What is a Web developer, Designer or Illustrator?
I do sometimes get asked exactly what I do and what is the difference in what I do by those titles and general technical and creative industries mean, so to start with 3 that do overlap, to give an example a quick one image above might help.
I'm also a SysAdmin and Consultant, but that doesn't overlap as much as you think, it's a different skill set in each area.
As a web developer i was expected to do everything.
It was always the same old story - my 14 year old nephew can do photoshop and make web pages, why cant you do it on my high-end web app? Oh and i expect you to do it for free......
Web developers tend to be generalists because we have to. Design is a very different skill, and just because you can do one, it doesnt mean you can do the other. There are some who excell at both disciplines, but they are quite rare.
Many are, I don't speak for all, but I have a wide range of skills, usually because of client demand and experience over 25 years of programming / SysAdmin and 10 years of design work.
I've never had my work compared to there 14year nephew or similar, but I certainly had some difficult clients.
Interesting rant read - http://clientsfromhell.net/
I believe that web developers/designers are under-rated for their abilities and complexities of their work they are uniquely involved in. From personal experience, I know someone who is very talented in his programming yet, expectations are so high of them. I know I have been rescued many times of saving my website from crashing, they are very talented people! And its always good to start at a younger age, its where you develop your interests from.