If you can write code that has been put into production, then you are way ahead of many so-called developers on the job market. This is the sad state of our industry.
Since you say you know design and programming but the actual sites you've had to put together for your employer(s) are atrocious, why haven't you built a portfolio for yourself? For very cheap, you can get yourself a virtual server or even some shared hosting site along with a domain name or two and put up whatever you want. One site at least should include your resume and contact info along with anything else you feel is good to post with that info. After that, it's up to you how you want to present yourself. If your portfolio of sites under your control are attractive, have good usability and present well, then it will be obvious to any prospective employer that your work sites are bad because you were doing what your employers told you to.
I understand it is true for every rookie, but how is it possible to remain 8+ years in the payroll if you do not ship anything to production? By job hopping every year?
Since you say you know design and programming but the actual sites you've had to put together for your employer(s) are atrocious, why haven't you built a portfolio for yourself? For very cheap, you can get yourself a virtual server or even some shared hosting site along with a domain name or two and put up whatever you want. One site at least should include your resume and contact info along with anything else you feel is good to post with that info. After that, it's up to you how you want to present yourself. If your portfolio of sites under your control are attractive, have good usability and present well, then it will be obvious to any prospective employer that your work sites are bad because you were doing what your employers told you to.