You are comparing apples to oranges and I disagree with some of the sentiments that “it doesn’t matter what your personal style is”. Sure it does. If you compare those two designers on equal footings (either in a firm or on their own), I think you’ll find that number 2 is going to make more money. A designer such as number one – high on the creative end, low on the tech end – may not understand the technology behind the design, and therefore isn’t going to take advantage of important things like CSS in his/her designs.

So, essentially, their marketing being equal, the technical designer is going to make more money. Then there is the usability factor in web design. Is “artist” number one, just that, and artist? Does he make websites that “look cool” but aren’t useable? I bet number two makes easier-to-use sites, which in most cases, is much more important than “great looking” sites.

vinyl, the whole point of the last post was to encourage us to think about marketing practices and what it takes to be successful in business. It wasn’t a competition

I didn’t view it as a competition. Anyway, what kind of “winner” is there when you have only two choices? ;) I’m just saying that people made their decision (including myself) for the wrong reasons; i.e., based on work habits, not how they conduct business.

Thanks for yet another great post Andrew.

Surely the whole point is that it doesn’t matter whether you are a one or a two, as long as you run your business effectively.

I think we see that now. It was a trick question, and all of us fell into the trap. ;)

Almost all of what you said originally refers to their individual work habits, some of which are good and some not. Work habits don’t necessarily indicate whether someone can or does make a lot of money.

In short, none of the original facts you supplied was sufficient for anyone to give an informed opinion as to which designer made more money.

I’m not arguing, mind you, and for what it’s worth, I guessed correctly in my original comment. It just seems that I did so for the wrong reasons. ;)

Exactly my point. Any designer with a focused strategy (product leadership, operational excellence, customer intimacy) can succeed. I can find designer 1’s doing great and designer 2’s doing great, with or without a firm.

But to do really great you need:

1. A sound strategy/approach.
2. Great marketing.
3. The skills to build a firm bigger and longer lasting than you.