So, should programmers learn how to design? Oddly enough in the 80's programmers were the designers for the most part. The idea of a standalone designer was more of a web idea from the mid-90's. Before then we all considered design as a part of programming. The one app I built from 1988-1993 that is still sold (many owners later) has many features remaining identical to what I designed despite being the lead programmer. Today people laugh at the idea.
I think the more everyone on the team understands all the specialties the better the app is likely to be.
I think I have learned some web design just from using the internet for the last 15 years. I'm not a phenomenal designer, but I've got some intuition and can make some simple choices.
And I get really nervous when my company's designer wants to adding a scroll bar to a modal dialog. :-(
May as well. Blogs/media continually throw every small skill that they can into the bucket-of-things-you-need-to-know-as-a-developer. Eventually it'll catch on and it'll be on job postings.
I think the more everyone on the team understands all the specialties the better the app is likely to be.