When I started out the two where the same, you had to do development to do design, the world has changed a good deal since then, I would say that the fields sta

When I started out the two where the same, you had to do development to do design, the world has changed a good deal since then, I would say that the fields started their split after Photoshop was out, but up to PS 3 I remember designers writing their own plug-ins to do effects. I remember trading homemade plug-ins for Photoshop on BBS boards. More to the point, I think you can learn the techniques and train the eye, but whether you can produce beauty with technique and an eye for design is subjective at best. I personally am good enough to do commercial art for web apps but I won't be winning any fine art contests, I am fine with that because it is good enough for what I do. When I used to do simulation, I had a friend who was great at 3d art, when I would look at his work and compare it to our work (the rest of the teams) their was no comparison. He had a natural talent that none of us could achieve, to the rest we where good but he was better in a league of his own. He went on to work on the Polar Express and several other films, which in the 3D segment of design that is the major leagues. The rest of the team (myself included) while good, would have never made it at that level. That being said, many enjoyed long careers in simulation and game development and where not affected by being the best 3D designer possible.