Journal: News & Comment

Are you a carpenter if you own a hammer?

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Jeff Croft wonders how truly professional web designers can sell their value in a market that doesn't understand it:

I think at least part of this misunderstanding comes from people mistaking the tools for the job. This seems to happen in other creative industries, as well. People buy a nice digital SLR and decide they're a photographer. The buy a guitar and call themselves a musician. And, they buy a copy of Photoshop or Dreamweaver and call themselves a web designer. This is a little baffling to me. No one thinks if they have a hammer they've got the skills to be a professional carpenter. No one decides they don't need a doctor if they?ve got a stethoscope of their own. For some reason that I can't seem to figure out, people believe that if they have the same tools as us—a computer and some software—they can do our jobs. And worse, the clients believe that, too.

Any secrets and advice for Jeff and the rest of the industry? Let him know.

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