How To Become A Web Designer?

From now to 2030, web design jobs will grow by 13%, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

As you can see, web design is and will be one of the most demanding jobs in the near future. Thus, if you are thinking about entering this remarkable career, it’s the right time to do so. 

In order to start your journey right away, you need the right guide. Many emerging designer fail because of the wrong guide and eventually give up on their design career.

Hence, we have created a comprehensive guide on how to become a web designer. We will cover everything you need to know about the most basic web design theories and all the necessary skills to be successful.

1. Learn the Web Design Theory

Start by learning some core web design principles to get a better understanding of how users perceive and interact with websites. With their help, you can create a solid foundation for your web design knowledge. To learn core principles, you must know:

• Visual Hierarchy: It refers to the strategic arrangement and presentation of a web page’s elements based on their importance. By using size, color, contrast, etc., you can emphasize key elements and direct the user’s attention.
• Divine Proportions: This theory, also known as Golden Ratio, goes beyond creating visually balanced layouts. It suggests using certain proportions for design, like 1:1.618, which is pleasing to the human eye.
• Hick’s Law: It focuses on simplicity and minimizing user decision-making time. By strategically organizing website content, you can reduce the number of options presented to users, which will minimize cognitive load.
• Fitt’s Law: This one highlights the relationship between target size, distance, and interaction speed. With this, you can design user interfaces with optimized navigation elements and clickable areas for better usability.
• Rule of Thirds: In this theory, you can craft well-balanced compositions that captivate the viewer’s eye. It includes splitting a layout into nine evenly sized parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines to create a grid of intersecting points.
• Gestalt Design Principles: This theory explains how humans preserve and organize visual information. And as a designer, you can use this theory to create a cohesive design that is easy to understand and navigate.
• White Space (Negative Space): Space between elements on a page is called whitespace. It emphasizes the importance of whitespace in improving readability and reducing clutter.

2. Study UX and UI 

Mastering UX and UI is essential for creating stunning website designs. As a web designer, you will need to excel in both areas to deliver high-quality results. Here’s a breakdown of what you will learn:

User Experience (UX)

For a web designer, focusing on User Experience (UX) is crucial to making sure users have a satisfying interaction with your website. To achieve this, consider the following aspects:

• User Research: This will help you understand your target audience, their pain points, behaviors, and how they interact with your website. So that you can create an eye-catching as well as functional website.
• Information Architecture: You have to learn how to organize and structure website content in the most logical way. A strong information architecture will make it easier for the viewers to find the info they need.
• Wireframing: It’s like creating a blueprint for your website that includes page layout, functionality, and content placement. This lets you try out different layout styles for your website before adding visuals.
• Prototyping: You need to create an interactive model of your website to visualize its actual functionality. This allows you to test various features, gather feedback, and identify usability issues before final development.

User Interface (UI)

User interface refers to how visitors interact with a website. As a web designer, your goal is to create a look and style that makes the site easy to use and enjoyable for your audience. To achieve this, you’ll need to master the following aspects:

• Typography: Choosing the right fonts, styles, and sizes is crucial for creating a website that isn’t just visually appealing but also easy to navigate.
• Color Schemes: You need to use color strategically to influence user behavior while also maintaining your brand’s identity.
• Layout: A well-structured layout is crucial in UI design. It ensures a clear hierarchy, guiding the user’s eye and providing seamless engagement with the website.
• Icons and Button: These two are the main interactive elements that the audience will engage with. You need to learn how to place them strategically based on the target audience, content type, user journey, etc.
• Responsive Design: You have to understand the basic principles of responsive design. By adopting responsive design, the site will remain consistent regardless of the device used to access it.

3. Develop the Necessary Web Design Skills (Technical and Soft)

You need to learn some of the necessary technical and soft skills to start your career. With a combination of both, you will be able to create an engaging and user-friendly website and web pages. 

Technical Skills

Basic understanding of programming languages, responsiveness and site usability are key parts of technical skills. Let’s get familiar with necessary programming languages and other aspects:

• HTML: This language acts as the foundation for web pages. It defines the structure of the content and instructs browsers on how to display text, images, and other elements. 
• CSS: It complements HTML by giving you more control over a website’s style. CSS lets you define fonts, colors, backgrounds, and more, creating the visual look and feel of your web pages.
• JavaScript: This versatile programming language allows you to enhance static websites with interactive elements. With JavaScript, you can create complex features such as interactive maps, animations, and slideshows with ease.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Besides designing a visually appealing web page, you also need to ensure your website is built with a focus on SEO aspects. A SEO-focused website will rank better and attract more visitors.

Soft Skills

Mastering certain soft skills will help you become a successful web designer. Skills like communication, time management, and more will help you establish strong relationships with your clients and coworkers.

• Communication: A successful web design project starts with clear communication. With this, you can understand your client’s needs and offer your design expertise appropriately, which will reduce misinterpretation issues. 
• Collaboration: When working on a project, you may need to collaborate with web developers, graphic designers, and marketers. And with proper collaboration, you can understand their needs and work as a team to achieve the best results. 
• Management of Time: Whether you’re a freelancer or an in-house designer, mastering time management is essential. This skill enables timely delivery of tasks without compromising quality and helps prevent burnout.
• Eye on Every Detail: As a web designer, having an eye for detail is paramount for ensuring an optimized user experience, maintaining visual consistency, and ensuring the proper functionality of content elements
• Problem-solving: A strong problem-solving skill set serves as a cornerstone for web design proficiency. This skill involves navigating unexpected challenges, meeting clients’ preferences, and making improvements to the user experience.

4. Learn How to Use Website Design Tools and Software

As a web designer, you will need a variety of tools and software to breathe life into your web design dreams. You will need design software, prototyping tools, and many other additional tools to design website layouts and creative visuals.

Visual Design Software: 

Visual design software is the cornerstone of a web designer’s toolkit. They let you create all the visual elements from editing photos to crafting layouts and crafting user interface components, all in a single place. However, while there’s a variety of software available, some industry favorites include:

• Adobe Photoshop: The best software for photo editing, photo manipulation, graphic design, creating visual elements, and design customization.
• Adobe XD: This one is great for photo editing, crafting layouts, building user interface components, and prototyping.
• Adobe Illustrator: With this, you can create all types of vector graphics, icons, and illustrations required for web design projects. It also offers preconception tools that aid in creating custom graphics.

Prototyping Tools: 

A web designer needs to know how to use prototyping tools like Figma and Sketch to create interactive prototypes that simulate website functionality and the user experience. With this tool, you can see what your designed web page will look like.

• Figma: It’s a cloud-based tool with a versatile design interface that lets you create clickable mockups with real-time user interactions and design visual elements like layouts, buttons, icons, and more.
• Sketch: With this, you can create low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity prototyping, create website elements like shapes, text, vector graphics, and symbols, and so on.

Learning how to use visual design software and prototyping tools is kind of mandatory. But if you want to stand out from the rest, you can also consider learning how to use a code editor and CMS.

Code Editor: 

In some cases, achieving a specific visual design element might require a little bit of code. This is where code editors like Brackets or Notepad++ come in. They allow you to write or edit front-end code, giving you ultimate control over website appearance.

Content Management System: 

Being familiar with popular CMS platforms like WordPress, Webflow, or Squarespace will make you a better web designer. As a result, you will know how different CMS work and then create more efficient layouts or visual elements. Plus, working with CMS introduces you to page builders, aiding in the design of dynamic and scalable websites.

5. Consider Specializing in a Specific Field

Web design is a broad field, and as a beginner, it’s crucial that you have a basic understanding of all of its aspects. However, when you are considering it as your career, it’s a good decision to focus on one specific area.

Simply pick an area that you feel comfortable in, and then learn more skills in that particular area to become an expert. Here are some common areas of specialization within web design:

User Experience Designer

If you want to be a UX designer, then you have to focus on user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing and user empathy. The combination of all of them will help you to create positive user experiences (UX) for your target audience.

User Interface Designer

As a UI designer, your role is to transform a website’s visual elements into an interactive experience. For that, you must have knowledge about visual design principles, color theory, typography, layout and composition and so on. With all these, you will create a user interface that is both beautiful and functional.

Visual Designer

Beyond UX and UI design, another exciting path is visual design, where you have to focus on crafting website visual elements. As a visual designer, you’ll need to master illustration, graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and design software like Photoshop and Illustrator. 

6. Get Different Certifications

Once you have chosen your career path and are ready to apply for a real-life job, it’s time to get certifications. Getting certification from a reputed institution or source will double the possibility of getting your expected job. 

Plus, whenever you want to earn a new certificate, you have to attend their daily or weekly program, which will help you learn new skills. The best part is that certificates will also set you apart from the competition.

Some of the best certificates are listed below that you can earn to make your web designer career’s foundation solid rock:

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• Google UX Design Professional Certificate
• Certified Web Designer (CWD) from CIW)
• Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) Courses
• Responsive Web Design Certification by freeCodeCamp
• Front-End Web Developer Certification by W3C

7. Create a Strong Portfolio

One last thing you need to do before applying for a relevant job based on your skill set is to prepare a strong portfolio. All employers or clients will want to see your capabilities before deciding whether to hire you.

Make sure you have a stunning portfolio so you can show off all your skills. Here are some key tips to follow when creating your portfolio:

• Quality over quantity: Don’t just populate your portfolio with a large number of works; only show your best work to impress potential clients or employers.
• Highlight Your Specialization: If you specialize in a particular area of web design, such as UX, UI, or visual design, make sure to highlight this in your portfolio.
• Describe your process: Explain the process you follow from start to finish. With this, your potential client will have an understanding of your professionalism.
• Showcase Your Skills: Mention the skills you have and include any relevant certificates. Demonstrating your qualifications can be an advantage.
• Update Regularly: Design principles and trends evolve constantly. Make sure to keep your portfolio up to date with your latest work and newly earned skills.

8. Apply to a Relevant Web Designer Job

Web design is a highly flexible role that can be pursued as an in-house designer or as a freelancer. No matter what path you choose, considering aspects as demonstrated below will increase the chances of your job application being accepted.

Learn about Types of Web Designer Work Arrangements

In general, there are three types of web designer work arrangements, and each offers a different workload, environment, and salary:

• In-house Web Designers: As an in-house web designer, you may have to work on a single or multiple projects while closely collaborating with your colleagues. You will receive fixed pay, a benefit program, and a comfortable work environment.
• Agency Web Designers: You have to work on design projects and perform a variety of design-related tasks for different clients. It gives you the opportunity to explore different industries, earn a competitive salary, and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Freelance Web Designers: You’re your own boss, so you can choose projects and manage workloads the way you want.

Aspects Consider Before Applying for a Job

In addition to knowing different work arrangements, you also have to consider certain aspects. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• Job Search: Search for your dream web design job on company websites, freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, and professional networking sites like LinkedIn. Before applying, make sure to assess your skill level to ensure it matches the job’s requirements.
• Personalize Your Applications: All jobs in web design require submission of a resume, cover letter, and portfolio. It’s crucial to highlight your skills, expertise, and projects in these documents to enhance your credibility.
• Networking: In today’s job market, strong professional connections can be a game-changer. Therefore, try to build a strong network by attending seminars, events, joining design communities, etc.
• Interview Preparation: Since you’re applying for a job, you better prepare yourself for the interview. You can prepare yourself by practicing common web designer interview questions, taking notes of your working process and so on.

9. Keep Up with the Latest Trends in Web Design

In the world of web designing, it’s important to keep up with the latest trends, whether you’re a beginner or pro. By doing so, you can stay informed of all the latest and most recent design trends and even patents. You can keep up with the latest trends by following these steps:

• Follow Industry Leaders and Publications: Follow industry experts on social media, check out their websites, and read their blogs for relevant info.
• Attend Conferences and Events: Take advantage of industry conferences, local meetups, and even online events to gain knowledge.
• Explore Design Communities: Active on design communities on social media or forums because people openly discuss all sorts of things there 
• Use Design Inspiration Platforms: Take design inspiration from platforms like Dribble, Behance, Pinterst, and more. 

Wrapping Up

Now you know how to become a web designer from scratch and which skills you should master. Throughout this guide, we have discussed all the necessary aspects to guide you on the right path.

Don’t overthink it, start your journey today, and you’ll discover how enjoyable it can be. If you have any further questions, feel free to comment below, we would love to address any issues.

Remember, becoming a web designer doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and continue practicing. Also, never stop learning, even after you start a job, make sure to keep yourself updated with the latest web design trends.

FAQs

Are Web Designers in Demand?

Yes, being a web designer is a high-demand job. This job market is growing faster than average, with an expected 16% growth from 2022 to 2032. And the main reason behind this trend is the increasing prioritization of online shopping by e-commerce and other businesses.

How Hard Is It To Become a Freelance Web Designer?

Becoming a freelance web designer as a beginner can be challenging. Initially, you need to learn a variety of skills, build a strong portfolio, and, most importantly, develop excellent communication skills. That’s because poor communication can lead to misunderstandings.

How Much Time It Takes To Become a Web Designer?

6 months to 2 years is a period of time you may need to become a web designer. This question cannot be answered with one size fits all, since your dedication, prior knowledge, and learning style may all affect the time it takes to learn.

How Do You Excel at Web Design?

To excel at web design, focus on understanding user needs, mastering design principles, and staying updated on industry trends. You also need to practice on a regular basis, ask for feedback, and learn more programming languages as well as graphic design tools.

How Much Does Web Designers Earn on Average?

$49,000 to over $90,000 per year is what web designers earn on average. It’s important to note that this range can vary significantly depending on factors such as location, level of experience, and specialization. Plus, freelancers may experience fluctuations in their earnings due to the nature of their work.

Can I Become a Web Designer Without a Degree?

Yes, you can learn and become a web designer without a degree. It’s a skill-based field, so anyone with strong self-discipline and motivation can succeed by continuously learning and following the right guide.

What is the Difference Between a Web Designer and a Web Developer?

Designers design a website’s look and feel, while developers work on its functionality, structure, and maintenance. Despite their similarities, both careers require different sets of skills.