Web designers are visual architects who either build or redesign websites. They enhance the overall look of a website, including aspects like layout, fonts, colors, and icons. So, if you are technically inclined and excited to start your career as a web designer, you’ve landed in the right place. This guide will provide you all valuable insights related to this position and also help you to create a unique resume to bag the job. Let’s start with three different outstanding resumes in three distinct formats.
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Job Duties of a Web Designer
A web designer plays a pivotal role to design and build a website with creative ideas and technical skills. He should focus on the appearance, layout, and content of a website. Here are some regular duties of a web designer that will inform you better:
Building or designing graphics, animation, and operating digital photographs, or US pins.
Understanding technical requirements like navigation structure, choosing a domain name, selecting a host, and prototyping using a variety of tools, such as InVision, NameMesh, and Adobe Experience Design.
Creating or designing website layout by using standard HTML/ PHP / CSS / JAVA practices.
Working with different content management systems and maintaining the appearance of websites by enforcing content standards.
Brainstorming creative ideas, designing visual images, and ensuring that they are in accordance with branding for clients.
Communicating design ideas using wireframing tools, user flows, process flows, and site maps.
Conducting website testing and optimizing sites for maximum speed.
Web Designer Median Salaries
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, web designers earn a median salary of $73,760 annually with a growth rate of 8%. With a rise in ecommerce and mobile devices, the demand for this position is expected to further upsurge in coming years.
Top Skills for Web Designers
To grab your dream role of a web designer, you must have all the skills that companies look for in candidates today. Some top skills necessary to become a web designer are summarized here:
- Expertise in coding languages: Web designers must have strong technical knowledge to create a website. They should know at least the basics of design code HTML/CSS and JavaScript. This is because HTML determines the structure of a site, and CSS defines the visual appearance like adjusting color, changing fonts, or adding an attractive background. Plus, according to a survey by Stack-Overflow, an online question and answer platform, JavaScript is the most popular programming language for full-stack developers.
- Proficiency in preparing design, layout, and typography: The concept of web design is incomplete without these elements, as they result in the final look of a website. So, right from conceptualizing designs to finalizing colors and correct fonts, a good command over all these elements is essential to make your design impactful. And if you start excelling at it, your career is set to upsurge.
- Mastery in mobile web design: To become an expert web designer, it is paramount to know how responsive design works. This is because recent years have witnessed a spike in the number of smartphone users and companies want to reach out to them. So, you should prepare designs that make your web pages smoothly readable on mobile phones.
- Adept at digital marketing strategy: Web designers are a vital component of every digital marketing strategy. We are saying so because in recent years, ecommerce and online marketing has grown immensely. Today, websites are mostly about conversions and sales. So, it is paramount for web designers to know about the latest digital market trends. They should also know the basics of SEO that can make a site more attractive and easy to find customers. Through a robust digital marketing strategy and SEO understanding, they should focus on the layout, speed, performance, and website structure. This will eventually lead to improved domain credibility and better conversion rates.
- Innovative and productive thinking: Web designers can create new ideas and take a huge responsibility from the project manager. A professional web designer should understand the standard and purpose of a project, try to reach a client’s expectations, and come up with fresh ideas. This is because with almost hundreds of brands available today for every product or service, your website must have a unique and appealing look that attracts users.
Web designer education and certifications
Degree
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in any field out of web design, graphic arts, and digital design. Some of the institutions that you can go for are Ogden Weber Applied Technology College and the University of Akron, which provide quality courses in web and graphic design. Through such courses, you can learn visual communication, digital arts, and design, web publication and programming, graphics, and multimedia production. In four years of a bachelor’s degree program, you can work on a capstone project and also learn how to create an effective online portfolio. The master’s degree coursework includes advanced information technology, usability design, database design principles, and enterprise architecture.
However, employers also hire job seekers who can showcase their abilities through proven work experience or projects in the above disciplines. So, even if you don’t possess adequate education credentials, experience will help.Certification
To gain credibility and thrive in the web design world for the long haul, earning a certification is helpful. The International Web Association (IWA) is one organization, which can give your career a huge boost. It offers an array of certifications to both budding and experienced web designers, programmers, and web developers.
For your web designing career, the CWP Site Design Specialist Certification is the best option. In this, you will learn how to design, execute, and maintain websites with the help of content creation, scripting languages, and management and digital media tools. To obtain this certification, all you need to do is get a membership of International Web Association and choose your area of specialization based on your experience levels.
The Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) is also a good way to demonstrate your advanced knowledge and credibility in this field. To acquire it, you will need to pass several exams, including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Adobe Flash.
Web Designer Resume-Writing Tips
The most eye-catching thing for every job profile is an attractive resume. Here are some essential resume writing tips that will help you grab the web designer job role:
- Showcase your relevance with an attractive objective statement: The first impression always creates a positive impact on the recruiter. The summary statement should provide your skillset, the name of the best project you worked on, years of experience, awards, and achievements consecutively. But remember to keep it short and punchy. If you manage to show your employer that you have the potential to keep things concise, yet relevant, you will demonstrate a valuable web skill. Moreover, they would want to know more about you in the interview step.
- Analyze relevant skills based on your web designer application: Although skills are the most essential for a web designing job profile, you must understand which ones would fit your application. This is because the job requirements of a web designer is very different from that of a UX designer. UX designers cater to the needs of the users, whereas web designers work to fulfill the needs of the clients. So, the skills vary with every application, and you should remember this while preparing your resume. For example,web designers should have good SEO understanding. Whereas, UX designers should know to conduct user surveys. By making such comparisons, you will land up with the most important skills for your applied position.
- Focus on accumulated knowledge through practical experiences: You should provide all authentic pieces of information about your work experience in detail. This is because proven experience can boost your chance for the selection process. The name of every company and your roles at each of them should be disclosed accurately. Use a bulleted format to effectively present all details in minimum words. You should also mention the date for every position, as it enhances the credibility of your resume.
- Boost your resume with web designing particulars: Although the role of a web designer demands your creative side, the technical aspect of the job cannot be ignored. You will get an extra advantage if you put your technical skills and accreditations in this discipline effectively in the resume. The best way is to first place the skills under separate headings. For instance, you can make a “professional skills” section. Under this, you can further create sub-divisions like web and app designing, digital marketing, and prototyping. You can place your technical certifications at the end of the resume.
FAQ
What is the difference between a web designer and web developer?
Web designers are visually creative professionals who either develop or redesign websites using colors, fonts, and icons. Whereas, web developers are people who develop functionalities and applications, and take care of the performance of a website.
What is the work environment like in web designing?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, web designers generally work full-time, with the maximum of them being in computer system design. This number is followed by those working in publishing industries, consulting services, and advertising agencies. Many of them are self-employed.
Does a web designer create a bright career?
Yes, pursuing your career as a web designer is an excellent and smart choice as it is a very safe and secure option for the IT sector. According to a CNBC report, web designing is one of the low stressful and high-paying jobs in the United States.