[feverishaaron]

As a UX guy, I'm trying to learn how to program. It's very difficult, and requires a different mental model of learning. However, I recognize the immediate value that understanding programming concepts will provide in evaluating how feasible a UI schema is. It will help balance priorities – do we first deliver a feature then refine, or do we take the extra engineering time to provide an enhanced user experience from the get go? Of course, all of these priorities also need to be weighed against your business needs, and the immediate needs of your users.

[zavulon]

Obviously there's nothing wrong with UX people learning how to program, and programmers learning a bit of UX. Doing either will enhance the value you provide to clients, no doubt.

However, all I'm saying is you can't realistically become an EXPERT in both.

I run a business... over the last few years I've been doing a bit of sales, accounting, programming, project management, IA/UX design, QA, long-term strategy planning, etc. Has it helped me that I know how to do each one a little? Yes, of course. Am I expecting to become an expert in all of them? Absolutely not