Job Description
The internet is a constant part of daily life, and Web Designers create the look, layout, and features of websites. A Web Designer needs to have an understanding of both computer programming and graphic design. Web Designers work closely with the development team to plan updates for the website and prioritize tasks.
Web Designers help turn a client’s vision for a website into reality. A Web Designer needs to understand the user experience and design a site that is easy to understand and navigate. Web Designers should be proficient in front-end web development languages like HTML, CSS, JQuery, and JavaScript.
In addition to hard technical skills, Web Designers should also have soft skills like expertise in verbal communication, written communication, and presentation. A Web Designer needs to be able to effectively communicate with clients and stakeholders outside of the development team about the goals of a particular project.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
- Create Photoshop Documents (PSDs) for visual layout of web pages and convert each design into HTML and CSS
- Maintain and update all JQuery plugins for websites
- Implement and maintain high-quality SEO policies and incorporate them with content produced for the website
- Remove any “dead” links immediately and respond to issues with site functionality
- Create mock-ups for proposed project pages and update them as needed
Education and Background
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, graphic design, or a related field.
Skills and Competencies
- Knowledge of content marketing a plus
- Proficiency with ASP.net web forms
- Advanced Photoshop and Illustrator skills
- Knowledge of WordPress standards and functionality
- Professional portfolio with at least five designs for internal review
Compensation
According to Payscale the median annual salary of a Web Designer with
1 Year of Experience:
- Orlando, Florida: $74,000
- Tampa, Florida: $73,000
- Jacksonville, Florida: $65,000
- Miami, Florida: $78,000
- Atlanta, Georgia: $79,000
- Chicago, Illinois: $80,000
- Houston, Texas: $80,000
- Los Angeles, California: $73,000
- New York City, New York: $80,000
- Seattle, Washington: $80,000
- Overall: $78,000
5 Years of Experience:
- Orlando, Florida: $81,000
- Tampa, Florida: $85,000
- Jacksonville, Florida: $82,000
- Miami, Florida: $85,000
- Atlanta, Georgia: $90,000
- Chicago, Illinois: $95,000
- Houston, Texas: $107,000
- Los Angeles, California: $90,000
- New York City, New York: $99,000
- Seattle, Washington: $114,000
- Overall: $89,000
Similar Job Titles
- Web Developer
- UI/UX Designer
- Art Director
- Web Content Strategist
- Visual Designer
- Interaction Designer
- Design Developer
- Front-End Web Designer
Career Path
A Web Designer needs to have a bachelor’s degree in web design, graphic design, computer science, or a related field. Students are encouraged to pursue internships with web development companies while they are in college to gain some real-world experience in the field.
Web Designers need to study HTML, JQuery, and JavaScript. Knowing application programming languages like Java, .Net, AJAX, and Ruby is also helpful. Knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite, especially Flash, Illustrator, and Photoshop, is also vital for a Web Designer.
Web Designers can move up into a role like IT Project Manager. This position oversees and guides the entire development process of a project, sometimes supervising a team of designers and developers. Web Designers who want to move into management roles should spend extra time developing soft skills like relationship building, motivating and influencing others, and communication.
Position Trends
Web Designers need to keep up on the latest trends and study how users interact with websites. According to the website creation company Wix.com, one primary web design trend in the next few years is the use of enlarged typography and website elements. More websites are enlarging text, photos, video, and icons to draw people’s eyes as they browse, helping to cut through all the monotony of the internet and catch users’ attention.
Another trend in web design is the expanded use of white space or negative space of any color on websites. It can give readers a breather while scrolling through a large amount of text, or offset design elements to better draw the audience’s attention to them. Websites are expected to make white space more substantial and more prominent to create a cleaner look.
More Web Designers are also using overlapping layers on websites. Layering elements adds depth to the screen, either by placing elements on top of each other or having content come to the top of a pile after it’s clicked. Many designers are using techniques like parallax scrolling to accomplish this.
Job Outlook
As more of our society’s daily functions move into the digital world, the need for Web Designers to create and update websites and web applications will increase.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Web Developer field is expected to grow by 13 percent between 2018 and 2028. That’s much faster than average.
Typical Hours
The typical work hours in an office setting for a Web Designer are usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional work hours can be necessary when approaching project deadlines.
Where You Can Find Jobs
- 4 Corner Resources
- Career Builder
- Glassdoor
- Indeed
- Monster
- IT Career Finder
Are You Interested in Becoming a Web Designer?
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