What Are You?

In my design class, someone asked what we are called. Are we webmasters, web designers, web developers, what? I know what my official title is at work but I would think that that would be ++ if I tack on design, right?

So I look around…

Webopedia defines it like I figure. A webmaster, basically, oversees everything. Manages. A pointy haired boss? Not sure. I almost feel like it’s a term that’s tossed around so much that everyone that writes HTML may call him or herself a webmaster. So what’s cooler?

Seems that I see “web developer” more often these days/months/years. The developer seems to be the one to make the bucks too. This person knows X/HTML, CSS, and some sort of scripting language like PHP, Perl, Java, etc. She is the coder. She translates what the designer sees into a functioning masterpiece.

So what’s the webmaster do? Make sure the project finishes on time maybe. Now if there is no web developer, web designer or such, then I guess the webmaster is all of those. Maybe there’s another term out there.

If a site has more than one web developer, then I guess someone has to be the webmaster, right? Someone has to have the final say, right? Perhaps then that person is a CIO type. Or PR manager. Or maybe it’s a bullet on someone’s job description — make sure the web works good (sic).

Random survey time. I got some of the names from my bogroll, mmkay? Also, some people are many things (like Molly Holzschalg who is president of herself but lists web designer also), so I just picked up on whether the blogger says web developer or designer. Funny… haven’t seen a “webmaster” yet.

Jeffrey Zeldman - designer
Roger Johansson - developer
Jason Kottke - designer/programmer
D. Keith Robinson - Information Architect and Web Designer
Molly Holzschlag - designer
Dave Shea - designer?
Todd Dominey - founder/creative head of own company
Richard Rutter - web site producer
Dan Cederholm - web design consultant
Cameron Adams - designer?
Jeff Croft - er… hard one… currently designer (was developer looking for developer position)
Jeremy Keith - developer (love the explanation of why… “it’s easier than saying I’m a freelance web designer and programmer”)
Matt Heerema - developer
Jessica Ledbetter - developer