Web design is a highly competitive yet highly creative industry. It’s an opportunity to have users interacting directly with your work. You have their full attention, but not for long. With this in mind, it’s important that your sites make an impression while still offering a big dose of functionality and accessibility. Read on for some great advice on securing a career in the industry from several experienced web designers.
What abilities should I possess? What essential skills does a web designer need to have?
Nik Gill: You have to have a good eye for detail and keep in touch with modern styles. The key to user interface design is using all your skills to produce a design that will appeal to both your client and its customers.
Coen Grift: No web designer can call himself a web designer without using words. Of course, you’d have to know how to use Drop Shadows, while you’ve got to love those phat Bevels! But seriously, you need to know your software inside and out.
Nik Gill: You have to have a good eye for detail and keep in touch with modern styles. The key to user interface design is using all your skills to produce a design that will appeal to both your client and its customers.
Coen Grift: No web designer can call himself a web designer without using words. Of course, you’d have to know how to use Drop Shadows, while you’ve got to love those phat Bevels! But seriously, you need to know your software inside and out.
What about a portfolio? How do I build up a body of work to show prospective clients/employers?
Nate Kadlac: Start working on your own site or projects, and push yourself as best you can. Designing sites for small businesses is a good way to go, as it’s a quick way to earn some extra cash and add to your portfolio. If you’re working for an agency, make sure you have permission to showcase client work on your personal site.
Rob Alan: Do a couple of sites for free to get your hands dirty. They could be your own personal sites, redesigns of famous sites like Craigslist or eBay, maybe something for a friend. Don’t dive too deep or you’ll make promises you can’t keep and get yourself in trouble right off the bat. Keep it simple until you have a few under your belt.
Nate Kadlac: Start working on your own site or projects, and push yourself as best you can. Designing sites for small businesses is a good way to go, as it’s a quick way to earn some extra cash and add to your portfolio. If you’re working for an agency, make sure you have permission to showcase client work on your personal site.
Rob Alan: Do a couple of sites for free to get your hands dirty. They could be your own personal sites, redesigns of famous sites like Craigslist or eBay, maybe something for a friend. Don’t dive too deep or you’ll make promises you can’t keep and get yourself in trouble right off the bat. Keep it simple until you have a few under your belt.
How do I get myself some work experience? I would like to get a taste of the industry – how do you recommend doing this?
Coen Grift: Get an internship to teach you about the ins and outs about the profession. If that doesn’t work, you can always search online forums for work.
Rob Alan: Some agencies have internships or part-time positions available. Seek them out and become a code monkey for a while. To become the problem solver, there is no better situation than opening up a document you didn’t create to fix a browser quirk or code issue!
Freelance or in-house? Is it best to work freelance or for a company?
Nate Kadlac: If you’re just starting out, I wouldn’t recommend going freelance. The more people who know you the more it will help in the long run. The easiest way to meet people is to actually work for an agency or corporation.
Is the money any good? What’s the starting salary for a web designer?
Nik Gill: Salary pretty much depends on the size of
the company and the location. London salaries are always much more than the rest of the UK. Smaller companies will pay a lot less for a graduate than a larger company. A starting salary of £14,000-£16,000 for a junior designer would be about average in the Midlands. If you are freelance, you’re pretty much at the mercy of your pricing structure.
Coen Grift: Get an internship to teach you about the ins and outs about the profession. If that doesn’t work, you can always search online forums for work.
Rob Alan: Some agencies have internships or part-time positions available. Seek them out and become a code monkey for a while. To become the problem solver, there is no better situation than opening up a document you didn’t create to fix a browser quirk or code issue!
Freelance or in-house? Is it best to work freelance or for a company?
Nate Kadlac: If you’re just starting out, I wouldn’t recommend going freelance. The more people who know you the more it will help in the long run. The easiest way to meet people is to actually work for an agency or corporation.
Is the money any good? What’s the starting salary for a web designer?
Nik Gill: Salary pretty much depends on the size of
the company and the location. London salaries are always much more than the rest of the UK. Smaller companies will pay a lot less for a graduate than a larger company. A starting salary of £14,000-£16,000 for a junior designer would be about average in the Midlands. If you are freelance, you’re pretty much at the mercy of your pricing structure.
Any other tips?
Rob Alan: Strive to be the best at your craft, and never be afraid of a challenge or to take something on that doesn’t quite fit your job description. Find inspiration outside the web and play around with the limits, but always come back to usability and whether the site actually does what it needs to for the client or other purposes.
Coen Grift: Apply your own style, and don’t just go with the trends.
Anthony Goodwin: With the web evolving at such a rapid rate, the need to explore new techniques and new technologies is a good way to stay on top of your game. Have a look around and see what others are doing and how others are pushing the boundaries. Be inspired by others to push your own creativity to produce user-friendly and engaging web experiences, but more importantly embrace what you do – after all, this will shine through your work.
Nate Kadlac: Meet as many people as you can in your field, either by attending conferences or getting involved in local organisations. Understand that talent alone won’t always get you a job, rather the connections you have developed.
Nik Gill: Never stop trying to better yourself. Keep an eye on what everyone else is doing and ensure you don’t get left behind. Complacency is the biggest danger to a web designer; you should always keep learning new styles and keep yourself current and standing out. It’s a great career and for many, including myself, it can turn into a lifestyle choice!
Rob Alan: Strive to be the best at your craft, and never be afraid of a challenge or to take something on that doesn’t quite fit your job description. Find inspiration outside the web and play around with the limits, but always come back to usability and whether the site actually does what it needs to for the client or other purposes.
Coen Grift: Apply your own style, and don’t just go with the trends.
Anthony Goodwin: With the web evolving at such a rapid rate, the need to explore new techniques and new technologies is a good way to stay on top of your game. Have a look around and see what others are doing and how others are pushing the boundaries. Be inspired by others to push your own creativity to produce user-friendly and engaging web experiences, but more importantly embrace what you do – after all, this will shine through your work.
Nate Kadlac: Meet as many people as you can in your field, either by attending conferences or getting involved in local organisations. Understand that talent alone won’t always get you a job, rather the connections you have developed.
Nik Gill: Never stop trying to better yourself. Keep an eye on what everyone else is doing and ensure you don’t get left behind. Complacency is the biggest danger to a web designer; you should always keep learning new styles and keep yourself current and standing out. It’s a great career and for many, including myself, it can turn into a lifestyle choice!
