A web designer is responsible for creating attractive and fully functional websites, but they do more than just that. If you are a creative individual and you are technically inclined, it is time to learn about roles of web designers and why they play such an important role in today’s modern world of business. Read on, and you can learn about the duties of the designer, how to get qualified, where they are employed, and what the job outlook looks like in this field.

The Duties and Responsibilities of a Designer

Professionals who specialize in web design will organize information, create content and design the layout of the content on a web medium. It is the designer’s job to review the needs of their client or the goals of their assigned project to design images and web pages that will create a user with a unique experience while still communicating a message. The scope of the project will be dependent on the communication problems a client wants to solve or the current status of a company’s website. Some other responsibilities include:

* Using appropriate underlying technologies for website functionality
* Designing navigational elements
* Translating needs of clients and users into concepts
* Turning brand into graphics, colors, layout and fonts
* Using HTML coding to layout the website
* Presenting content
* Designing to search engine optimization and rankings
* Updating the website as needed

How to Become a Web Design Professional

Some web designers are self taught and build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves or people they know. While being creative will give you an edge, you will need marketable web design skills that you have developed in a technical training program to build your resume.

Unless you have learned all of the HTML languages and skills you need on your own, you will need to enroll in a college degree program. It is best to study for a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design or Computer Science so that you can learn HTML, Design, Layout, Programming, Administration, Graphics, XML, scripts and everything else you need to know to be a successful professional designer.

What is the Job Outlook in Web Design

If you are a trained designer, you can find jobs through a design firm, a large corporation, or you can take on clients as an independent contractor. About a quarter of all designers in the market are self-employed today. Demand is different in each of these environments. It is nice to know that companies are investing in building their websites and keeping them attractive. This is why the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the need for designers will grow by 20% in the next 7 years. This growth is much faster than the average growth reported in the nation as a whole.

If you want to be responsible for the look and functionality of some of the most accessed websites on the world wide web, it is time to study to become a web developer or designer. You should look for only accredited programs that have met high standards so that you can develop all of the right skills. Once you know the ins and outs of design and you have build a portfolio, you can either apply to work as an in-house web designer or you can start to market yourself independently.