Web design careers combine art, computer, and business skills, making for an exciting and satisfying career for creative and practical types alike. Web designers are responsible for creating websites and web content that are visually appealing and logically usable.
Web design jobs require many of the same skills as graphic design jobs, including some drawing ability, understanding of design and color principles, and a high degree of creativity. Web designers also need to have an understanding of the specific technological constraints and limitations involved when designing for the Web such as screen resolution, image compression, and ease of navigation.
Most jobs within the field of Web design require proficiency in some advanced design programs, often the Adobe Creative Suite. Some jobs also require a degree of proficiency in programming and coding with HTML, JavaScript or other web languages.
Though web design careers attract creative and artistic types, web designers must also work closely with clients to ensure that a company or organization’s website meets their business needs. Many web designers work in salaried positions at advertising, marketing or design agencies, or at specialized web consulting firms, but there are also many Web designers who make a living doing freelance design work.
Web design is a field that is constantly changing and expanding as technology evolves, so web designers must be comfortable learning new technology and responding to inevitable changes within the field.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for the field of web design overall is $59,894, but actual salaries may vary according to geographic location and type of employer. There are a number of specialized career tracks within the broader field of web design that require slightly different educational backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Web Graphic Designer
Web graphic design is an entry-level field. Web graphic designers are not usually responsible for designing an entire website, but create graphics like banners, buttons, navigation menus, and logos for websites. Web graphic designers must be proficient in advanced design software but educational backgrounds required for these jobs vary. Some jobs require an associate’s in web design or graphic design, but it is possible to secure a job without holding any degree at all for candidates with a strong enough portfolio.
The salary for this career tends to be slightly less than that of more senior positions in graphic design. Salaries for beginning web graphic designers tend to range from $25,000 to $60,000 a year.
Web Designer
The title of web designer can be an umbrella term referring to a variety of different responsibilities and positions within the field of web design. Often, the web designer designs an entire website layout, combining graphic, textual and multimedia elements. Web designers may also be responsible for HTML and JavaScript coding. As a more comprehensive job within the field, web design jobs usually require a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or web design, or a bachelor’s degree in a business field, in addition to a strong portfolio of previous work.
Salaries for beginning web designers tend to range from $25,000 to $60,000 a year, while senior web designers or project managers can earn between $45,000 and $75,000 a year.
Multimedia Web Designer
Multimedia web designers usually work as members of a larger web design team. Multimedia web designers are responsible for designing and creating multimedia features for websites, ranging from navigation controls to infographics to content presentations. They must be proficient in coding and designing using software like Shockwave, Director, and Flash. Proficiency with these programs and a portfolio are the most important requirements for this kind of job, so formal educational background or training may not be required.
Multimedia web designers tend to make similar salaries to other web designers, ranging from $25,000 to $60,000 a year.
User Interface Designer
User Interface Designers have one of the most advanced jobs within the field of web design. UI Designers have to create the overall visitor experience of a website, including its visual appeal and its usability and accessibility. UI Designers must work in close conjunction with marketing departments to ensure that a company’s website is appropriately depicting the desired message in line with other branding efforts. UI Designers usually need a bachelor’s or master’s level education in graphic design or web design.
As an advanced job within the field, UI Designers make a slightly more lucrative salary than other designers, ranging from $65,000 to $85,000 a year.