Live Online Video Training
Instructor Led Hands-On Training
Quizzes, Transcript, Certificate
Subscribe by Email
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSHow To Become A Web Designer
ByHey, I would like to introduce an article from a Web Designer at Exacticity. Be sure to leave your comments, feedback or questions using the comments form at the end of this post.
How to become a Web Designer
With the launch of the Internet in the 90's and the boom of the dot-com era in the new millennium. Web Designers have had a ball with designing cool-looking sites for businesses and individuals. However, with the development of newer easy-to-use tools like Dreamweaver and Frontpage, as well as online journals and blogs like this one, some people are beginning to say that Web Design skills are no longer in demand.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE WRONG!!! Yes, the availability of purely Web Design jobs when compared to Web Developer jobs, may have somewhat cooled down, however, to think for a second that Web Design careers or jobs will go obsolete is totally ridiculous. Web Designers are alive and well, and cranking out more HTML and CSS than ever. As a matter of fact, with the rise of Web-based applications (and the lack of cool styling and imaging that comes with them) Web Designers are once again finding new bread in assisting ASP.NET and PHP developers with optimizing their sites with clear, good looking HTML and CSS to make their web projects look awesome.
In this article, I will show you how to become a Web Designer or how to utilize your Web Design skills.Who is a Web Designer?
A Web Designer is someone who designs and develops web pages and websites for the internet. When working with Web Applications a Web Designer typically adds static content to the different sections and uses styling and formatting to make the site look clean and uniform.What is the Job Outlook for Web Designers?
As I said before, while Web Design has somewhat cooled in demand when compared to Web Development skills, the Web Design industry as whole is definitely here to stay. As long as the internet and the World Wide Web exists, there will be a need for highly skilled Web Designers because a web application, website or blog has limited appeal until a web designer's magical human touch is applied.Web Designer's Roles and Responsibilities
To be a Web Designer, you must be good or strong in the following:- Strong working knowledge of HTML and CSS.
- The ability to understand, to some degree, programming languages like C#, VB.NET, PHP which you interface with while working on web application development projects.
- Strong analytical skills because working with HTML is very much like traditional computer programming.
- The ability to work with pages and sites on different browsers, like IE, Firefox, Opera, Netscape.
- Strong attention to detail. A small glitch on one page could present a wacky layout to an end user or to a user with another type of browser.
- Fast learning and the capability to keep up with the current evolving standards for HTML and CSS.
- At least some working knowledge of graphics design so you can manipulate graphic images to suit different layouts on a website.
How does Web Design compare to Computer Programmer?
In some ways they are very similar. Web Design and Computer Programming require coding, testing, and adjusting. Web Design code is usually read top to bottom and left to right. Also there are rules to what you can write in web design code just like there are rules to writing in each computer programming language. These web design rules are embodied in a SYNTAX known as CSS and HTML. One advantage of Web Design over computer programing is the reduced complexity of web design jobs. While computer programming may sometimes not be easy, all Web Design is usually done on the front-end. If your are designing a simple site, it is relatively easy to test it; all you have to do is click around the site and see if you are getting your expected results. If you are a Web Designer working on a Web Application project, you are usually the last person to work on the site after all coding is done. Compared to Web Design, Computer Programming is much more complex. You have databases, routines, functions, controls, and handles for user input and output and error handling. Computer Programmers not only have several layers to work on, but they also have the front-end to deal with and assist the Web Designer on, just to make sure that their Website displays well within the Web Designer's styling. One thing to note is that while Web Design is simpler than computer programming, computer programmers tend to earn more money, but that doesn't mean that Web Designers are not well paid either. The average Web Designer salary in low cost of living areas is about $35,000 a year assuming a 2 year college degree and some experience.Web Design Training Opportunities
Currently we are working on a curriculum to train Web Designers. Stay tuned!About the Author
My name is Michael Mobley and I am a Web Designer at Exacticity Inc. If you would like to learn more about "how to become a web designer" Click Here to Contact UsIf you enjoyed reading this article Subscribe to IT Career Coach Newsletter
ABOUT ONLINE TRAINING CLASSES & E-BOOKS
- How To Become A Business Analyst Book
- How To Become A Computer Programmer Book
- Software Developer Boot Camp - Professional Training For Computer Programmers
- Business Analyst Training Boot Camp - How To Master Business Analysis Skills
- SQL Boot Camp - How To Master SQL Programming Or Database Development
3 Comments
August 24th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I Want to Become a Programmer and Web Designer. I want your help best.
December 24th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hi Kinglsey, you talk about how to become a web designer, web developer, computer programer, data analyst, sql programmer and business analyst. Just about every job that has to do with coding, software development or databases. But I never see you mention anything about computer networking. I was wondering if you dont like computer networking or if it does not have the scope that software development related jobs have. It seems there is a fair share of people that did not like programming that found networking exciting. So, what gives in regard networking?
December 24th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Parag:
Thanks for the perceptive note.
Would you be surprised that I've worn several hats in my professional life ... one of which was as a Networking / Data Communications Specialist?
That was in the good days of Novell Netware 3.x, Lotus CC: Mail and the very early days of the Internet
Networking as a career has a lot of good prospects. I have worked and interacted with IT Managers and Directors who seem to me to be promoted more from the Network Engineer Ranks than the Software Developer or Business Analyst Ranks.
Again, this is strictly my personal observation ... as I haven't done a statistical study or anything like that ..
However it seems that IT Managers and Directors tend to be promoted more from the Networking Ranks ... because of the scope of responsibility commonly associated with these positions.
From a CEO's perspective, the Network Engineer may be a better chice for an IT Director or Manager because they are responsible for:
1. Corporate Communications Equipment including Telephone Switches, Routers, Hubs, Email Servers, High Speed Internet Connections (T1 Lines, etc.)
2. Servers, Intra-network, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), etc. This includes oversight for hundreds or perhaps thousands of computers on the Corporate Network
The total cost of all these hardware, plus the cost and responsibility of managing and monitoring them goes to the Network Engineers.
Because the C-Level Officers (CEOs, COOs), etc. are used to seeing the Network Engineers manage so much valuable hardware infrastructure, they are seen as natural choices for IT Management.
So, Network Engineers have a bright future.