I’ve designed everything from magazine layouts to environmental graphics. I’ve worked with over a dozen CMS products in a plethora of languages. I even built a few ColdFusion and PHP sites back in the day that I’m sure would haunt me to look at now. I’ve project managed, created databases, produced wireframes and IA documents, and written copy for marketing pieces. Still, I spend a good chunk of time learning front end development techniques and reading up on user experience principles to make sure my designs are more than just pretty pictures. It’s what I spend the most energy practicing and perfecting. I wouldn’t call myself a generalist, per se, but I wouldn’t call myself a specialist either. I’ve always worked with small teams where being flexible and willing to learn was seen as a huge asset. Despite my lack of genius, being a Jack has worked well for me. Maybe a successful generalist should instead be considered a “Renaissance man” (or woman).įew would argue that DaVinci should have stuck to one subject. It implies that you dabble in bits of everything, but never achieve the expertise needed to be good at any one pursuit.

But is it really so bad to be a web generalist?īeing considered a “jack of all trades” has always had a negative connotation. Without a doubt, specialists will always be needed in any industry. It seems that the topic of specialization has come into focus yet again in the web world and with it, the people who say being a “jack of all trades” is a useless thing to strive for.Ī lot of web professionals are pushing newcomers to specialize in a single area to make themselves more marketable and employable. Specialization is for insects.” Robert A. “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, design a building, conn a ship, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve an equation, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.

Jack of all trades