Tips & Tricks from the Designer's Desk

If you spend hours admiring graphics and exploring the designs of websites on the internet, you may be just the right material to become a website designer. Most web designers have a creative bent - a quality they hone with experience and self-study. Website designers are either freelancers or salaried employees at organizations. Either way, they have to be skilled in certain areas to be good at their job. If you are interested in the field, consider getting a formal degree that instructs you in various aspects of website design. Certifications give you an edge when it comes to corporate recruitments.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started on your career path as a website designer:

1. Learn how to program

HTML is the basic and most important language that every website designer needs to know. Website publishing software can create pages in a jiffy, but they are neither original nor easy to edit because of the extraneous code generated. HTML, on the other hand, is a simple, clean and an ordered language. Next, you should learn CSS to define the style of web pages. You can purchase reference books or access the online tutorials freely available on the W3 Schools website to learn these skills. Lastly, you must know a scripting language such as JavaScript or PHP to build dynamic pages.

2. Learn latest tools and technology

Even if you prefer creating pages from scratch, you should learn the commonly used website development packages such as Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, etc. You should also learn XML, DHTML, and other languages that are being used currently to develop websites. Additionally, understand how various code snippets work in diverse browsers - Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Netscape, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.

3. Get a degree

Most corporations will expect recruits to at least be graduates. If you are joining college for a degree in website design, make sure the course covers topics such as color theory and composition, importance of graphics and layout in website design, and visual design. You can also get a degree by joining an online course. Either way, the school should be an accredited authority on the subject.

4. Build a portfolio

Your portfolio is just about the most important thing that can get you hired. Try to have a lot of variety in your portfolio so that potential customers can see the depth and range of your website designing skills. To gain experience and add to your portfolio, build websites for friends, relatives, NGOs, charities, community groups, etc., even if it's for free. Take screenshots of your work to display on your website. Every website you create - as part of your education, practice sessions, or pro bono work - has a place in your portfolio.

5. Launch your own website

Your website is the main marketing tool for your services. Make sure it is flawless in its layout, color selection, and content organization. Highlight your portfolio and include all your contact details so prospects can communicate with you immediately.
Register a domain name and select a good web hosting service that allows you to upload large files, provides good bandwidth, promises an uptime of 99.9%, and has additional offers such as a shopping cart in case you need it later.

6. Stay current with changing technology

Web technology is advancing at a remarkable rate. You must keep up with this evolution. Attend seminars to network with people from your field and get information on latest breakthroughs and happenings. You should also join groups of professionals to stay on the learning curve and also give others the benefit of your knowledge and experience.

Website design is a fast moving and challenging field. To be a successful website designer, you must never stop learning and exploring new aspects of design and layout. Follow the above mentioned steps to get started on this exciting career.

About the Author:

Daljeet Sidhu. Read Web design blog. Compare Web designers, search engine optimization quotes.

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