What the heck is a software designer?
Do you have a job that you have trouble explaining at parties? If so, perhaps you can relate.
Understanding what a "Software Designer" is seems to be innate knowledge to a small portion of the population. To the rest of the world, this line of work is a hopeless enigma; even to technology recruiters who repeatedly call me for "Developer" positions.
Designers are not Developers. Not that I don't want to think positively here, but I simply don't know my way around a script the way a developer does. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, and can handle code to some extent, but it is not my forte. I attempt to know as much about development as I need to to be a good designer and communicate effectively with developers.
To add to the confusion, there is no "correct" way to refer to myself in the field. Very generically speaking, I design software. I design the pages you see on your screen, the navigation of the website or application you may be using. However, the software design field is broken down into people or companies who enjoy categorizing themselves in a variety of ways.
Other names for Software Designers:
UI Designer = User Interface Designers
UE Designer = User Experience Designer
UX Designer = User eXperience Designer
IxD = Interaction Designer
Visual Designer
Web Designer
Articles on these definitions >
Developing a very specific skillset may steer a person into further categorizing themselves. I don't really draw a line, but am all of the above in my work.
Some of what I do ›
In the broadest sense, software designers work to make the online tools we use less confusing and simpler to operate for everyone. This can include a variety of tasks, such as creation of
Sketches
Workflows and flowcharts
Storyboards
Interaction specifications or diagrams
Visual designs
Models for presentation or usability testing
Working code
CSS and style guides
Site standards and patterns
Design specifications
Falling both at the beginning and in the middle of the software development process, Designers must be skilled communicators and be able to speak to both Development and Product teams, Marketing, or the originators of the project. We're in it the whole nine yards, looking out for you, the user, from the project's first blush until final release, when it finally graces your screen.
Work aside ›
I am not a design robot. I do have a life, quirks and hobbies. Work fascinates me, but I also love sci-fi, horror films, tiling a wall when the mood strikes, a good steak, writing poetry, playing the harmonica, rodents of all shapes and sizes (excepting squirrels), and gardening.
