[Sigia-l] Role of designer eroded?

[Jonathan Baker-Bates]

I'm probably trolling, but what the hell...

Has anyone else noticed a small but increasing trend for people to
equate the coming of social media, "web 2.0" etc. as in some way
signalling the erosion (or even complete eclipse) of the traditional
role of the designer?

I'm not sure what Dan Chamberlain meant on an earlier thread here when
he asked whether there is a role for the information architect in the
social media environment, but that's the sort of thing I'm talking
about. I was also fairly amazed to hear Matt Webb of design agency
Schulze & Webb appearing to conclude a similar thing in his Reboot
Britain talk a few weeks ago:

http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=7510

(I say "appearing to conclude" because I'm unsure what he was really
trying to say - and to be honest I found it a pretty aggravating talk in
the end).

I'm all for the idea that design needs to accommodate culture, and that
design itself contributes to and shapes culture, but I'm not sure how
that then means the role of the designer has, or even needs, to change.

Am I the dinosaur here or is this "new role" stuff just hot air?

Jonathan