Web design has never been the easiest career path to embark on for those who are interested. However, that does not mean it cannot be done. Through hard work and diligence, as well as perhaps an ideal mentorship (online or in person), becoming a web designer is achievable. Beginning in 2014, the projected web designer career growth was estimated to be 24%.
In 2017, this statistic has certainly proved to be true, and the field is still steadily growing. In terms of getting on the path to becoming a web designer, most people have no idea where to begin. This is completely fine! It is normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning. However, by taking it one step at a time, you will soon be looking back on these days as though you had nothing to be afraid of.
HTML And CSS
Every web designer gets started differently. They all begin honing a different aspect of the craft itself. It is recommended, that you begin building your base skill set by learning the basics of HTML and CSS. Every graphic designer needs to have a good grasp of both.
The Value Of Sketching
Experienced web designers, will often confess to skipping over sketching and jumping straight into Photoshop during their early days. This can be a big mistake. Amateur designers, have a tendency to overlook the importance of sketching out their ideas initially. It’s sort of like having an outline, if you were to undertake writing a novel. By creating an outline or sketch, you can flesh out an idea and ultimately save yourself a lot of time, if the idea is not worthy of being pursued.
As a designer, one of the most important things to keep in mind, is that the client most likely does not view your art as sacred. Of course, no designer wants to hear this, especially after putting their blood sweat and tears, into a project. But this is often the case, as many projects are likely to change.
Fix Problems As Soon As They Arise
From the beginning, you want to build the habit of fixing problems, as soon as they arise. What you don’t want to do is ignore what doesn’t work, hope the client won’t notice, and then have to redo the entire effort from the beginning. So as soon as bugs are discovered, go out of your way to ensure that they are eradicated. This entails being flexible, to make adjustments for the sake of your client.
Stay Learning!
You never want to reach a stage in your career as a web designer, where you stop learning. As the saying goes, you are only as young (or in this case, skilled) as the last time you took it upon yourself to change your mind. The moment that you stop learning, will be the same moment that another designer gets the job you wanted all along. Web design is an in-demand field, therefore you need to do everything you can to stay ahead of the game. Outdated and obsolete websites, receive little to no traffic, leaving their owners frustrated. By keeping up with the latest trends, you can more easily rest assured, that your pages will be frequently visited.