Career Profile - Web Designer:
Overview - Web Designer
A Web Designer is a person that creates and arranges the pages that make up a website. Web Designers often have to balance how a page looks versus how a web page functions, which can involve some compromises.
Of recent importance is website accessibility; this refers to creating web pages that are accessible to anyone, no matter what device they are using. Website accessibility also stresses the importance of making a website accessible to those with any kind of disability.
Education for Web Designers
Web Designers may or may not have advanced degrees. A degree in Computer Science or a marketing related degree (Business Administration or E-Commerce) is most common. Many Website Designers are self-taught, starting on their own and learning design skills and design languages as they develop pages.Becoming a Web Designer
There are a couple of common ways to become a Web Designer:- Formal training: A certificate program or advanced degree program that leads to a position as a Web Designer. Any internships or small consulting projects you can complete to get practical experience will help enormously when it comes time to land your first full time job.
- Self Training: Web Designers that are self taught and end up working in a corporate environment often don't start with the company as a Web Designer. You may start out in a marketing, administrative, or other role and take on web design duties as needed. This will sometimes end up as a full time Web Design position, or may lead to a position with a different company.
Most companies will hire a Web Designer based on their portfolio, so it is important to get some real world experience to showcase. These can be small, personal projects, volunteer projects for a school or community group, or projects someone paid you to complete.
Web Designer - Career Path
A Web Designer may progress in seniority within the Web Design function. They may also progress within a marketing communications function, depending on their skills and interests.
A Web Designer is very different from a Web Developer. A Web Developer works more on the server side development, web server configuration, and web server security. In order to become a Website Developer, a Web Designer would need to learn additional programming languages and methodologies, such as Object Oriented design and Java programming.
