Want to become a web designer but not sure where to start? There’s more to it than you might think, but we have broken it all down for you. Here are the six steps you should take to become what you want.
Learn the basics of HTML & CSS
There’s a difference between a web designer and a developer. Designers develop the look and design of a website, while developers build a site and create a structure. You can imagine “developers as construction workers, and web designers as architects.”
Currently, many CMS platforms and code editors help do the heavy lifting for you when it comes to building a website. However, while a designer’s job doesn’t require an in-depth knowledge of coding, it’s still vital to understand the fundamentals of coding, the language, and how it all works.
Not only will it help you do your job as a designer, but your clients will also feel they’re in safer hands.
Take a basic course on HTML and CSS to give yourself a solid base before you become a web designer.
Understand basic SEO principles
The fundamental purpose of a website is to rank in search engines and get found by potential customers, then turn those website visits into customers. Therefore, as a designer, it’s key not only to understand how to convert a lead on the site with an engaging layout, images, and copy, but to optimize the site for these search engines.
Search engine optimization requires an understanding of both the front and back end. Everything from meta data, loading times, tags, and more go into being successful on a search engine. Alongside these, effective copywriting and valuable content are indispensable pieces of the puzzle.
If your website isn’t optimized for SEO, it won’t be a successful product, so take the time to understand basic SEO principles so you can apply them.
The difference between UX & UI
These terms are often used interchangeably, but it’s important to know the difference and apply them. UX is user experience, or how a user feels as they navigate your site. UI refers to user interface, which is all about the visuals and the actual elements they interact with. They work together to create an effective product.
When you become a web designer, your design will have a huge effect on a user’s feelings and actions. You must understand the psychology of color, text, layout, and more to take full advantage of them and create a more effective site.
Build a web design software toolset
To become a web designer, you have to learn various tools and develop your skills in all of them. Each of these will allow you to develop visuals and graphics for the site, build a design to present to your client, and then help bring it to life with the developer. Here are examples of the software you should learn.
Graphic Editors:
- Photoshop
- Canva
- Paint.net
Prototyping Tools:
- Dreamweaver
- Invisionapp
- Mockplus
CMS Framework:
- WordPress
- Joomla
Join developer communities
No designer is an island. Connecting with other designers and developers will increase your knowledge in an applied setting. You can join Facebook groups, forums, and more for free to connect with like-minded individuals, get feedback from others in your field, and even troubleshoot a problem you can’t solve.
Experiment!
Once you’ve done all the learning, it’s time to do. Start designing websites to discover where your skills and knowledge are lacking and to get more comfortable with everything you’ve learned. Applying your skills is the only way to truly become a web designer.
Our CEO says, “The best way to learn how to code is to actually code. I taught myself HTML by viewing the source of other websites and then tweaking the code to change the look of the website. While coding is more sophisticated these days, the concept remains the same – trial and error can take you a long way.”
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S-FX.com Small Business Solutions is a boutique web design and technology consulting agency geared towards start-up businesses, small businesses and non-profit businesses. We specialize in implementing low cost technology solutions to maximize efficiency and reduce business operating costs.
