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> So why are we hiring designers mainly on their Photoshop skills and maybe knowing a few tricks for optimizing conversions on landing pages? What a waste. > O

> So why are we hiring designers mainly on their Photoshop skills and maybe knowing a few tricks for optimizing conversions on landing pages? What a waste. > Of all the social sciences, the following seem to be disproportionately valuable in terms of creating and evaluating startups: > Psychology / Social Psychology > Internet Psychology / Computer Mediated Communication > Cognitive Development / Early Childhood Education > Organizational Behavior > Sociology > Education Research > Behavioral Economics > And yet not only is no one hiring for this, but having expertise in these areas likely won't even get you so much as a nominal bonus. The core argument of this article -- that designers at top startups are not hired for their CogSci/etc chops -- is patently false in my experience. Has this person gone actually gone and talked with design leads at startups?

wavefunction 12y ago
Never underestimate the ability of an "academic" to belittle others in regard to their own perceived ability. Designers just fuxx around in photoshop. Sure. Psychology is pseudo-science. N = 1 is no way to conduct a serious scientific endeavor. Internet psychology? lol Cognitive development / Childhood behavior - Ever hear of COPA? Many developers/designers/projects will never deal with anything front-facing involving anyone under the age of 13. Organization behavior - hmmmm Sociolgy - well.... Education Research - I suppose if your project is focusing on training/education you would want to be practicing best pedagogic practices. Behavioral Economics - Cereally? I don't know how fundamental we need to get into treating our users as "active agents." Can't we just see them as the people they are and still succeed? To conclude, all I can say is from my experience T=the best designers are born, not honed in the hoary halls of the academy, divorced as they are from the real world.

wavefunction 12y ago

Never underestimate the ability of an "academic" to belittle others in regard to their own perceived ability. Designers just fuxx around in photoshop. Sure. Psychology is pseudo-science. N = 1 is no way to conduct a serious scientific endeavor. Internet psychology? lol Cognitive development / Childhood behavior - Ever hear of COPA? Many developers/designers/projects will never deal with anything front-facing involving anyone under the age of 13. Organization behavior - hmmmm Sociolgy - well.... Education Research - I suppose if your project is focusing on training/education you would want to be practicing best pedagogic practices. Behavioral Economics - Cereally? I don't know how fundamental we need to get into treating our users as "active agents." Can't we just see them as the people they are and still succeed? To conclude, all I can say is from my experience T=the best designers are born, not honed in the hoary halls of the academy, divorced as they are from the real world.