A beautiful and functional website requires more than just technical know-how; it also requires someone with a creative mind.
If you have a passion for visual art and a love of all things tech, why not combine the two in a career as a web designer?
You can get started in this fulfilling career without any postsecondary education, if you're willing to work freelance.
The most important thing you need is adaptability and the desire to stay up to date and cutting edge in the fast-paced tech world.
What Is a Web Designer?
A web designer creates the web pages that you visit every day when you look up anything on the internet.
If a site is beautiful and intuitive to navigate, users will keep coming back. This is where web designers come in.
Web designers combine creative graphic-design skills with technical know-how to merge form and function in a website or application.
Think you have what it takes? Read on to find out what you have to do to become a web designer, so you can decide if this career suits you.
Job Duties
On a basic level, all web designers are responsible for coordinating with clients and delivering a beautiful, user-friendly website.
Job specifics depend on the individual role of the web designer and how much experience they have.
A more experienced web designer will often oversee a design project and manage several other designers and programmers.
Entry-level web designers are typically responsible for much of the coding that brings a design to life on a webpage.
Necessary Skills
Web designers need experience with design software and tools that they can use to create eye-catching designs that attract users.
They also need significant technical skills to implement various features and graphic elements on the screen. Computer languages web designers are typically familiar with include:
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- Python/Django
Web designers also have a basic understanding of user experience (UX) principles and how these correspond to overall design principles.
A good web designer also has strong communication and problem-solving skills to analyze and enhance websites.
Work Environment
A web designer's work environment can be just as varied as their job duties and job description, and may change throughout their career.
Many web designers start out working freelance, which often means they're working from home or visiting clients at their place of business.
Other web designers work for agencies in a more traditional office environment with cubicles and a hierarchical management structure.
Web design is typically a full-time job, although freelance web designers have a lot more freedom to choose their hours.
Job Outlook
As e-commerce continues to expand, so, too, does the demand for web designers. There are more companies who need good websites.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of web designers will grow 23% from 2021 to 2031.
This rate of growth is much faster than the rate projected for all occupations nationwide, making this a very in-demand career.
If you're also strong in adapting websites for mobile display, you'll be even more in demand, since mobile use is also increasing tremendously.
Step 1: Develop Web Design Skills
You don't necessarily need a degree to learn the design skills you need to be a web designer — many web designers are self-taught.
Become familiar with the design tools used by professional web designers, including the Adobe suite.
You'll also need to understand the backend process of developing a website, so proficiency in common computer languages is a plus.
One of the best ways to learn these skills is to play around with the software and build your own website.
Step 2: Earn Certifications to Boost Your Resumé
Various certifications are available that prove to clients or potential employers that you have the skills necessary to design websites.
A full stack web development certificate might interest you if you're building both frontend and backend design skills.
UX certificates are especially helpful if you want to focus on intuitive navigation and positive user experiences with the websites you design.
Universities offer bootcamp online computer certification and certificate programs that you can complete in just two to three months if you want to quickly earn these credentials.
Step 3: Create Your Web Portfolio
Getting work as a web designer is in large part about being able to show potential clients what you can do with the skills you have.
Especially if you're freelance, your web portfolio will be all-important to bringing in new business because potential clients can interact with it.
Create your own website to showcase your skills and use it to display your resumé as well.
You can also create screenshots and links to other projects that demonstrate your final work product as you complete them.
Step 4: Get a Degree (Optional)
A bachelor's degree in information technology or web development is helpful if you're looking to work for an agency.
Many employers require at least a bachelor's degree and some certifications from potential employees.
However, if you're planning on working as a freelance web designer, you might not find it necessary to get a degree.
Web development degrees are frequently available online as self-paced programs, so you can get your degree while you work as a web designer.
Learn About Becoming a Web Designer Today
If you're a creative person with a passion for technology, you could become a web designer after just a few years of independent study.