I'm not convinced that great designers do things completely instinctively as they go along but fact of the matter is it does take a lot of time (especially if y

I'm not convinced that great designers do things completely instinctively as they go along but fact of the matter is it does take a lot of time (especially if you're spending 90% of your time learning how to do everything), and I have no doubt that a great designer can do at least as good of a job as I in a fraction of the time (and probably a much better job at that). In the end, I don't see design being all that different from coding. Sure a PHP kiddie could write some crazy first person shooter by copying/pasting code for a couple of years, but Carmack will sneeze during dinner and put him to shame with his phlegm alone. So sure, people should go and do things themselves if they have the luxury of time and patience. Everyone else can go and hire someone better than them, if they have the luxury of money and practicality.