Here’s an interesting fact:
81% of people search online for a product or service and more often than not, they hop from site to site, looking for the information that interests them.
That means that new businesses that are trying to target an online audience will look into building well-designed and engaging websites. Even established companies or bloggers will always look for better ways to connect with their audience online and design websites that are better and faster than the average.
If you’ve come here trying to find out if web designer is a good career choice, then the short answer is yes. The demand is high and the median salary for a web designer in Australia is AU $ 56,710.
But, the steps you need to take to become a web designer can be a bit confusing as a lot of people don’t understand the difference between web design and development.
So, here’s what you need to know to become a web designer and why it’s a lucrative industry.
You might also be interested in WHAT SHOULD I KNOW IF I WANT TO LEARN WEB DESIGN?
Web Design vs. Web Development
Designers and developers are often put in the same basket as most people don’t know what it takes to create a website.
To put it shortly, website design refers to the aesthetic elements of a site while a web developer uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as other programming languages to bring a website to life and make it work.
Designing a website might sound simple on the surface, but a designer must take a lot of elements into account to create web pages that not only look good but also perform well and help the company achieve its goals. In addition to knowing the graphic design principles, a website designer must also know how to build a website that reflects a business’ brand, who the audience is, which design elements work better to convert and if the website should support other marketing efforts like search engine optimisation, email marketing or social media.
Web Design Jobs and Projects
The jobs a web designer gets vary depending on their skill and the type of projects they would like to get.
1. Freelance Web Designers
Freelance web designers have the freedom to choose the projects they want to work on, but also have to prove that they have the skills to secure a client. While these types of gigs can offer more flexibility, freelance designers also face a lot of pressure to get ongoing projects.
2. Agency Web Designer
While an agency web designer doesn’t have to worry about finding new clients, they also have less freedom in choosing the projects they would like to work on.
3. In-House Web Designers
An in-house web designer usually works on just one or a small number of websites and are often focused on specific tasks, such as user experience design.
So, Should You Choose a Career in Web Design?
The web design industry is still rather new and there are plenty of exciting opportunities to work for various clients and businesses. While it’s true that there is a high demand for designers and the space is becoming more and more crowded, the low barrier to entry and flexibility this career choice offers, make it appealing to many people.
The vast majority of consumers rely on the search engines and the web to find products and services or just answers to their questions. As a result, the demand for talented web designers continues to increase and employment for web designers and developers is expected to grow faster than within other industries.
Another thing that makes web design attractive is that you don’t need a formal education to get started. Businesses are interested in what you can do for them and not in your certifications. So, you can start designing websites in your free time while still keeping your job.
To Conclude
Becoming a web designer will take a lot of work. There’s a lot that you need to learn and a lot of adjacent industries that you need to understand, such as digital marketing or SEO. But, the high demand, increased flexibility, and opportunities for fun and creativity make all the effort well worth it.
