You want to be a web designer?
So you want to be a… Web designer? If you like the idea of producing pieces of interactive internet then check out our career guide – it features handy tips from a range of web design experts
Introducing the experts:
Coen Grift
Coen is an eccentric who has been in
web design for “53,547 years”. His offbeat style and humour is reflected in his truly unique work.
www.bio-bak.nl
Rob Alan
Creative director Rob has worked in
web design for over eight years. His clients range from local musicians to large multinational corporations.
www.robalan.com and www.spinweb.net
Nik Gill
Nik has been in the industry for ten years. Most of his work is for other design and web agencies on the front-end design of their sites.
www.remixcreative.net
Nate Kadlac
Nate is an interactive designer who has worked in web design for nine years. He works freelance and his previous clients include Sony, HP, Microsoft and Reuters.
www.kadlac.com
Anthony Goodwin
Ant is a digital art director and has worked in web design for five years. His clients include Clarks, Durex, UPS, Joe Browns
and Wickes.
www.designembraced.com
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.
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That’s probably the best advice i have come across – especially the last paragraph from Nik “Never stop trying to better yourself……”
That’s where a magazine/site such as web designer can help and always has :o)
-Neil
This is so very interesting and well put together, we love this blog! Costa Blanca Web Design
Dear boss,
Share Knowledge, Build Network and Grow Business.
I know so so flash and photo shop but
I would like to know flash and photo shop much. so i want to get of your help.
thanks
Mohammad ebrahim Khalil
Work experience: yep, just my opinion. Don’t start as a Freelancer. Go search yourself somebody who can teach you lot overa long period of time. Most important thing: work work work. It’s bettter to learn fast and earn some money than to get stuck and earn a little more.
Well is there any insight on the actual software requirements and education you need to be a web designer? Also what type of companies would you recommend we aim for in an entry level position?
The only thing that bothers me here is the suggestion that people go out and do work free to start.
I know this is tempting and it makes sense because it does kick your portfolio work off in the right direction. It is not a horrible idea!
But I encourage everyone to to charge something for your work. Even if setting up a page you charge $50. It gives a value to what you do and it makes you liable to your client for what you said you’d produce.
Also your work is worth something, no matter how bad it is. If you make a restaurant website and it just has a picture of a Hot Dog and there phone number charge them $50 and they can put there domain on there sign.
Though highly recommend a college course of study and going to a company first.
@ sipep…Starting by doing work for free….Agree. You’ll end up putting in more hours than you can charge for on almost every project so best not to start out by putting in tons of work for nothing. If you don’t value your own work, why should your clients? A good website designer shouldn’t have to work for free.
Regards Cordelia @GWS
I would like to read some interviews on how the established freelance artists came to get big contracts with brands, did the brand approach them or did they present there work following a given brief.
I think this section of the magazine could have been strengthened with the opinions and thoughts of a specialist recruitment consultant who some would argue has more insite into what most companies are looking for from people.
Design is subjective and what one person likes another wont, so having a neutral voice in this article would have been better
Marc Shelkin
The best creative recruiter in London
To state that design is subjective and follow this by saying the author should have been neutral doesn’t quite add up, eh?
I think it’s great that people give their personal opinions, it helps to frame the horizon a bit and provide a more focused perspective we can more readily relate to.
Thanks for sharing these links, I was particularly inspired by Rob Alan, Nik Gill, Nate Kadlac.
Cheers,
Andre
I like this article, being able to see these portfolios brings alot of inspiration and creativity to the table, but I like how beneficial their advice is in answering the questions.
I’d ought to consult with you here. Which isn’t some thing I usually do! I quite like reading a post that can make people feel. Also, appreciate your allowing me to comment!
You forgot to say hand over £1710 to Adobe for their web premium suite whilst on a salary probably no more than £25K!
I have been operating freelance/self-employed for over 5 years. I spent a lot of time and money learning Macromedia 8, I hand code html/css and know a bit of PHP. I have built over 50 websites including dynamic database driven sites and ecommerce sites.
Yet I get the door slammed in my face time and time again by employers who care more about my (lack of ) experience of CS5 and preference for Fireworks over Photoshop. And demand expertise in what ever the lastest fad technique is despite never wanting you to actually use it for fear of browser compatibility.
The cost of thh Adobe suite and the industry’s demand for designers to use the latest version (whether required or not) is prohibitive and a barrier to new entrants.
£1710 for web premium and I see there’s no longer a more affordable web standard offer….
Anyone would think Adobe were pushing designers towards their subscrition model…. ;
Great article. Through him I learned interesting things in the future, however, write a little bit longer articles. I hope that will develop the site. greet