How to become A Web Designer

A thing of beauty may be a joy forever, but Web Designers go the extra mile to design and help develop, create, test and manage websites that not only appeal visually but optimise user experience in terms of interface layout, functionality, and ease of navigation.

• Digital Designer
• Digital Interface Designer
• Web & Digital Interface Designer

What do Web Designers do?

A Web Designer would typically need to:

• Design the user interface on websites and mobile apps, ensuring that the look and feel of the layout, that is, its aesthetics, content, utility and functionality, optimise user experience and maximise lead conversion
• Plan, create and arrange various textual and visual elements to share online in a way that adheres to and builds brand identity
• Meet with management or clients to determine the purpose of the new website/interface or proposed changes to an existing one; understand design preferences and the functionality expectations, timeline and budget
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team that includes UX/UI designers, graphic designers, other design professionals and web developers to take a web design project through various stages from conception to completion
• Establish and adhere to design guidelines, standards and best practices throughout the project
• Conceptualise creative, visually appealing and user-friendly website design choices to present to stakeholders 
• Convert complex requirements into interaction flows, information architecture and artifacts
• Communicate design ideas and plans through presentations to stakeholders using clear storyboards, user and process flows and sitemaps
• Select the final product and work skilfully with each client or management to turn their expectations, needs and thoughts into an attractive, cohesive and feasible website that is optimally functional on being uploaded to web servers
• Collaborate with UX designers to generate wireframes, design systems and colour palettes
• Create templates, sample sites and pages, prototypes or mockups designed to include colours and fonts and show the site structure and facilitate developers in building the product
• Write code for the website or update it and add documents using programming languages such as HTML5, CSS3 or XML
• Work with team members on the information or content to place on the site; use various content management systems; enforce content standards following a style guide to keep the content and appearance consistent across all pages
• Use HTML, DreamWeaver, FTP (file transfer protocol) and SFTP (secure file transfer protocol) to design and maintain web pages
• Create an original brand logo; continue using CSS3 to enrich UX and the look of the website
• Develop JavaScript to manipulate CSS and DOM (Document Object Model) in a way that allows programs and scripts to dynamically access and update a document’s content, structure and style
• Design and develop graphics; integrate graphics, images, audio and video into the website after digitally retouching and editing raw images and converting them into CSS/XHTML themes
• Use HTML to create forms on the front end while back-end or server-side developers use PHP to transfer or manipulate information from databases to provide the HTML pages with content for screen display 
• Maintain and convey research information through relational databases and SQL
• Create, incorporate and test functionalities and features, including applications, interfaces and navigation menus, into websites; troubleshoot the site, identify issues and make necessary improvements to the design and functionality
• Collaborate with UI designers to ensure simple, efficient, easy and quick navigation for users and a favourable overall experience 
• Ensure security policies are in place using ModSecurity and Linux firewalls and SSL and HTTPS protocols; track error logs to spot and counter unusual and suspicious activity on the site
• Use third-party plugins and themes as needed and keep software updated
• Review progress with clients, receiving and sharing feedback about draft sites
• Identify, monitor and resolve issues for the development and QA (quality assurance) teams at every stage, using issue and project tracking software, such as Jira, and raising tickets when needed
• Iterate the final product, also testing for the impact of proposed improvements on the layout, design and functionality of the website before its release  
• Monitor website traffic and user feedback; update website layout as needed, including coding and adding new pages, staying consistent and upholding the company’s brand identity; optimise website scalability and speed
• Take care of documents such as web design contracts, website design questionnaires, website briefs and website proposals; manage the email list and the company’s social media pages
• Manage the PPC portfolio; research keywords, write ads, track referral links, manage the landing page, Quality Score and bid costs
• Stay up to date with the latest developments in the field; improve your web designing ability by building proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, secure PHP and SQL

The work of Web Designers is mainly office based and requires long hours seated at a computer or using other office equipment. Since creativity is the cornerstone of web design companies, their offices may have a contemporary layout and look, following the open office concept conducive to sharing ideas and inspiration among colleagues. Larger companies with in-house web design departments may have more traditional office spaces.

Given that web design mainly needs a computer, software and high-speed internet, you may work from home, especially if you are self-employed, a freelancer, or remotely from other locations.

You may need to travel to your clients’ offices, particularly for the duration of major projects.

Web Designers typically work full time, keeping regular hours, from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Project deadlines may require you to work in the evenings, on holidays or during weekends. Some roles may require you to stay on call to tackle emergencies.

Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands. If you freelance, you will have greater flexibility in scheduling your day. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Web Designers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Web Designers are generally employed by: 

• Computers Systems Design Companies
• Private Companies
• Government Organisations
• Not-for-Profit Organisations
• Charities
• Educational Institutions and Businesses
• Banking & Financial Services
• Healthcare Organisations
• Publishing Firms
• Digital Media & Broadcasting Corporations
• Advertising & Design Studios
• Web Development Agencies
• Retail Stores
• Telecommunications Firms
• Management Consultancies

Professional associations and organisations, such as WebProfessionals.org, are crucial for Web Designers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Eye strain, back-related and other health issues from spending long periods at the keyboard and with intense concentration
• Ensuring that a company website is attractive, conveys the value of the company’s brand and mission, and also optimises the user experience in terms of ease and comfort of navigation
• Making sure that you fulfil the unique requirements of functionality and features for each of the several clients for whom you may be designing websites
• Keeping up to date with the tools and technologies needed to design, build and manage clients’ websites effectively and efficiently
• Building secure websites resistant to hacking and other cyberattacks
• Integrating social media platforms into a company website through third-party functionality
• Building websites that are compatible with the maximum number of devices that are expected to access them and load fast with the same attractiveness and ease of navigation across all types and sizes of screens
• Settling on a reasonable budget with your client and making sure to communicate timely any unexpected or hidden costs that crop up
• Building credibility and trust with clients and a solid reputation in the market
• Staying up to date with the latest web design tools, technologies and trends

Any web design experience, paid or voluntary, is valuable, even if it is designing websites informally for family and friends or a charity, as long as you record it in your portfolio to present to prospective employers as evidence of your skills and track record.

Academic programs that potential Web Designers take up typically require a period of supervised experience, such as an internship or a placement year in industry. You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Summer internships, part-time work at an entry-level position or short-term paid/voluntary work offer a taste of the career, give valuable insight into how a company or institution operates, help build useful contacts and improve one’s prospects of getting a permanent job. 

The experience may also help determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

At school, college or university, join clubs or societies that focus on computing, web design or multimedia and for whom you may be able to create a website. Use the experience to gain basic skills in carrying out diverse aspects of a Web Designer's work. You can build on them as you study further or work. 

From the time you begin acquiring experience, start to build your portfolio with examples and details of your work. Update it regularly as you create websites on a voluntary or paid basis for clients. Make sure to include testimonials and your design skills. Ideally, have a version of the portfolio that you can easily share online with potential clients or employers and keep current on your website. 

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in web designing to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Since the field of web design does not typically mandate specific qualifications, applicants for a job may range from high school diploma holders to those with a bachelor’s, associate or master’s degree, preferably in a subject with a technical or creative focus or both. Some examples of degree subjects are computer science, programming, information technology, software engineering, fine art, digital design, multimedia design, web design & development, digital media production, graphic art and graphic design.

Some employers may accept Web Designers from diverse backgrounds, even without a degree, or with a diploma or associate degree in relevant fields. However, it is essential for all aspiring Web Designers, whether self-taught or qualified, to build a portfolio showcasing their projects in hard copy form or using a digital platform such as a website. A portfolio presenting evidence of having developed several websites helps you demonstrate your creativity and experience to prospective employers.

At the minimum, you may pursue online or in-person non-university courses in web design or related aspects offered by training providers or boot camps that deliver a focused and intensive course. A two-year associate degree in web design typically includes some general subjects and web-specific courses, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Illustrator Adobe Photoshop. 

A bachelor’s degree in digital or graphic design or visual communication would likely focus on the creative aspects of web design. Coursework would cover basic and advanced web design, computer-aided design, typography, graphic design tools, image manipulation, motion graphics, colour theory, illustration and animation.

A web design degree focusing on technical aspects typically covers operating systems, web programming languages and platforms, web scripting and publishing, basic and advanced database structures, human-computer interface design and visual frameworks.

You may also find a bachelor’s degree program in web design that includes additional subjects, such as communications, technology, advertising, business and languages, which may lead you to roles in advertising or management.

Larger organisations may prefer candidates with a master’s degree in computer science or a related field, particularly for competitive roles. A master’s degree can help you specialise in a niche and in-demand area and build highly advanced web design and development knowledge and skills. Creating a website is likely to be part of your program. 

While Web Designers may not necessarily need to code, understanding HTML programming and CSS helps them develop feasible designs that web developers can code and execute. Knowledge of other programming languages, such as JavaScript or SQL, and multimedia publishing tools, such as Flash, may be beneficial. 

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field. 

Take high school courses in mathematics, design, computer science, programming and visual arts. Since self-employment is frequently an option for Web Designers, study business, accounting and entrepreneurship to launch your own web designing service.

Certification demonstrates a Web Designer’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Since Web Designers use several Adobe tools, you may consider acquiring Adobe certification, which holds industry-wide recognition. You can choose from various levels and programs, each requiring a course and an exam. You may also opt for relevant credentials from Google, such as the Google Analytics IQ, Google Ads or Google Developers certifications. The International Web Association (IWA) offers several options to acquire CWP (Certified Web Professional) credentials. Other choices include becoming a Zend Certified PHP Engineer or acquiring a relevant Hubspot Academy certification.

Web Designers typically only need a license if they launch their own business. Check with local or national web designing organisations to determine specific licensure requirements. Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. 

An employment background check can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. 

Following your entry into professional web design, you will likely take four to five years to acquire the multiple skills the job needs before advancing to Senior or Lead Designer. With an awareness of your capabilities and interests and having gained adequate experience, you could take on greater responsibilities, work with less supervision, and tackle more significant projects in terms of value and high-profile clients. With comprehensive experience, you could take on other managerial roles, such as Project Manager, progressing eventually to become a Director in the company.

You could advance in your career by acquiring new skills and specialising in either the creative aspect of web design or the technical aspects of coding. Backed with solid computer skills, you could move to or add duties in web development or other IT-related roles. With interest in business, you could aim for senior management roles.

If you wish to teach web design, you could work as a private tutor, taking one-to-one or group classes or acquire a teaching qualification to work at an institution providing further or higher education. 

Having built a personal style and established a robust demand and clientele, you may launch your business, although initial projects may be small and achieving profitability may take time. Freelancing may generate an unsteady flow of business.

Related career paths that you could diversify into include Web Admin, UX/UI Designer, Front-End Developer, and Freelance Web Design Consultant.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable and transferable skills along the way.

Candidates with the necessary technical and creative skills, website-designing experience presented through a strong portfolio, an understanding of coding and web development, and relevant educational qualifications have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Web Designer build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, 

formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

As new web designing tools and computer languages emerge, Web Designers must constantly update their knowledge and skills in the rapidly evolving field. You can keep current with the latest technical developments, design concepts and industry trends through in-house courses your employer may offer. You may also attend external training courses sponsored by your company or self-funded.

You may pursue certification programs in using industry-standard software, such as those provided by Adobe Digital Learning Services. You may also enrol in diverse other online or in-person CPD courses available with other training providers.

Review other websites, read professional web design magazines and follow web design award websites to learn of the latest design trends.

The Importance of Web Design

• Sets the first impression for the audience and builds brand perception
• Determines if leads will stay on the page or leave for a competitor’s page
• Facilitates SEO (search engine optimization) strategy to ensure visibility
• Acts as the digital face of the business or a customer service representative, giving out an impression of the efficiency and friendliness of potential customer service
• Builds audience trust with its professionalism
• Helps a company showcase its unique features and stand out amidst competition
• Allows building consistency across the website, boosting brand recognition and earning more leads and conversions

Key Elements of Top-Notch Web Design 

• Ease of Navigation - Web Designers must ensure that the navigation bar is easily accessible and directs users quickly to the information they seek on the website. Only then can the website engage the audience, given short attention spans. Navigation must also be simple and self-explanatory. Broad headings that encompass several subtopics are handy to use.
  
  
• Responsive Design - Successful web design integrates responsive design, enabling the audience to access and use the website from various devices, such as smartphones, tablets and desktop computers and have an equally positive experience regardless of the device in use. The website must adapt to the device and appropriately size it.
  
  
• Style Guide - Consistency across a website in terms of various aspects, such as colour, format and typography,   fosters brand recognition and increases the time of user engagement on a page, leading to more conversions. Use a style guide for reference to facilitate you and your team in creating consistency each time a new element must be added to the website.
  
  
• Purposeful Visuals - Integrating visual elements into the website design improves audience engagement. However, even though customers are ten times more likely to interact with a video than text, Web Designers must balance images and videos with text and aim for a clutter-free outcome. Make sure that each image and video serves a purpose. Support text with relevant visual elements to inform and engage the audience but not overload them with visual stimuli.
• Excellent Copy - Consistent, grammatically correct, and high-quality copy providing important information about the business to the audience is integral to a well-designed website.
  
  
• Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons - Converting leads on the website is a key purpose of web design and is served by the CTA button, which must be designed well to get the audience to take the next step. Effective CTA buttons fit into a page but also draw attention to drive the best results.
  
  
• Page Speed - The best-looking website is of use only if the pages load quickly enough for the audience to find the information they are looking for without losing interest and patience. If not, the website will lose its audience to competitors. Use available tools, such as Google PageSpeed Insights, to test and improve load speed for websites. Or you may use a digital marketing company’s speed optimisation services.

A Web Designer’s Skill Set

• Visual design sense and skills with an awareness of user-system interaction
• The ability to cooperate with clients or management to fulfil their requirements
• Some coding knowledge and experience
• An eye for clean and artistic web design
• User interface (UI) design skills
• Work experience as a Web Designer, whether voluntary or paid
• Graphic design skills with a strong portfolio to demonstrate them
• Robust experience in creating wireframes, storyboards, user flows, process flows and site maps
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator or other visual design and wire-framing tools
• Proficiency in HTML, CSS and JavaScript for rapid prototyping
• Agile/Scrum development process experience
• Problem-solving
• Updated knowledge of the latest Web trends, tools, techniques and technologies

Web Designer vs UX Designer, UI Designer and Web Developer

UX (user experience) designers use a methodology to optimise the usefulness, usability and enjoyability of diverse products, particularly software, applications and websites. They conduct comprehensive user research, task analyses and testing to develop appropriate strategies. Their goal is to create easy, efficient, relevant and overall pleasant experiences for users, not necessarily from the visual aspect but from how the experience feels. Using their findings, they create wireframes and task flows based on the user personas they have generated. The human-centric designs that UX designers create derive from data-driven decisions. 

Web Designers focus on the visual elements and layout of the webpages on a website, taking care of content production and placement and graphics, using HTML/CSS programming. They create the look, feel and layout of a website or interface, and deal with its visual components, including photos, colours, font types and sizes, and graphics. They help transform wireframe layouts into finished web page designs, keeping in mind the latest trends. They aim to ensure that the website delivers optimal aesthetics, utility, and functionality.

Once Web Designers build a site structure and mockup, Website Developers then code the site to make it operational, using coding languages such as HTML, JavaScript, PHP and Python. Working on the back end, they code and configure the server and databases and incorporate user-facing features and functionality. Web Developers also test and debug the service at various steps. Their post-launch work includes supporting website maintenance, troubleshooting, and resolving server or hosting problems.

UI (user interface) designers focus on the interactive component of products or services, including websites, software and machines and work closely with UX designers. When it comes to a website, app or video game, they are in charge of designing all the screens that users navigate through and the visual aspects that facilitate user movement. They leverage enhanced usability to boost the conversion rate. 

Web Designer vs Graphic Designer

Aesthetics and creativity are at the core of both web and graphic design. However, while Web Designers focus on the creation of digital content, including text, images and videos, typically for websites, graphic designers also work for print media, including magazines, newspapers, newsletters and promotional materials. While both require skills in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Sketch, Web Designers would typically do well also to have some knowledge of programming languages, particularly CSS and HTML. 

Other Related Roles

Some Web Designers and Developers are generalists capable of handling the multiple aspects of website construction, while others specialise in particular aspects. Given below are a few specialised roles.

Back-end web developers are in charge of the technical aspects of website construction, architecture and framework, ensuring the site’s required functionality. They script and write code in computer languages, such as Python and Java, to communicate between the site’s database and the user's browser. They also lay down procedures for adding new pages to the site and confer with the management if any part of the website needs modifications.

Front-end web developers are responsible for the technical aspects of a website’s appearance. They code the web design using various computer languages, including HTML and JavaScript, integrate the graphics, applications and other site content, and take care of debugging.

Web admins manage websites, maintaining and updating them, ensuring correct operations by testing for errors and responding to user comments. They must be technically proficient as well as creative to be able to code and design websites like developers.

No-Code Development 

Despite programming being the basis of much of our daily activities, from banking to online shopping and engaging with social media, writing code is still a highly specialised skill, which precludes most people from being able to create an application or website. The no-code movement seeks to alleviate this problem by allowing non-programmers and programmers into web development. You may learn the essentials from any of the numerous tutorials that exist. 

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Web Designers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Web Designer has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

Current Scenario

The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current jobs), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment. Given the growth of ecommerce, more and more businesses are shifting to or adding online operations, creating the need for well-designed and user-friendly websites. Web Designers may look forward to a healthy growth in full-time jobs and freelance work.

It takes website users less than a second to formulate their first impression of the company and its brand from their experience using the site.

First impressions may not be the last, but they count significantly in engaging audiences, building brand perception, leading to conversions and bringing users back to a website. Web Designers are creative geniuses with technical know-how who ensure that a website looks and functions its best, reaping benefits for the company and the user.

Work in collaboration with your users, clients and team of developers and other designers. Focus on both form and functionality, and remember that the website you create should run as a modular system.