Design is a commodity; how much is it?
After i got a job as a front-end developer (a job i never knew existed in Nigeria), I had the obsession of converting into a back-end developer because i somehow felt i would be more of help as a programmer to the company than just the ‘guy that makes things fine’. I also felt i could earn higher as a developer in this ecosystem than a designer.
why do you need a front-end developer (designer) if you already got a back-end developer?
Development just made design better. But then it got me thinking. why need a front-end developer (designer) if you already got a back-end developer? I mean, why do you need someone to design a web app when you can just develop it?
It became apparent that most people might know what is aesthetically pleasing when they see it but that does not mean they can create it. They might be able to write the codes, make the pixels or use whatever tool to make something be it web development, PowerPoint presentations…creating good designs is not ‘normal’ as many would like to believe, especially employers (or whoever is paying the bills)
How many proposal has been turned down because the design presentation was average? How many business cards have been trashed because it looks like every other cards? How many websites have been closed because it does not ‘look’ right?
How much attention is paid to design? How much is paid to designers?
Design is an element found in industries ranging from prints, digital marketing, product development, web development, arts, mass media, marketing…the list could be…endless
Everyone knows development is a skill, but not everyone know ‘design is a commodity’