What does it take to be a web designer ?

[dansbanners]

Hi,

What does it take to be a professional web designer ? Are there classes to attend or courses to take ?

Do some companies offer flextime, work at home web designing jobs ?

What about having to commute to an office to do some web design jobs ? Are some of these positions offered on a flextime or part time basis just as long the work gets done on time, etc ?

For starters, I have some html, css, cgi and javascript skills and a little banner design (ie. paint shop pro). Also have some programming experience working for a major corporation and have a BS degree in computer science.

What other skills should I have to be a programmer ?

Thanks !

[tknterry]

Those are many questions, but given that you have a BS degree in computer science and programming experience for a major corporation, it appears you already have some skills to be a programmer. There are many ways to become a 'professional web designer' and its not always essential to take formal classes to become one. I guess it depends on ones definition of 'professional'. I think its more important to be a proficient web designer for many varied applications so that your skills in web designing will be highly marketable. Personally, I do not consider myself to be proficient because I do not have a wide variety of web designing skills required for various web applications besides those of my own site.

[kennylucius]

It sounds like you are seeking to get hired at a company rather than start your own business. If that is not entirely true, try taking a few contract jobs from a site like guru dot com. Build a portfolio. Quite a few companies contract through these places looking for talent.

[Jeff]

I suspect in the decade to come, it will require design flair, unique qualities, a full package of abilities, or good communication skills as baseline coding competencies will tend to be outsourced more and more to areas were wages are insanely low.

[Erica C.]

I have been reading this thread with interest as I am a web designer trying to figure this out myself. :smile: I asked a similar question (http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20147)here a couple of years ago. I found the responses quite helpful. Actually, rereading them just now gave me some new things to think about.

I did end up taking classes at IWA/HWG and found them quite useful. They offer a range of topics; you might find something you like.

HTH and thanks again to the folks who took the time to answer back in 2005!

[Melissa]

(Moderator note: Request for web designer moved here (http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=23620) under Contract or be Contracted forum.)

[dansbanners]

I have been reading this thread with interest as I am a web designer trying to figure this out myself. :smile: I asked a similar question (http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20147)here a couple of years ago. I found the responses quite helpful. Actually, rereading them just now gave me some new things to think about.

I did end up taking classes at IWA/HWG and found them quite useful. They offer a range of topics; you might find something you like.

HTH and thanks again to the folks who took the time to answer back in 2005!

Erica,

I found the thread...

http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=20147

:rasberry:

[dansbanners]

Continuing with the thread, what software, tools or programs would you recommend that one should have to compliment their web desiging / web mastering skills or career ?

Thanks !

[hobbes]

vi, Gimp/Photoshop, Ffx web developer bar plugin

[tknterry]

Topstyle Pro

[Mandi]

I still hardcode by hand, on a text editor from . . . awhile back LOL. I bought HomeSite before it was bought (and killed off) by Macromedia. I still use the same app! Hey, it has basic error checking, line numbers, some handy macros for inserting common code, color coding . . . what more do I need :dopey:. It is seriously CSS deficient, and I find myself doing a lot more there than I appreciate.

You can still pick up copies of HS 3 and 4 on Ebay for cheap, and it's a great tool at least to begin with. It's seen me through a lot of coding.

[dansbanners]

Hi,

I asked a friend of mine who's currently a web designer and not a member of FutureQuest for his input on "what it takes to be a web designer".

I stated that I had some knowledge of html and css and a little of script (ie. cgi and javascript). And that I also had some experience maintaining websites (ie. transferring files to the web hosting server) and a little experience in using the paint shop pro software. And that I also had some background in programming, a BS degree in Computer Science and also used to work for IBM as a programmer.

His asked in return if I was keeping myself abreast with the latest technologies in web design and programming, mainly Web 2.0. And that my knowledge was geared towards Web 1.0. And that having experience in HTML, CGI and javascript was less marketable these days. And that he also specializes in Flash and ActionScripting programming. And also stated that if I was curious, I could try the workshops at NobleDesktop.

Now, I don't know if that was just one person's, particularly one web designer's input or what ?

What's your take on this ? Thanks !

[tknterry]

I understand how being familiar with the latest web technologies would be beneficial but I don't understand how experience in HTML would be less marketable these days, according to your friend, since html is and will be the fundamental basis of web design.

[Andilinks]

...I don't understand how experience in HTML would be less marketable these days, according to your friend, since html is and will be the fundamental basis of web design.I would interpret this to mean that HTML experience without the more advanced technologies would be less marketable. It is hard to imagine anyone, even in 2008, not beginning their web design training wth a foundation of HTML.

[Jeff]

Thinking out loud (how web 1.5)

Web 2.0 vs. Web 1.0 is an interesting discussion as to how it changes the role of the web designer. It used to be that there was ample (to say the least) work for many small companies who had existing content as well as new content delivered in a multitude of forms; the job of many web designers then was to design an overall web identity, evaluate, organize, convert, and perfect the content, and put in place both the design and the basic scripts to best present this information to the public. Now in a web 2.0 world where these customers want to edit their sites in realtime and have full(er) control over many aspects of the site at any time, web designers become web developers. Instead of perfecting content for the public, the web designer/developer works on the backend scripts and framework within with the clients can easily update content on a regular basis, maintaining a careful balance between too constricting and too free in that the client wants full control and yet they also want the design of the site to remain tight. The visual design is now less under the "designer's" absolute control as elements change frequently and as the content creators work (who may or may not have design sensibilities) It also may become more of a "thankless" job as before the work being created was nearly 100% visible to many people, whereas now as we are still in a pretty active development time much work goes into simple tasks such as keeping the backend framework up to date... adding one function to the backend that will be visible to the content creator(s) may require more hours than actually creating a dozen public pages start to finish that would be viewed tens of thousands of times before; of course now that one function may be used by many people to update hundreds of pages over the course of years, but still it's a different hat to wear.

[phppete]

Hi,

What does it take to be a professional web designer ?



The most important part of being a web developer/designer is having enough room by the side of your desk for a punch bag. You will also need plenty of money for new screens after you punch massive holes through them in frustration. Clients tend to have a low IQ and like ****ing you around at every opportunity.

I'm a full time web developer and lately I wish I wasn't, so my advice would be to not bother, it is a pile of crap.