A web designer is a person who designs and builds the websites that users access. In layman’s terms, the web designer is a person who builds websites. The word ‘web’ in the term web designer refers to the World Wide Web, a compilation of internet resources such as information, videos, audio, photos, software, and hyperlinks. It also refers to the process of getting the information from the internet and making it available to the end-user through a website.
Web design encompasses a variety of fields and skills in the creation and maintenance of online websites. The various fields of web design encompass user interface design; graphic design; web content writing; software engineering; and search engine marketing. A lot of skills are required in order to develop professionally-built websites. It takes extensive training to master all the skills in a field as the number of websites increases over time. Some of the best-known names in the web designing industry are Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo, and EBay.
Web designers and developers must know the various programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Java. Web developers also need to understand the visual elements in the web page such as images, fonts, videos, and JavaScript code. Web designers use applications such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Fireworks, and Illustrator in addition to the more fundamental HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP skills.
Web designers usually have to master several programming languages so they can build the websites. If a designer does not understand one programming language, then he/she might find it difficult to build the website. The designer’s technical skills depend on the knowledge of the computer hardware, the operating system, and the internet connection capability. Some of the technical skills required by web designers include using basic software such as Microsoft Office products, Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Outlook, and Word Processing Software. The designer must have the ability to program in a fast and efficient manner using the appropriate visual elements in the web design software.
Professional web designers and developers must be skilled in writing HTML code. This coding is usually used to construct the website’s visual elements. Professional designers usually have to perform a variety of tasks. They need to create layout plans and decide on the look and feel of the website. Web developers often use programming languages like CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and SQL. Web designers and developers must also understand how to code the websites’ navigation and database systems.
It is important for a professional web designer or a developer to be able to work independently. In order to be effective at designing and developing websites, they must possess a wide range of skills. Web developers can either choose to work freelance or become an employee in a company that specializes in web development. The type of establishment that you choose depends on your own skills, your career goals, as well as your budget. A good place to start is by looking up various freelance jobs or searching through classifieds listings on the Internet.