Maybe you should learn how to code then? Instead of asking for "simpler" positions.
We got past the designer who can't do HTML but just Photoshop. It's time to get past the designer who can only do HTML but no scripting.
I know a ton of developers (whom you might call backend developers) that can do great design work with little effort.
Especially with tools like SCSS and/or compass/bourbon.
I'm sorry, but this is a terrible response. Clearly this person's expertise is in web design, so why would you expect them to pick up an entirely new domain of knowledge when they're already able and willing to contribute web-design now?
Having somebody who has only just learnt how to code contributing to a massive codebase is in nobody's best interests. All this will do is increase the workload of the developers who have to review the potentially crap code and, on top of that, it removes a potential contributor from an area where they could contribute far more valuable resources in a domain in which they actually have experience.
Suggesting that the op picks up an additional skill in their spare time is fine, but not at the expense of being able to contribute in an area where they already clearly have experience.
I'm sorry, it's really not. The state of design on the web is quite bad currently thanks to the number of developers who think design is easy and do it themselves. It's a 'you don't know what you don't know' thing.
What if a lawyer step forward wanting to help? Wod he need to learn how to code? Your comment is disrespectful. This person is asking for opportunities to help, and ou response is learn something valuable. As if design was not. Mozilla needs designers too. More so with the mobile OS looming on the horizon.
His point stands though. What if I want to help Mozilla but don't want to learn code/design? Clearly I won't be able to contribute to their core stuff, but maybe I can spread the word or donate or something.
You have managed to insult both programmers and designers with this statement. Yes, there are people who program and design. Yes, to some people its easy to go from one thing to the other. But neither skill is nowhere near each other.
I know a ton of developers (whom you might call backend developers) that can do great design work with little effort. Especially with tools like SCSS and/or compass/bourbon.