Front-End Web Designer Learning Path
A Web designer is responsible for coding all the various aspects of a website. They may need to code in WordPress, PHP, HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Web designers are responsible for creating all the building blocks that go into websites. They are responsible for the everyday management of the websites and making sure that everything runs smoothly. They are also responsible for deciding things such as, images, buttons, fonts, text size, and locations of these various pieces on the page.
Recommended Order of Courses for the Best Learning Path
Step 1: Basic Web Design
Step 2: Design Techniques
Step 3: UX and Development Courses
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Where to Start
As a web designer, you need to be able to create the design for the website, code it, and sell it to your clients. Most web developers work on a freelance basis so creating a solid portfolio and reputation is important. Start your career by taking web development courses, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Education
Web design is popular but you will not find many places offering degrees in it. Generally, trade schools rather than traditional universities offer degrees in subjects such as web design. This means you can select the classes you want to take to customise your education to suit your career goals.
One of the best educational paths is to attend web design courses, such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript. These skills will give you essential skills to design fully functional websites.
Equipment and Software
Excellent software and equipment can make your job as a web designer that much easier. Once you finish your web design course, you will need a good computer and something that can handle the necessary requirements for high-level graphic and video work. You will also need the right pieces of software: this includes such programs as HTML, CSS and JavaScript and including applications such as Illustrator and Photoshop, which are used to add visual impact to web designs.
Portfolios
Nowadays, just about everyone who wants to work on the web, with the web, or through the web, needs a portfolio. Web designers are no exception. Create a variety of different pieces that will appeal to your target audience and create them in a range. You want to show off what you can do with your design skills. The larger and more varied your portfolio is, the better chance you have of bringing in the clients you need to make a successful business; this is especially true if you are freelancing instead of working for a larger corporation.
Get Involved
Networking is essential for web designers; it is how they learn the tips, tricks, short cuts, and latest trends. It is also a great way to find work or find the people who can do the work you need to create the website your client wants. It is also an ideal way to develop people skills. Web design means interacting with people. It might seem like it is a job where you spend hours in front of a computer programming away with little to no interaction with the people who work with the final product. Unfortunately, it requires regular interaction, you need to know what the client wants and then be able to update and maintain the work you have done for them. This means communicating and having a solid set of people skills.
Own It
Web site development is perfect for someone detail oriented, who loves putting pieces together from a variety of sources and smoothing them out so they fit together seamlessly. Start out by knowing the right information; learning the right software applications and tools and you will be on your way to becoming a successful web designer.
