then Information Architect is also a good answer
January 23rd, 2010
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January 27th, 2010
Som(India) says:
Hey Buddy..I am som from India…I wanna be a good webdesginer..My interst in web designing started when i am in 7th grade and first attempt i made was bloggin..for three it went smoothly there after i learned photoshop and dreamweaver…i went to a institue but it was not worth for me…only a loss of time and money..so i stopped it tried many internet resources…i liked ur articles and works…I dont know whether you can help me in providing some helps…if u can i will be happy…
Thanks
Regards
Som..
February 7th, 2010
SEO被リンク says:
oh, too many definitions to confuse me…
February 7th, 2010
culvi says:
Awesome article! I have been going through this issue of “naming” my services/title with a few words. The one I often use that can sum it up closely would have to be Multimedia Designer. I do Website Design, Front-end coding, print, Illustration, photo manipulation. But then this doesn’t even touch on the things like SEO, Marketing, Art Direction etc. So I think the issue is we (whatever you want to call us) are expected to know/do so much our titles have been lost with the responsibility.
February 12th, 2010
Jon says:
Really good article. I always get asked what the difference is between a designer and a developer. My view is front-end/back-end, but some disagree.
Anyway, what about “digital designer”? “Web designer” is a bit too narrow these days.
Also, what do you call someone who manages the team of said digital designers, project managers, and marketers plus manages client projects, trafficking, business strategies, social media, seo, creative direction… jack of digital?