note
jeffa
I started out as a graphics guy - Wavefront on SGI's,
Photoshop, Corel Draw, etc. I graduated from college in
1995, and I could not find a job anywhere.
<p>
I enrolled back in school a few months later (student loans
were around the corner and I needed some deferment time),
with plans of taking some art and computer science courses.
Then I might have a better chance of getting my foot in
the door at an animation house.
<p>
Next thing I knew, graphical design was just a hobby and I had
completed the requirements for a computer science degree.
I have not looked back yet.
<p>
Unfortunately, part of my creative side died a little - I
blame it on the Red-Black Tree assignment, but that is
another story. I get bored with graphics now, but I can
more than live with that (and a bigger paycheck!).
<p>
Creativity is something that I believe cannot be taught,
it is fostered by the individual. If you can read a
technical manual on how to install a web server, you can
read a book that tells you how to make pretty graphics.
Programmers have that advantage over graphic artists, but
not everybody can draw a logo from scratch, or create a
cartoon mascot.
<p>
So, what I am trying to say is - WE have the advantage.
But what we do is invisible to the hordes of otherwise
ignorant users on the web. So the Designer gets the credit. >:P
<p>
I have been trying to convince a friend of mine to take
some CS courses - he is never going to have a good foundation
otherwise. Just recently I found out that he is going to
code (in ASP) a front-end to an Access database file that
maintains state and has security.
<p>
All he knows is how to make graphics and write HTML. He
figured that ASP would be easier to learn than Perl, and
therefore is the tool for him. Boy is he in for a shock.
<p>
On the other hand, ask a Designer to make some graphics,
and they will - they might not look pretty, but at least
no one can hack a .jpg's security (um, well, maybe some).
<p>
Jeff
<p>
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L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--L-L--
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