I like both visual design and computer programming, and I’ve developed my career simultaneously (more or less) along these lines. I admit to feeling pretty good about it, being able to work both with the complexities of coding and the subtleties of graphic design. It imparts a certain freedom, and at times I think I’ve got all the answers. Until I see the work of real designer/developers…then I realize that there is much improvement I have yet to put myself through in order to become world-class. I’m just some punk with a vanity website until then, even as I slide into my 40s :-)

Anyway. here’s my watch list of people who have created unique niches for themselves through the combination of multiple disciplines:

• joshua davis Pretty pretty generative Actionscript programming, wrote a beautiful book to disseminate his technique to the masses.

• noel rubin / teknoel Physics major turned ass-kicking visual artist / information / interface designer. Just add Physics to any profession, and it seems to act as a powerful alloying agent.

• joel spolsky / joel on software He codes, he opines, and he writes. So what’s the big deal? It’s his philosophy…ultimately he cares about how people interact with each other, and he writes to get the message out there.

• keith peters / bit-101 I can’t believe I haven’t come across this fellow before. New addition, still reading.

• eugene potapenko A developer with “the eye”. New addition, still reading.

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p>This list will continue to grow.