Life begins at 65: unless you are mixed signal?

Abstract

The old school of analog designers, exemplified by pioneer Bob Pease, is becoming an extinct species. But the demand for analog/mixed-signal IP blocks has never been greater, especially at 65 nm and below. Can this demand be met by using externally designed 3rd party analog/mixed-signal IP? Or is the implementation of revolutionary changes to traditional work flows and analog design processes a suitable option? Which solutions that help in increasing design efficiency are currently on the table? In the future, which side of the table will analog designers of Bob Pease's generation sit: the IP provider or the chip company? Or are their skills redundant for the 65 nm analog design challenges?