CodeSnipers has this new post today that aims to help you pick that one softwre developer from the masses coming in, and a few things you can ask them to tell the good from the bad.

In lots of companies software designers and software developers are separate job positions and require different skill sets. Software designers are those individuals who pay special attention to GUI standards, usability and overall system coherence. One of their roles is in a way to act as user's advocates to ensure that the software is designed in a way that the users are able to use it painlessly.

Usability and consistency may be some of their favorite words. Or maybe not.

I like some of the things he mentions as far as things to ask potential candidates, including asking them to "give a lecture" on standards in the community, maybe have them design a sample page/app that would show off not only thier software design experience, but highlight their UI skills.