So, how about we start this first blog out as complicated as possible and then simplify? Sound good?

It seems that quite often I am asked this question, “So, Jeremy, what do you do?”. Now you would think “What an easy question!”, right? Not for me. When I am asked that question a battle begins brewing in my head and it goes something like this:

Person: “So, Jeremy, you’re working out in Kansas City, huh?”

Me: “Yup”

Person: Well, what do you do?

My Response: “Good question…” (I say slowly with a wide eyed glazed stare)

My Thoughts: “Oh crud, why did he have to ask me that question. Well, let’s see… this guy doesn’t seem very technically savvy, maybe I should just keep it simple and tell him I work with the “Interweb”. Nah, I should be more descriptive and at least use the word “Internet”. I could tell him that I design web pages… No, I don’t want to tell him that! The last thing I need is for him to hit me up to build his sons school soccer team website! I guess I could tell him that my favorite part of the job is doing User Interface Design / Engineering. No, there is NO WAY he will know what that is… I hardly even know what that is.”

My Response: “Well…” (Still wide eyed with a glazed stare)

Returning To My Thoughts: “I had better answer this guys question or he’s going to think that I am making this stuff up! Alright, I’ll tell him that I design and engineer web applications. Hum, that could work. But, I cut & code, too. Oh, I could tell him that I do usability testing. No, that would not be a very “user friendly” thing to say I would just be confusing my user, I mean my listener, I mean… man I need help. Oh Ive got it!”

My Long Awaited Answer: “Yes, I… do what I’m told.” (smiling ear to ear)

You see what I mean? Actually, if I had it my way I would tell him that I am a:
Sr. Web Develouserinterfacialengidesigusacodecutter guy.

I know that all of this sounds quite pretentious on my part, but I assure you that I still feel like quite a “newb” when I see the work and hear the logic that comes from guys like Cameron Moll or Jared Spool. Honestly, it seems as if nowadays to make some decent green you have to be able to do EVERYTHING! Sorry, but mediocre XHTML and CSS skills aint gonna feed the kids and wife. Graphic Design alone will not pay the mortgage bills. Flash, video, and audio? Well, as separate skills wont get you very far in the web world.

Sorry to be such a downer. I am usually a very positive “glass half full” type of guy, but I’m trying to get through to those of you that think that you’ll be able to afford a home in Hollwood by doing 10 second flash animations for your uncles Dentistry site.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are certainly many acceptions to the rule and everyone has to start somewhere. The best advice that I can give to you is to KEEP ON LEARNING because, trust me, right when you think you have JQuery down you will realize that you need a designer BAD! Once you have XHTML down you will find that you still need someone to take care of the search engine optimization. Oh, and make sure that it’s accessible! Who better to tackle those issues than YOU. There is always something to learn so don’t get TOO comfortable.

So now that you know the moral of my story, I ask you… and when I say “you” I am referring to those of us that are jacks of many trades and masters of none. What have we become? What are we? Is there a single name to define exactly what we do?

I suppose I really will start having to call myself a Develouserinterfacialengidesigusacodecutter guy. Hum… I should register that domain! No, not usable…argh!