What does a web designer do to create a top website with stunning graphics, pictures, designs, and also the best content? Graphic and web design offer excellent career opportunities and salaries for creative-minded people. However, many wonder what the day-to-day tasks of a web designer include. If you’ve ever gone to a website and seen stunning graphics, pictures, and designs, you’ve seen first-hand what Web designers do.
Along with web developers, web designers create everything we see on a website, from designing the layout and writing content to update websites and building codes. Websites are generally made to sell something, and web designers are the ones who help promote the products and services through their designs and creations.
What is Web Design?
Web design establishes the aesthetic appearance of a web page is web design. It includes the arrangement of content and the implementation of design elements. Web designers typically focus on the front end of the website, where users interact with the site. Conversely, the back end of a website is the code that makes the website function.
Web Designers vs Web Developers
Many people use the terms web designer and web developer interchangeably. Both jobs use their knowledge of web design, graphic design, and computer programming languages to create websites. However, these are different roles with different duties. Web designers focus on the visual aspects of a web page or website. They develop graphic designs and create pictures for websites, whereas web development focuses on how to make a site function.
Web developers write code that dictates how different parts of the website fit together. However, there can be a crossover between the two roles. A good comparison is a home contractor and a home builder, with the contractor it the web designer and the web developer being the home builder. The contractor designs a home, and the builder builds the house.
What Do Web Designers Do?
What does a web designer do every day? A web designer creates the visual parts of a website. They are the artists who create the look, feel, and layout of websites. They use a variety of design elements, such as color, texture, imagery, and typography, to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional website that meets the needs of their clients.
In addition to designing the visual elements of a website, web designers also create user interfaces, code HTML and CSS, and test websites for compatibility with different browsers and devices. Below are some of the job duties they may have.
- Designing the webpage layout involves combining letters, graphics, numbers, and animations the client might desire for a web design project.
- Add content – Once the designer and customer have decided what should be included on the site, the designer has to code it, where a computer programming background becomes useful. Correctly writing and editing content is a significant part of Web design.
- Set technical requirements – The designer must check out any technical requirements such as fees, available space, and any security that may be needed.
- Update the website needs to be updated regularly so potential clients know the owner is still in business.
- Fix coding issues – Even the best-laid coding may have glitches from time to time. It’s essential to fix coding issues regularly.
Website Design Process
One can better understand the role of a web designer in relation to other roles in the web development process of building a website. First, a website strategist conducts market research to establish business goals and an idea of the overall website and individual web pages. Then a graphic designer creates the visually pleasing brand elements. The visual identity assets usually include a logo, typography, a color scheme, and other graphic assets used on the website. Next, a copywriter creates all the written content on the site.
A User Interface (UI) designer creates buttons, forms, and other interactive elements. While the User Experience (UX) designer makes the wireframes. These skeletal web page layouts focus on user needs and optimize website elements around user expectations and behavior. Then the web designer reviews a website’s visual design elements and turns wireframe layouts into finished web page designs.
Who Do Web Designers Work With?
Who hires web designers? Some Web Designers work for organizations as part of a larger team. They work closely with product managers, web developers, content creators, and software engineers.
Typical employers of web designers may be web design companies, advertising, and marketing firms, large corporations, computer systems design firms, or software companies. However, self employed freelance web designers are gaining popularity. Freelance work is very flexible and project-based.
How Do You Become a Web Designer?
The requirements vary based on the work setting and other factors. Academic requirements for web designers range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. Employers may prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree in web design, digital design, or graphic arts.
However, prior work experience or projects can demonstrate a designer’s abilities. So, individuals may not need specific education credentials. Some employers hire graduates with an associate degree if they have a background in and knowledge of computer programming, graphic design, or computer science. The most popular undergraduate degree choice for aspiring web designers is the Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Web Designer?
A bachelor’s program typically takes four years to complete. It includes general education and degree-specific courses like computer science, computer programming, web design, server-side languages, applied design tools, and software applications. Students must also complete a capstone project requiring a web design portfolio.
What are the Skills of an Effective Web Designer?
In addition to industry experience and an expansive portfolio, successful web designers often have additional characteristics. What qualities and soft skills do you need as a web designer?
- flexibility
- excellent communication skills
- detail-oriented with the ability to set and meet deadlines
A good web designer understands web technologies, web design software, and the internet. Below are some core technical skills or hard skills that individuals also need to be web designers.
- visual design skills
- coding skills in HTML, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and Javascript
- familiar with image editing, vector, and screen design software
How Much Does a Web Designer Make?
Do web designers get paid well? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for most web designers is $79,890. The median wage is the point when half the workers in an occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Additionally, the lowest 10 percent of web designers earn less than $38,550, and the highest 10 percent earn more than $168,200. Below are the BLS average salaries for a web design professional in the top-paying industries.
| Industry | Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Publishers | $150,040 |
| Finance & Insurance | $99,640 |
| Computer Systems Design | $80,110 |
| Advertising & Public Relations | $64,720 |
| Retail Trade | $61,860 |
What is the Web Designer Job Outlook?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a 16% job growth for web and digital interface designers from 2021 to 2031. Additionally, the BLS predicts around 15,000 openings for web and digital designers each year over this same period. Many of those openings for web design jobs are from replacing workers who transfer to different occupations or exiting the labor force to retire.
What Are Some Roles Similar to Web Designers?
User Experience (UX) Designer
UX Designers create products that are usable, intuitive, and accessible by conducting extensive user research and testing on each aspect of a user’s journey through a website. Usually, the UX design team works as part of a more comprehensive product team that includes Web Developers, Product Managers, and data professionals. UX design is about being an advocate for users and improving usability while at the same time trying to use that extensive user research to identify opportunities and support overall business goals. User experience design and web design roles go hand in hand.
User Interface (UI) Designer
UI designers focus on how a product’s interfaces look, work, and feel. UI Designers are also usually responsible for ensuring products are responsive, accessible, and inclusive no matter which browser you use.
Webmaster
A webmaster is responsible for the overall maintenance of an entire website, including its design, development, and deployment. Responsibilities may also include content management, server administration, web hosting, and website security.
Visual Designer
Visual Designers manage the aesthetics of the buttons, icons, and backgrounds users see when visiting a site. They also oversee resizing assets for different devices and creating email marketing items, presentation materials, and interactive event materials. In addition, they would typically draft a guide to inform others in the organization about standards for visual elements on the site.
Front-End Web Developer
Front-End web developers work on the client side of websites. They focus on the website’s code. Developers build websites using a variety of programming languages. Popular ones include JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. In some situations, Front-End web developers implement what web designers have created. But, the lines between these roles blur because many web designers also work with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Front-End web development has some input on the design.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialists
A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialist is responsible for improving a website’s visibility in search engine results. This is achieved by optimizing the website for keywords and phrases related to the business and utilizing various other strategies, including content optimization, link building, and website analytics. SEO Specialists must stay up-to-date on changes in search engine algorithms, as well as the latest trends and tactics in SEO. They must also be able to communicate effectively with clients and other professionals.
Information Architect
An Information Architect is a professional who designs, organizes, and structures data, information, and knowledge to facilitate its use and understanding. They design solutions that meet users’ needs and ensure that information is easily retrieved, understood, and used. With a combination of technical, visual, and textual methods, they create intuitive data and information structures that are intuitive, easy to navigate, and visually appealing.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers.
Special Effects Artist and Animator
Animators and special effects artists create images that appear to move. Various forms of media and entertainment have a demand for creating these effects.
Why Become a Web Designer?
Becoming a web designer can be a great way to express your creativity and make a living. You’ll get to work on a wide range of projects, learn cutting-edge technologies, and have the opportunity to create something that reaches a global audience. Great web designers also get the satisfaction of seeing the impact of their work on users and businesses alike, making it a rewarding career choice.
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