If you’re new to technology, it may be difficult to know where to begin. There are many career options open to you, ranging from production and architecture to digital marketing, and any specialty imaginable. This is where web design comes into action. If you’re new to the scene, it’s always a nice place to launch.
Being a web designer, like many other jobs in technology, necessitates the usage of both the imaginative and logical sides of the brain. And web design is a diverse profession with many ways to specialise or pivot until you’ve discovered just what you’re passionate about.
But what qualifications are needed to become a web designer? In this post, we’ll go through the important skills you’ll need to know to land a job as a web designer, as well as the soft skills that will make you stand out.
The Technical Skills You’ll Need To Become A Web Designer
Let’s begin with the technological aspects of being a web designer. All of those odd acronyms and words may be confusing at first, but they’re really very simple once you get to know them.
1. Visual Effects
It might seem obvious that design expertise is necessary to be a web designer, but what exactly does this imply? Since web design is a branch of the broader area of graphic design, it makes sense to begin there.
The look and sound of a website are determined by design standards. They may involve sizes, typography, grid structures, and colour theory. Creating mood boards and type hierarchy, as well as playing with online fonts and paint palettes, are both part of studying graphic design.
2. User Interface
Those amusing abbreviations have arrived! UX stands for user experience, or how users react when they use a website (calm, annoyed, etc.). Above everything, UX is about viewing the projects from the viewpoint of the customer — how do you create a website that allows them to get just what they need?
To do this, you can conduct user testing and develop “personas” (profiles of imaginary ideal users). A web map can be used to coordinate the pages and information. In user flows, you’ll find out the direction people follow on your web. (For instance, do they often go straight to social media? Or are they really searching for a way to reach you?) You’ll also create wireframes to draw out the main elements of each webpage. Both of these elements are required for effective user interface design.
3. Cad Applications
To do your job properly, you’ll need the right equipment, much like every other craftsperson. Knowing the way through business expectations would be beneficial in all cases and vital in many. Although developing a website can be accomplished in a web browser, software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch are used by almost all designers for essential facets of their job such as making mockups, designing assets (think logos and images), and, of course, editing and enhancing pictures. You can learn how to use them (though if you’re just starting out, check out a few free Photoshop alternatives instead).
4. HTML learning
You would not have anticipated a web designer to need to know how to write. However, it is now a necessary competence for the majority of design work. HTML is an abbreviation for HyperText Markup Code, which is the coding language used to format and position material on a web page. That is, it is the method of translating a series of terms into headlines, columns, and footers. It’s also how you get “smart” material on a website, such as images, videos, and graphics.
5. Cascading Style Sheets
And there’s CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, HTML’s mate. CSS is the language that instructs browsers about how to structure and style HTML for web pages. In other terms, it is liable for making all of the text and other material appear fine. With CSS, you can change the colours, fonts, and add a lovely backdrop — and so much more! This is where your design sense really shines and where you can place your imaginative mark on any site you make.
6. Management Of Time
To be a standout web designer, you’ll need to keep on top of your timetable and tasks, whether you’re interested in practising web design to go freelance or to work for a business. This can include studying collaboration software like priority lists or schedules, or, whether you work with a big company, learning project management applications like Trello or JIRA. Whatever methods you use, mastering the art of prioritising and monitoring your work would be critical to your success (and sanity!) in the fast-paced world of web design.
7. Staying Up To Date
Staying in communication and connecting successfully are both important skills for a designer. You can’t make a living creating websites because you have outstanding leadership skills. You’ll need to keep customers informed of the status of their programmes, as well as pitch proposals and justify your creations. You might also be asked to do some copywriting or editing for websites, particularly if you’re a one-person operation. So hone your writing and presenting abilities, and you’ll be able to bring your message out to customers and colleagues.
8. Search Engine Optimisation / Internet Marketing / Social Networking
SEO (search engine optimization), internet marketing, and social networking may tend to be more suitable for a marketer or salesperson than a web designer. But, since the Internet is how so many firms sell these days, you can understand them as well. Knowing the fundamentals of each and having them in mind on both corporate and personal pages can take you a long way in your web design career.