When I started looking at development as a career, I was under the impression that web development always involved two parties: the developer and the designer. I was employed at a development company, doing non-development work, and was looking to move to a new position. That's when I was informed that, at this company, all developers were expected to also be proficient designers...
...my heart sank. But, I picked up CS3 and started poking around looking for tips/tricks/tutorials and the like. Within 3-4 weeks I was proficient enough to get the new position, and I've been improving over time.
Now I can say that, in retrospect, this is probably the better way to do development. We do have a handful of designers on staff, but they are perpetually swamped, and they're going to focus on the most prominent artwork needs, like the big shiny icons. That, of course, leaves them little time to help me with my silly little shadow or border box.
There are benefits to having developers also know design that goes beyond how much time they waste hacking around in Photoshop.
EDIT: To clarify my response a bit: Learning is hard, but it'll be a good skill for you in the long run. Leave the business, cost/benefit determinations to your bosses for the time being. If they're giving you time to learn: learn!
...my heart sank. But, I picked up CS3 and started poking around looking for tips/tricks/tutorials and the like. Within 3-4 weeks I was proficient enough to get the new position, and I've been improving over time.
Now I can say that, in retrospect, this is probably the better way to do development. We do have a handful of designers on staff, but they are perpetually swamped, and they're going to focus on the most prominent artwork needs, like the big shiny icons. That, of course, leaves them little time to help me with my silly little shadow or border box.
There are benefits to having developers also know design that goes beyond how much time they waste hacking around in Photoshop.
EDIT: To clarify my response a bit: Learning is hard, but it'll be a good skill for you in the long run. Leave the business, cost/benefit determinations to your bosses for the time being. If they're giving you time to learn: learn!