[IxDA Discuss] design by committee??

[Wilson, Russell]

However, you raise an interesting observation: "design is often a pretty
fun thing for a developer..."  I think this is one of the hinge pieces
of this discussion.  "Design is fun..." where their "real" job isn't?  I
would propose that we all can 

[Russ]:  The product interface receives the most attention from
non-developers.  Marketing, sales, etc.,
all comment on the interface, not the underlying algorithms.  So by
taking this piece "away", developers
lose some "pats on the back".  

I was a programmer and I can tell you that I had a strong sense of
accomplishment
in implementing algorithms that worked (database implementation, the
networking communication to support 
client-server applications, etc.).  But, outside of development, there
are few if any individuals or groups
that recognize these efforts (other than the tangible results like good
performance, etc.)

So, on the one hand I keep arguing that developers should focus their
expertise and creative talents on
good *implementations* and leave design to design, and I can't
understand why that's a problem.  Then on the
other, I attend meetings where product managers get visibly excited
about the "new interface" and compliment
me over and over without saying a word to the developers...