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ASK DN: Can we end the title Full-stack Designer before it starts?

over 6 years ago from , Freelance Interactive Designer - matthewortega.co

I heard the term Full-stack Designer for the first time last week, and since then I have seem it popping up everywhere. I also saw the term Full-stack Anxiety, which I thought was more appropriate. Everyone is looking for a unicorn, but designers should make sure to not feed this unhealthy expectation, or it might come back to bite us.

6 comments

  • Jim SilvermanJim Silverman, over 6 years ago

    one step at a time. it's hell of a lot better than Ninja or Guru job titles.

    3 points
  • Tyrale BloomfieldTyrale Bloomfield, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

    Also add "ASK DN:" to your title, please.

    1 point
  • Tyrale BloomfieldTyrale Bloomfield, over 6 years ago

    It's just a new thing. The HR teams have just learned what Full-stack means, so they are using it. A "designer" should be able to apply the basic rules of design to any medium, but I have a feeling this is not what they mean. It's probably a designer/developer with previous work that reaches from Wireframes, thru Hifi, and on to production code.

    This is all fine as well. I try to get all that done myself, often coming up short on the code side.

    The issue I draw, is they want a designer that can do everything for the cost of an average designer. If you find one, fantastic. Now pay them for the 3 roles they are performing. Either give them equity to invest so much into your product or pay them for the multiple roles they are performing.

    1 point
  • Leian Ivey, over 6 years ago

    A Full Stack "Developer" is someone who knows how to code everything from basic HTML & CSS to NodeJS and Application Development. It has nothing to do with your design ability.

    As you can imagine individuals who are capable of design and development are called "Hybrids" - very rare... at least good ones are.

    The title does not need to die. You need to research your roles more in-depth.

    TL:DR No such thing as a Full Stack Designer.

    0 points
  • Tyson KingsburyTyson Kingsbury, over 6 years ago

    what exactly would a 'full-stack' designer even mean? I'm in my 40's and have been doing this since the mid-90's and have done everything form story boarding tv spots, doing national ad-campaigns, designing software UI/UX, Branding, etc etc etc... is 'that' full stack? I rather thought 'Creative Director, or Senior Designer pretty much said it all.... adding 'full-stack' just feels like wanting to sound more like a developer.... although perhaps in today's job market that's not such a bad thing..

    I agree with Jim Silverman's comment though... I may not be ready to jump on the full-stack bandwagon just yet...but it really is a hell of a lot better than Ninja and Guru....which i have always thought were rather insipid...

    0 points