If you’re here, you might be wondering whether web design is the right career path for you. The demand for web designers and developers is continuously growing, so increased interest in this profession is expected.
In this guide, we’ll compare the differences between being a web developer vs. a web designer, outline the job responsibilities of a web designer, and break down the seven perks of becoming one. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to decide if web design is right for you.
Let’s get started.
Web Developer vs. Web Designer
First, it’s essential to know the difference between being a web developer and a web designer.
A web developer is someone who develops a website’s core structure. Most professionals are well-versed in multiple programming languages, such as JavaScript, Python, PHP, HTML, and CSS. Developers use these languages to write the code that makes web design a reality.
Web developers are responsible for a website’s technical aspects, such as its performance and resource utilization. Some also maintain websites – they perform updates to increase site security and fix errors such as the potential security risk ahead error.
On the other hand, a web designer is someone who designs a website’s look and feel. They possess visual and interactive design knowledge. Most are also skilled in using web design software such as Adobe Dreamweaver, Webflow, and Bootstrap.
Some web designers are also skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript because these programming languages create a website’s visuals.
Although web developers and designers are two different professions, sometimes they may overlap.
For example, most web designers know at least a bit of the technical aspects of a website, and some developers may be well-versed in graphic and user experience (UX) design as well.
Therefore, possessing more knowledge about web-related topics outside of design can make web designers stand out among their peers.
What Does a Web Designer Do?
A web designer’s primary purpose is to make a website look aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly.
To achieve this, the web designer will carefully study the brief given by their employer or client. Next, they will start sketching the website by creating a sitemap, wireframe, color scheme, and design mockup.
Once the design is approved, the web designer will start creating the visual elements needed for the website. This usually includes the logo, header, footer, graphics, and photos.
During the process, the web designer will have to maintain communication with the employer, the web developer, search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, and other people working on the site to ensure a smooth process and timely launch.
Of course, the process will vary, but this is the general process you can expect to do as a web designer.
7 Benefits of Being a Web Designer
If you become a web designer, you can enjoy many perks. Read on to find out more about the seven most common benefits of being a web designer.
1. Improved Creativity
Web design is a career that demands constant innovation. There will always be a new challenge to tackle with every project, and you’ll always be expected to bring something new to the table.
Every brand or project will require a different approach. For example, you may design a website for a corporation first, an NGO next, then an online boutique next. Even projects from the same industry can differ depending on their brand voice and other factors.
Being a web designer will get your creative juices flowing, especially if you’re someone with an artistic side.
2. Work with Technology
If you’re a tech enthusiast and are excited about the ever-changing landscape of the tech world, web design can be a fantastic fit.
While working alongside other professionals in tech, there will be many opportunities to expand your skills further. For example, you can learn about web development, SEO, social media, and app design.
3. Earn a Competitive Salary
According to Payscale, the average salary of a web designer in the US is $51,626/year. Of course, individual salaries will vary depending on the skills and experience of a web designer. Highly experienced web designers can earn around $60,000-$65,000/year.
This may not be the highest salary in the field of technology. However, this income level should be enough for single workers to live well and prepare for future plans. In the meantime, web designers can learn new skills to increase their value in the job market.
4. Flexible Work Hours
Many web designers are freelancers, which means they’re free to choose their work projects and set their working hours. If you value freedom when it comes to working, being a freelance web designer might be best.
Web designers who work in-house at a company or a web design agency can also enjoy flexibility in their work to a certain degree. This is because web designers can do all their work with just a laptop from nearly anywhere they want.
5. Build Brand Reputation
Working on multiple projects will let you add more experience and credibility to your portfolio. By being a web designer, you not only help build other brands, but you’ll also be growing your personal brand as well.
For a web designer, building a portfolio early is essential. A portfolio will document your career journey as a web designer and expose you to a wide range of opportunities.
Creating a digital portfolio in website form is especially recommended so that prospective employers can find you and browse your work easily.
When you’ve established your brand as an expert web designer, you’ll be able to branch out and make extra money. For example, you can sell an online course on web design or start a podcast about it.
6. It’s a Growing Industry
As previously mentioned, the demand for professionals in the web development and design industry is expected to grow throughout many years to come.
This doesn’t come as a surprise. In this digital age, any brand that wants to make a splash must have a well-planned and carefully executed online presence in the form of a website.
As a web designer, you’ll be a part of this high-demand job market. Finding work will be much easier once you’ve proven yourself to be a professional and capable web designer.
7. Active Community
As a large and continuously growing industry, it’s only natural that web designers have an active community, both offline and online.
The web design community consists of web designers of various skill levels and experience. Many web design experts are happy to share their knowledge. As a result, many resources for web design are widely available online.
Thanks to the active community, aspiring web designers can start learning the basics of web design easily.
Conclusion
Before deciding to become a web designer, it’s essential to understand the difference between a web designer and a web developer.
A web designer creates the look and feel of a website, while a web developer builds the core structure using programming languages.
By becoming a web designer, you’ll be joining a high-demand job market and enjoy many perks, such as:
- Improved Creativity: As a primarily artistic pursuit, web design lets you express your ideas and style with different projects.
- Work with Technology: Web design is a great career choice for tech enthusiasts and those looking to expand their skills in other technology and internet-related areas.
- Earn a Competitive Salary: The average salary of a web designer in the US is $51,626/year. With a more than average set of skills and experience, this number can increase.
- Flexible Work Hours: Freelance web designers can create their working hours. In-house and agency web designers also have more flexibility because laptops are all they need for work most of the time.
- Build Brand Reputation: The more projects you do well, the more you’ll elevate your brand as a web designer. An established brand lets you make extra money from online courses or podcasts.
- It’s a Growing Industry: Nowadays, all brands need a website, so naturally, the web design industry keeps growing. Therefore, demand for web designers will keep increasing too.
- Active Community: The web design community is massive and continuously growing. Learning resources are widely available online, supporting aspiring web designers.
I hope this guide has given you an understanding of the benefits of being a web designer. I wish you the best of luck in your future career.
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