From: mike@isgtec.com (Mike Sellers)
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: Salaries for Interface Designers
Keywords: Salary, Background
Date: 30 Sep 92 01:43:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: ISG Technologies Inc., Mississauga Ontario

Ingrid.Towey@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Ingrid Towey) writes:
> I was wondering what Interface Designers or HCI Specialists 
> earn as salaries in industry.  No one needs to send his or 
> her salary--I'm more interested in general guidelines for 
> different levels of experience.  I really need to know what 
> kind of ranges are appropriate.

How are we supposed to answer that?  I mean, besides saying,
"not _nearly_ enough." |-)  

There may be an analog between most interface designers and 
experienced/senior level software engineers.  UI designers are
not generally junior-level people unless they are part of a 
larger team.  Beyond that, I wouldn't want to get too personal.

> I also was wondering if you all consider a degree in 
> Computer Science, Graphic Design, Cognitive Psychology, 
> Human Factors, or Communication to be more important for 
> performing work in interface design. 

Uh... yes. :-)

IMHO: Computer science, esp. real-world software engineering,
is critical -- you shouldn't be in the position of having to implement
all of the things you design (the two proficiencies interfere to some
degree), but you *do* have to know, in detail, what is feasable and why.
However, a degree in CS is often too narrow for the UI designer.

Some knowledge of graphic design is necessary for effective visual
designs, but a degree in this will probably not provide the technical
base that you need.

Cog psych and human factors are also necessary, at least as much as is
software engineering.  From my point of view, the technical knowledge,
while necessary, *must* be based in an understanding of *people*.
After all, it is them we design for.

> How much technical training is strictly necessary?  

This is deep with unknowns.  Some amount of technical (CS, psych,
graphics, etc.) training is definitely necessary, if only so that
you don't make precisely the same mistakes that others have made
-- making *approximately* the same mistakes is still par for the
couse in many areas. :-)  

> Do you consider 
> actual interface design experience to outweigh a degree in a 
> particular field?

Without question.  Provided it is *good* experience.  There are plenty
of folks out there who think they have UI design experience because they
know how to spell "Motif."  You'll know good experience because it results
in something that people (besides those in marketing) really like.

There is a tacit understanding among many in the UI "field" that 
having a "green thumb" is more important than your specific degree.
If you have a natural rapport with people, are easily able to understand
what it is they are trying to do, are able to present potentially viable
solutions that parallel their methods, and have the technical knowledge 
to design things that can actually be made, then whether your degree is 
in Chicken Feeding or Existentialism (or are those the same? :-) ) doesn't 
matter so much.  

> Finally, how many of you work pretty exclusively as 
> Interface Designers and what are your backgrounds?

Well, I'm one.  My degree (BS, 1985, self-designed) is in cognitive
science.  Personally, that's what I'd consider to be the perfect background
for this kind of job:  It encompasses CS, psych, some AI, HF, and even
art and philosophy.  I worked for almost eight years as a software engineer
and UI missionary, and with my current position have finally left the
straight engineering part behind.

One other thing:  At a workshop at last May's CHI, everyone agreed that 
they were in their current position because someone at some point had
taken a risk on them.  I have to say that this is true of me as well.
UI design positions are still unusual.  If you can get someone to take
a bet on you, jump at the chance.

--
              Mike Sellers      User Interface Team Leader
           mike@isgtec.com      ISG Technologies, Toronto, Canada
              "Actum ne agas" -- Do not do what has been done.
                         Furare tantum ab Optimis