In a welcome about face, Microsoft has decided to make Expression Blend and Expression Web available in MSDN subscriptions. Soma Somasegar makes the announcement. A welcome decision.
Initially Microsoft was intending to separate out the new Expression design tools from the developer resources. However, in my mind it seems that there’s going to be greater intermingling of “classic” developer tools and the new generation of design tools–especially on the web, although the trend goes much further.
I also firmly believe that a successful tool of the future is going to melt away the distinction between designers and developers. Either the designers are going to do more developing–or the developers are going to do more designing. The result will be greater efficiency either way. That’ll be the key to success.