The web design field is as broad and diverse as the websites and graphics it produces on a daily basis. Web designers can choose to exclusively program websites using popular coding technologies like XHTML and CSS, or they can opt to design the graphics that power modern websites. Still others can opt for designing web applications by using JavaScript, PHP, or Perl. In short, web design is about making the web both presentable and functional.
How do I become a web designer?
Many colleges and universities have developed programs structured for aspiring web designers. Many universities have programming classes offered through their science and technology schools that go in-depth when teaching JavaScript, XHTML, and CSS, among others. For the more graphically-inclined, many universities offer graphic design and branding programs. And, for those who prefer to do it themselves, the Internet has a vast number of resources for those who aspire to be self-taught. A simple web search can be the start of a new career.
What do I need to know?
The information you’ll be required to know depends on the area of web design you choose to specialize in. For those interested in producing attractive page layouts, it is absolutely essential to have a thorough understanding of XHTML and CSS. These are the two main languages that decide how a page looks, from its colors and graphics to its typography.
Those looking to design web applications would be wise to learn a great deal about PHP, MySQL databases, and Perl, as well as the more presentational JavaScript platform. These are the tools that power a functioning website behind the scenes, as well as produce slick, non-Flash animations for forward-thinking websites.
Web designers more interested in producing logos, graphics, and page headers should invest a great deal of time in learning Adobe Photoshop as well as Adobe Illustrator. These two programs are the industry standard for adding graphical flair to web design.
Are there any other skills that would be beneficial?
Outside of the programming knowledge required to turn beautiful ideas into beautiful designs, web design companies are increasingly looking for people who can manage teams of designers and serve as project managers. It’s important to be able to see a project through, from start to finish, and turn a vision into a reality. Employers will want to see how you’ve been able to deliver on your ideas.
Furthermore, they’ll want to see what you’re actually capable of when you’re doing your job as a web designer. No one wants an ugly website — it can actually be bad for business — and employers are in the business of hiring only those with the best sense of online aesthetics.
And what are good online aesthetics?
When designing for the Internet, it’s important to keep some basics in mind that apply to print media as well: sight lines make websites easier to read, and consistent columns make them more pleasurable to view for long periods of time. The web design industry sticks to a grid format, and everything must fall into that grid — just like designing a broadsheet for a newspaper.
On top of that, you’ll want to develop color palettes. Even the best-designed website can fall flat if colors are too bright, or text is too hard to read. Make sure you have a good understanding of what looks good on the screen and how colors can truly make or break a web design. They can make or break a career, too.
What are currently the hottest areas of web design?
Without a doubt, web designers have shifted their focus from the desktop computer to the mobile marketplace. Where web design was once concerned with making text bigger and more readable on large, desktop-sized screens, it is now increasingly focused on making websites small, easy to use on a small screen, and very small in file size. This is the future of the occupation, as analysts estimate the average person will own four portable devices by the start of the next decade.
Where is the web design field headed in the future?
HTML is rapidly evolving. Currently, it sits at version 4.01, with XHTML sitting at version 1.0/1.1. But the future comes in the form of something known as HTML 5. This revolutionary new version of the web’s programming language is making it possible for web designers to create complete mobile applications that can be used in a web browser without a separate download.
It also introduces a host of new tags that make designing easier and more semantically common-sense. Headers are now denoted with specific tags, rather than obscure ones. And the design comes in much lighter, with a smaller file size. Those who are looking to develop their careers for the long term would be well-advised to get a firm understanding of HTML5 and its unique characteristics.