How to Become a Web Designer: Step-by-Step Guide

Who is a Web Designer?

A web designer is someone who has the following responsibilities:

• Layout and design websites
• Design sample pages and create mockups
• Think through the website’s navigation to deliver a satisfactory user experience
• Register web domains
• Create graphics, visuals, or animations
• Refresh or organize pages
• Collaborating with writers to produce content

The above are some of the most common responsibilities of a web designer. The specific duties can vary depending on the organization’s needs and goals.

How to Become a Web Designer?

Becoming a web designer is a journey in itself. The following points explain what you must do to become a successful designer. 

1. Learn the Basics of Web Design

The first step is to learn the basics. This includes the principles of making a good website. It would be best to be well-versed in color theory, different design structures, and improving user experience. You could learn the basics in multiple ways, either by taking a course or understanding yourself. You must know the topics if you decide to explore the basics independently. A part of learning web design education is exploring web designing tools like WordPress, Photoshop, Sketch, and more. 

2. Build your Skills 

As part of becoming a web designer, you must build skills that will set you apart from other candidates when looking for a design position. While you must know several organizational skills, technical skills are also critical. Here are some technical skills you must learn as an aspiring web designer.

UX

User experience, or UX, is a web design style that focuses on the user’s needs. Explore website usability, accessibility, visual style, and other aspects to discover how a page makes the users feel. These skills will help you meet a client’s requirements and build a website responsive to every device.

JavaScript

JS or JavaScript is a scripting language that makes web pages highly interactive. As part of web design education, you should learn to use Javascript to control elements like animated graphics, interactive forms, and photo slideshows on web pages.

HTML

HTML or hypertext markup language is what you use to build a web page’s structure. With these tools, you can learn to perform a series of functions, like adding hypertext links and inserting tables, lists, headings, and spreadsheets in a web page’s copy. 

3. Earn Certifications

As a web designer, you must display certifications to prospective employers to support your skills. One can enroll in diverse certification programs, including the Advanced Certification in UI UX Design program, that will walk you through the best UX design tools. Getting certifications from reputed institutes will boost your web designing resume and help you understand how to get into web design and what it entails.

4. Create a Website

You must create a portfolio to display your skills and abilities to organizations. The best portfolio you can create is to make your website. You can use all that you have learned from how to become a web designer on the website, and it will strengthen your reputation as a reliable candidate. A website showcasing your beautiful and practical work will help you make a mark in the industry, especially if you are a beginner.

5. Search for Jobs

You can look for jobs through various platforms such as LinkedIn and approach agencies or organizations. However, your job search depends on the kind of designer you want to be and what your expected salary range is. You must also assess whether your skill set aligns with the job descriptions.

6. Gain Experience

Once you get a job to get into web design, you must gain as much experience as possible. In fields like design, the more experience you have, the better. If you have substantial experience, you can also get hired by reputable organizations. You could even freelance if you have enough knowledge and skills to get clients.

Want to become a web designer in 2024? Learn what a Web Designer Job Description entails.

Types of Web Designers

Web design is an exciting field that welcomes different kinds of designers. The following are some of the various types.

In-House Web Designers

In-house web designers are those who work under a single organization. These companies hire teams of web designers as full-time employees and offer benefits like any other company employee. Here, you will focus on creating, maintaining, and updating the company’s web page or website.

Agency Web Designers

Agency web designers work for organizations specializing in project management, web design, and skill sets. These agencies create contracts with their clients and have their designers create web pages or websites for them. If you become a part of an agency, you will work for them full-time and get benefits for your employment. In agencies, you might work on multiple clients at once or even website-related projects.

Freelance Web Designers

Freelance designers do not work for an agency or organization. They choose their clients. Moreover, they can choose which projects to work on and when to work on them. The targets are mutually decided, and one can work as a freelance web designer from home.

Average Web Designer Salary

The average annual salary of a web designer is $53,421 in the US. However, salaries can vary significantly depending on the city you choose to apply in:

Cities	Annual Salary
Atlanta, GA	$86,836
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	$78,625
Chicago, IL	$72,460
New York City, NY	$71,467
Washington DC	$70,986
Boca Raton, FL	$58,494
South Webster, OH	$53,383
Jarbidge, NV	$53,383
Rockville, MD	$52,856

Conclusion

Web designing is an incredibly profitable career, especially once you learn how to become a web designer. It’s an uphill battle where you must constantly upgrade your skills and learn about the latest technologies and tools. However, joining web design programs is the best way to know about it.

Upgrade your design skills with the Advanced Certification in UI/UX Design. This course is ideal for aspiring designers and professionals who want to master the art of user interface and user experience design. You'll learn to create intuitive, engaging, visually stunning designs prioritizing user satisfaction. With hands-on experience using industry-leading tools and techniques, you'll be well-prepared for a successful career in the fast-growing web design field. Enroll now and open the door to a world of opportunities as a sought-after design expert.

FAQs

1. What are the qualifications for a web designer?

Generally, a bachelor’s or master’s degree is mandatory to be a web designer. You can select a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA), as these two display the creative side of web designers. Consider getting web designing certifications from top institutions. It can undoubtedly validate your technical skills before potential employers.

2. Can I teach myself to be a web designer?

Web designing is an evolving field, and since you always need to upgrade your knowledge, you must know what to focus on and what is in demand. It can be challenging to figure it out on your own. So, enrolling in a program to learn any topic you want is easier. This way, you can learn directly from the industry experts and learn what the industry demands.

3. Can I become a web designer after the 12th?

While you cannot become a web designer right after class 12th, you can still have a diploma or study any course in web designing after high school. After gaining some certifications and completing your web designer education, you can consider becoming a designer.