A web designer is a job that can give you money – and for designers who love the craft, both dream and nightmare in one. The amount of effort needed makes it harder for those who love design.
Here’s how you can get started on becoming a web designer!
Learn Web Design Theory
First, you need to start with the fundamentals. Become familiar with fundamental concepts of web design, including HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) for structuring web content. There is also the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) for styling, and JavaScript for adding interactivity. Many concepts are fundamental to web design.
The most basic step in becoming a web designer is learning web design theory. There are foundational principles for creating good websites, including user experience, structure, and color theory. Of course, there is more than one way to learn web design theory.
You can attend a web design course, coding boot camp (or a related UX design or web development boot camp). The former is shorter but intensive. The latter might be easier to find online; several Discord servers are dedicated to studying code. More job-oriented web design boot camps are transformative; they make web designers more job-ready in twelve (12) weeks of full-time study. Some boot camps also have courses that are suitable for part-time employment. However, the drawback is that they take more time to complete. You can also try internships in agencies like Carl Ocab Digital Marketing, which offers Web Design Services, where you can get hands-on experience.
The Tools of the Trade
Before you can try building, you also need your tools. You are the one who chooses your array of tools. Some people use Code Pen to test out their codes. Other options are Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom. Others also turn to design software like Adobe Photoshop or Sketch for mockup creation.
Build The Portfolio
Next, you’ll try to build websites. Many of the skills you picked up will be hard, like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. However, to prevent them from getting rusty, you need to get started by building websites. The more websites you make, the better you become. When making the portfolio, it needs to contain your best work.
Keep Up
Your portfolio should begin with simple sites and expand more as you grow. Consider a platform where you can show your work off. As you keep working, it’s also good to seek feedback from peers, mentors, and communities; these can help you better identify what needs to improve. Lastly, I must stay abreast of new evolutions in the field and upskill. That way, you can keep up with other designers.
Wrapping Up
Web design is a beautiful career path. Like most crafts, it takes dedication and hard work to become better. Although one may have the fundamentals of the craft, like in other fields, it is essential always to keep upskilling with the latest trends and advancements. That way, you won’t be overwhelmed and you can hold your own.
