Over the years I've struggled to adequately define what it is I do. I started out with Graphic Designer, then moved on to Web Designer because most of what I was doing involved the Internet (sites, emails, etc).

During all of this, I often had to understand strategy, define brands and create positionings and, sometimes, write copy for my clients. It started to feel like I was doing a whole lot more than just deciding on pictures, colour schemes and layouts. The 'graphic' part of the description seemed to have lost the dominant relevance it had when I started. Even as a web designer, I was still designing with pictures and layouts, but because I had to demonstrate an understanding of html, flash, usability, etc, the word 'web' had to be there.

When I talk to others who are pretty much in the same boat, one comes to realise that we're all selling ourselves short. Tell someone you're a graphic designer and they'll ask if you do web sites, tell them you're a web designer and they'll want to know if you do logos and brochures. You end up force-fitting an elaborate explanation and coming out sounding like you're trying to be a jack of all trades that is afraid to lose work because of the wrong title.

The longer you do something that is one link in a chain, the better you get at handling the other links. It's inevitable, really. I'm at a point now where I generally prefer to write ads (at least headlines) on my own, rather than have to deal with implementing someone else's idea that I may or may not find interesting.

Anyway, I'm now going to stick with what I think best describes what people like me do, Communication Designer. (I read this and this and they seem to be on about the same thing. Yay, validation).

I know that half the time, people will answer with a "what's that?" and I'll have a legitimate chance to explain and define what I do, without appearing like a salesman. The other half? Well, I'll just assume they get it!