An Introduction to the World of Web Design: What is it, and how does it work?
As the internet continues to expand and more people gain access to it, the need for professionals who specialize in making websites has grown. Web design is a type of job that focuses on creating sites with the end user in mind. A web designer might focus on particular elements like usability, navigation, or visual aesthetics. There are many different types of designers – visual, marketing, user experience, and interactive – but they all share a common goal: They want to create beautiful websites that give their users an exceptional digital experience. If you’re interested in this line of work, read on for an introduction to web design and what it takes to become a successful web designer.
What Does it Mean to be a Web Designer?
A web designer is someone who creates websites, from scratch or from existing templates, for clients. Web designers might also be responsible for the maintenance of their client's sites, or for managing their hosting. A web designer can specialize in a certain area or be a generalist. For example, a web designer might focus on visual aspects like the layout or brand identity, or on functionality like the site’s navigation or user experience. A designer must have a very strong understanding of the internet, how websites work, and the different ways to make them appealing, useful, and accessible. Designers must be able to understand the needs and desires of their clients, and be able to communicate those needs to their team members. They must also be able to communicate their vision to potential clients through visuals like mockups and wireframes.
How Does Web Design Work?
Web design is a highly collaborative process. Whether the website is being built from the ground up or an existing template is being used, teams of people work together to create a finished product that meets clients’ needs. There are a few different phases to the web design process. Each phase involves its own set of challenges, and each project is different. The phases include discovery, ideation, design, development, and launch.
What Training is Required to Become a Web Designer?
You don’t need to have a degree to become a web designer. While the majority of designers have at least a bachelor’s degree, the most essential skill for the job is creativity. A good designer doesn’t need to know how to code, but they do need to be able to translate a client’s needs into a visually pleasing, user-friendly website. A wide range of courses can help you prepare for a career in web design. You can learn design basics in a general computer science course, or you can specialize in design in a course like Visual Communication or Graphic Design. Courses in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and User Experience Design (UXD) can help you better understand your users’ needs and desires. Courses in Information Architecture (IA) and Usability can help you create intuitive, easy-to-use websites out of existing templates or from scratch. A good designer should also have a basic understanding of how the internet works, and how websites are built.
Common Tasks of Web Designers
- Research - Designers must be able to thoroughly understand their clients’ desires and needs so they can create a product that meets those needs.
- Discovery - Before diving headfirst into design, designers must understand their client's business, the industry they work in, and the target audience.
- Sketching - Designers use mockups and wireframes to show clients how the website will look and flow.
- Design - Designers must be able to create a visually appealing website that is both functional and accessible.
- Implementation - After the design phase, it’s time to actually build the website.
- Launch - After the website has been built, it must be launched – which often means promoting it and making sure it’s optimized for search.
Conclusion
Web design is a constantly evolving field, and there is always room to grow. With the rise of AI, virtual reality, and other tech developments, designers have even more room to explore and create innovative, new designs. If you’re interested in exploring this field, we highly recommend that you dive in and learn as much as you can. Read as many articles and books as you can, and visit as many websites as you can to see how they’re put together. Explore the different design elements and try to figure out why they work the way they do. Web design is a creative and collaborative process, and it’s the best way to learn is to just get started!
