5 Ways to Become a Successful Web Designer
Successful Web Design: Five Important Approaches
- Stay Current
- Maintain Solid Skills Foundation
- Stay Business-Minded
- Avoid Graphic Design
- Communicate Effectively
Being a successful web designer requires making contact with some important stepping stones throughout the creation process. While a catchy name and great calls to action do help some, there are five common ingredients found in all successful web designer’s toolkits that truly make a difference between mediocrity and greatness. These five tips are as important as any in this area of specialty.
Stay Current
It may seem obvious to some, but staying current in the web design and tech industries is incredibly important and a fast-paced endeavor all unto its own. It’s recommended that those working in web design try to stay abreast of emerging trends, products, and even theory by subscribing, or affiliating in some other way, to a few different tech magazines, podcasts, newsfeeds, and other available forms of trustworthy media. By keeping pace with the field in general, one is much more capable of keeping pace with the customer and the competitor alike.
Maintain Solid Skills Foundation
As in many other respected professions, web design utilizes a vast array of tools and techniques for getting different jobs done. Subsequently, it is paramount to maintain proficiency in the more rudimentary areas of practice which can often be taken for granted or overlooked in favor of more advanced means and ways. Such basic, foundational pillars of the field to periodically take a greater focus to include SEO, UI, Javascript, CSS, and HTML coding.
Stay Business-Minded
Web designers not only take charge of client web pages and the needs found therein, but they also are often responsible for finding business solutions to business problems. What is the exact audience we need to target, and how do I virtually attract that audience in the best way possible? How does time influence business transactions here, and how do I use that to the best advantage in the website’s design and function? These are some of the questions the highly effective web designer may try to ask and help with, depending on the parameters of the client relationship and needs.
Avoid Graphic Design
Per the Professional Association for Design, “graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.”. In other words, graphic design is an entirely distinct discipline and area of mastery. It can be hard for many web designers, but beyond basic graphic design applications, any advanced endeavors in this area of specialty are best left to those specifically educated in its utility. Subcontracting out such advanced needs can pay dividends in the end over a do-it-yourself, less than shining end-product.
Focus on Communication
Finally, perhaps center-most among all approaches and things to consider is the art and true efficacy of communication mastered. In fact, it’s been said that “the way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” Web designers must fully embrace this truth in order to really do great work. Short of some personal training and studies to improve skills in this area, it is always helpful to seek the opinions of others. What do they see, feel, understand, or even begin to question upon their visiting of the designer’s product?
Web design is all about producing the most effective online representation of a business or organization that is possible. Proficiency working in this profession thus often requires mindfulness of particular areas of method and ability. The five approaches covered here are some of the very most important to keep in mind when seeking to stay or even become a successful web designer today.
Related Resources:
