Let’s see if it’s a creative or technical profession and what skills a web design professional should have.
Who is a web designer?
Web designer – a person who works on the appearance of the site. He chooses which elements will be presented on the page and in what order they will appear on users’ monitors. For example, he decides what happens if you hover your mouse over a certain block and in what order the information will be displayed when the page scrolls down. Unlike a clothes or interior designer, a web designer’s work cannot be physically touched; it exists solely in the online space. And while a furniture designer must pay attention to the fabrics and materials from which the item is created, a web designer thinks about colors, composition, and the ease of use of the site for the user.
Web design originated with the spread of the Internet, when people began to actively visit websites. The popularity of the profession began to grow in 2007 along with the spread of smartphones. During this period, companies began to care about making their websites look seamless from both the computer and the phone screen. People were needed to think through the new structure and make the experience of using the site enjoyable for all people, no matter what device they were accessing it from. Now web designers are in demand in all areas of business, as websites have actually become the face of the company on the Internet. On one HeadHunter you can find about a thousand open vacancies all over Russia.
What does a web designer do
Such specialists are responsible for the appearance and layout of the site. This can be a completely new page, which is created from scratch, as well as a redesign of an existing portal. Designers decide how different parts of the site will be combined with each other and what logic will work between them. Unlike web developers, who are involved in programming and writing code, a web designer focuses more on the visual. But in some cases, these professions may overlap.
In the first place, the task of the web designer – to make the portal was beautiful and attracted the attention of users. Here are important artistic skills and a sense of taste. At the same time, if at the start of the profession’s origin, the main objective was to create a beautiful picture, but now to the problems added more and convenience. The designer should make sure that even on the first visit, the user is not confused and immediately find the section of interest. It turns out that the designer strikes a balance between the external appearance of the site and ease of use.
What should know and be able to web designer
To become such a specialist will require a wide range of skills. It is important not only to be a creative person, but also to be able to work with a number of programs and have a certain knowledge base. At the same time, soft skills are also important, since the work of a web designer is inextricably linked with communication with clients.
What a web designer might need:
Knowledge of the principles of design: learning the basics will help to better delve into the profession;
knowledge of typography and the ability to work with fonts;
understanding of the rules of composition in order to build visual harmony;
familiarity with the color wheel and an understanding of how different colors work together;
ability to use design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma;
ability to work in adaptive web design programs: they allow you to check how pages look from different devices;
graphic design skills that will help improve performance and expand potential employers;
understanding of business strategies. It’s important to know how design can help a client’s goals. Sometimes when redesigning a site, just changing a few tweaks in the navigation is enough to attract a flow of visitors.
Required soft skills:
- Communication and the ability to negotiate with the client;
- assiduity: you will have to spend a lot of time in front of the computer;
- Self-organization: especially important for freelancers who make their own schedule;
- the desire for self-development: for quality work you should constantly monitor the latest trends in the profession;
- Attention to detail, because everything is important in web design: from color combinations to navigation.