Are you a creative person looking for the perfect career? If so, there are not many more creative careers than a web designer.
However, becoming a web designer can be challenging, especially if you do not know where to start. For example, do you need to attend college to become a web designer? And what kind of computer and software do you need to be successful as a web designer?
This guide aims to answer all these questions and show you the steps you need to take to build a career in web design.
Web Designer: Key Skills and Responsibilities
In general, a web designer is a professional who creates, manages and maintains content for the web. There is nothing left out of designing pages and visual elements by creating programming languages and user – friendly websites.
Web Designer Skills (Hard and Soft):
- UX, UI, and visual design knowledge (web fonts, colors, etc.)
- Design software management (eg, Adobe Photoshop)
- Coding knowledge (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.)
- Time management
- Communication skills
- Problem solving and teamwork skills
- Research skills
Web Designer Responsibilities:
- Plan and create web pages
- Design an attractive layout
- Use codes to create user-friendly pages
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Listen and advise clients
- Able to work as part of a team and solve problems that occur effectively
- Analyze client niche, explore new web design opportunities / innovative digital marketing approaches
If you feel overwhelmed reading this table, do not! You do not need to master all the above skills. No one is expecting you either. Being an excellent web designer requires some dedication, but ultimately it is only a series of steps. Let’s jump deeper into them.
Becoming a Web Designer: 7 Essential Steps
1. Obtaining the Testified Knowledge: Theory and Certifications
Let’s start with the most common question, “Do I need to go to college to become a web designer?” Research shows that more than 65% of web designers are self-taught (fully or partially). Of course, that does not mean that you can jump into the design from the beginning.
Instead, we recommend that you learn some essential web design elements and how to use them in your future projects. This includes UX (user experience), UI (user interface), protocols, and patterns. The same goes for technical knowledge such as programming languages, frameworks and design software.
2. Developing Certain Skills
So, there are many aspects that you can explore for technical skills. To be specific, your first steps in web design include developing the following skills:
- Theory and certifications: Learn the theory to understand how the web and the market work
- Web design tools: Get the web design tools you need to get started with design (eg Webflow, Sketch, Figma). This will allow you to learn how to prototype your web design models.
- Graphic design tools: Be familiar with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.
- Programming languages: Especially if you are thinking of becoming a freelance web designer, you should at least learn how to use basic languages (HTML, JavaScript, CSS).
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Learning how to optimize your web pages for search engine rankings is crucial.
3. Master Web Design Software
What software do you need as a beginner to create a web design? There are many apps that will help you gradually enter the wonderful world of web design.
For CMS platforms, WordPress is the most popular on the market. The great thing about WordPress is that it is very beginner friendly and comes with thousands of pre-built themes and plugins that you can use when creating a website.
But the same is true for InVision Studio. Unlike WordPress, InVision Studio is specifically designed to help web designers prototype and design a website. Finally, for graphic design software, we recommend that you start with Photoshop (for creating visual examples and prints) and Sketch (for UI designs).
4. Learning How Much Computer Power You Will Need
While online CMS platforms like WordPress do not require special hardware, this is not the case for web design and graphic design software. To be precise, both InVision Studio and Photoshop have very demanding system requirements.
Still, an mid-range desktop or entry-level gaming laptop can easily handle such a function. You need a reliable CPU, 8 GB RAM, and a dedicated graphics card.
I get to work with two perfect screens for prototyping. You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to buy a laptop or desktop for web design.
5. Practice, Practice, and Practice
As with any other profession, it makes perfect practice in web design. So, it is a good idea to get involved in personal web design projects before you start looking for clients or applying for job offers. This way, you can gradually acquire the technical skills you need.
Also, by working on several personal projects first, you can build a professional portfolio.
6. Creating a Professional Portfolio
If you want to highlight your talent, you should have a comprehensive portfolio as a web designer. This way, potential customers can trust you by looking at your previous work and experience.
When creating a portfolio, make sure to showcase all aspects of your work and make it easy to use. In other words, think of your online portfolio that represents your talent and do it accordingly.
7. Choosing the Type of Web Designer that Best Suits Your Needs and Preferences
Last but not least, before working as a web designer, you should know that there are three main types of web designers: Freelance web designers, Agency web designers, and in – house web designers.
If you prefer to be self – employed and believe you have the necessary soft skills, free circulation is probably the best way.
On the other hand, your agency or company (especially for beginners) is usually easier to operate and will provide you with a stable income. But, in the end, it all depends on your needs and preferences.
Wrap Up
Becoming a web designer can be an exciting career. As long as you have the necessary dedication and willingness, nothing will stand in your way.
Learning various aspects of the profession and mastering specific software will only make you better. All you have to do is respond positively (and ask for) incoming feedback and practice!
Image featured by Pexels.
