Several different types of web designer careers are available for talented, creative professionals. In this field, someone might be a freelance web designer or an at-home web designer, or he or she might be a creative director or cascading style sheets (CSS) designer in an office setting. Regardless of the exact title or location, chances are that the individual enjoys both the creative process and the technical knowledge that comprise a successful web designer career.
All web designer careers require several essential skills. A web designer not only has to make a site look good, he or she has to ensure it functions properly. Some key skills for a web designer to have include a general understanding of graphic design; basic design elements and principles; Flash animation; coding and programming languages, such as hypertext markup language (HTML), CSS and JavaScript; search engine optimization (SEO); and project management. Although a person who progresses into web development would go more in depth on these skills and others, a web designer can still benefit from foundational knowledge and practical application of these essential skills.
Some web designer careers might involve individuals who choose to work as freelance web designers. These people might also opt to work as at-home web designers, or they might have offices from which they do their freelance web designing. Doing freelance web design, especially at home, requires a good grasp on the essential skills as well self-discipline and competence in project management. Freelancing and working at home also requires consistent job searching to enlist more clients as well as maintaining an impressive portfolio of completed work. Freelance web designers might also find it beneficial to take online courses or participate in other training opportunities to enhance their professional development and reputation.
Other web designer careers include those of a creative director and CSS designer. Individuals who choose these careers might also work from a home office as freelancers, overseeing teams virtually, or might work with company teams in corporate facilities. The creative director is typically a manager who supervises the activities and products of a design team from start to finish. He or she is responsible for the quality of creative designs and functionality of websites, as well as overall project management. Branding and marketing typically round out a creative director’s obligations.
A CSS designer creates the vital cascading style sheets that comprise the programming running behind the scenes on every website to control its format and appearance. It can be a challenging specialty, calling for someone with a great eye for intricate coding details. In CSS, one omitted element or inaccurately combined property causes the program or site to not display or function properly. Ideally, every web designer should excel in his or her knowledge and application of CSS.
Creativity is likely the initial and underlying talent behind web designer careers. Individuals might start by designing their own websites and progress to designing sites for family and friends. After gaining some confidence in his or her abilities, the prospective web designer might then choose to earn a degree or obtain training to become a professional web designer who can charge for his or her services. One thing is certain — as long as computers and the Internet are around, providing an ongoing need and demand for website creation, web designer careers will offer relative job security with respectable wages.