I’ve been introducing myself as a full stack designer/developer hybrid for some time — when asked exactly what do I do.

And then I always get the same next question — what does a full stack designer / developer mean?

In fact, the term Full Stack Designer doesn’t even return any results on Google!

Basically, the easiest answer I give to anyone who ask that is.

Note: I wrote I can, not I’m willing. Jokes aside, a full stack anything means you are able to handle anything within your industry with ease.

Full Stack Developer? You handle everything from the server / hosting configuration, to the database, to the language(s) you specialize in, the APIs, MVCs, Action Layers to the UI/UX department and some may or may not include understanding of what the client / user / business needs.

So basically, a full stack anything is able to create something from scratch to completion by himself without any help from anyone else. Regardless if the result is good or bad.

Yes, they exist, and there are, quite frankly, lots of people claiming to be a full stack designer / developer / hybrid. But like all things, one cannot specialize in everything. Everyone of these full stack people have their own specializations, which they would identify for you if probed. So do not forget to ask about their speciality especially when hiring.

TL;DR

FULL STACK DEVELOPER

1. Code
2. Commercialise
3. Implement
4. Test
5. Maintain

FULL STACK DESIGNER

1. Research
2. Design
3. Implement
4. Prototype
5. Knowledgeable in all types of design [Product, Graphic, Web, Software, Typography, etc.]

FULL STACK HYBRID

All of the above.

If you have anything to add to this list or just outright think I’m wrong about it, feel free to let me know in the comments.