What Does a Web Designer Do And How Do I Become One?

As a web designer, you are responsible for big-picture decisions, like the menus listed on the site, and smaller details, like which fonts, colors, and graphics to use.

A web designer creates the layout and design of a website. In simple terms, a website designer makes a site look good. They use design programmes to create visual elements and usually have expertise in user interface UI, which means they strategically design a site that's intuitive and easy for visitors to navigate. If your interest is piqued, let’s dig into this career and see what it takes to become a successful web designer.

Before talking about the skills or education needed, let’s uncover the daily tasks of a website designer so you can see if it’s something that suits your interests. Regularly, a website designer will: 

• Think through the navigation of a site to provide the best user experience
• Design sample pages and create mockups
• Create visuals, graphics, or animations
• Register web domains
• Organize files 
• Update or refresh pages
• Coordinate with writers to create content

What kind of skills should you develop to become a website designer?

Workplace skills

Communication: Website designers will need to talk with a company about what they want, ask questions about the intended audience, and convey their ideas for an effective site.

Time management: As a web designer, you might decide to take a freelance approach where you work with many different companies at once or you might work for one company. Either way, you’ll need the ability to manage your time effectively to keep multiple projects moving. 

Collaboration: A website designer works with other people to create a site.  You’ll need the ability to listen, collaborate, and take constructive criticism. 

Technical skills

Visual design: The core part of a website designer’s job is to create visual elements for a site, so a firm grasp of design principles is essential. This includes knowledge of design concepts and practices like proportion and symmetry, as well as typography and color systems.

User experience (UX) design: User experience describes how a person feels when visiting and using a website. The designer’s goal is to create a layout that’s easy to navigate and visually pleasing. 

Knowledge of design programmes: Website designers must be able to use design programmes like Adobe Creative Cloud, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, or Inkscape. They rely on these programmes to create visual elements, produce mock-ups, and manipulate images. 

Some coding knowledge: A designer doesn’t write the code to make a site function, but it doesn’t hurt to know some HTML, CSS, or JavaScript in case you need to make slight adjustments to a site. With a basic understanding, you’ll be able to manipulate templates, enhance fonts, or move objects.