The skills needed to become a web designer and web developer have been rising over recent years. Web design has become a popular career path for many as the jobs continue to rise but this, in turn, increases the competition in the industry.
But how can you stand out from the crowd and web design abilities? Web design agency ramotion knows that and handles this very well.
With every career, there are specific skills that you need to perfect before you take on the mantle of a web designer. As web designers and web developers in Dubai, we’ve put together the list of skills that we believe are crucial when you begin your career as a web designer.
1. UX (User Experience)
User experience typically focuses on the way users feel when they browse through a website. Are they happy, calm, frustrated when they’re looking at a website? UX is all about approaching web design from a perspective that puts the user first.
You need to design a website that will help users get exactly what they want without wasting too much time. UX ultimately aims to shape the user’s experience by guiding them through the site and engaging them.
Some UX practices include:
- Creating user personas and laying out content and pages with a site map to figure out the path the users will take while on your website
- An intuitive design that focuses on a natural and easy experience
- Designs specific to the audience that is tailored to meet their needs
2. UI (User Interface)
While UX focuses on how your web design will affect users, UI focuses more on the specifics of the website. UI includes web pages, menus, buttons, etc – all elements that guide the user through the website’s design while providing a smooth experience.
3. Visual Design
Of course, in order to become a successful web designer, you need the appropriate design knowledge, especially visual design knowledge. This can range from typography, sizes, color theory, fonts and many more.
In terms of typography specifically, it tends to shape our perception of things. A website’s font will communicate meaning to the user, and as a web designer, it’s important for you to identify the best ways of delivering messages with appropriate fonts and styles.
You should also have knowledge of color theory and how different colors work together and how some contrast instead. A common mistake in web design is the use of clashing colors. While it may look interesting upon first glance, contrasting shares can render a website layout unreadable or unpleasant to the eye. The overall text and headers should use colors that work harmoniously in order to be legible to users.
Graphic Design will play a large role when it comes to the visual design of your website. It’s about creating visuals and illustrations that fit your brand well and will enable you to create stunning imagery for your website.
Composition in web design is also a key factor to keep an eye on. Your website needs a well-composed layout in order to create a visual balance that’s aesthetically pleasing. Look at other websites, paintings, and billboards and pay attention to the contrast and negative space to inspire and help you compose your website well enough to not look too distracting.
4. Design Software
You can’t build something good if you don’t have the right tools! There are many design software programs online that you should be familiar with – Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Webflow, and Sketch to name a few. Software programs such as Gimp and Inkscape are free if you want to improve your skills without spending lots of money.
Photo editing basics are needed when it comes to web design as you should be able to tweak graphics such as logos or banners if the need arises.
5. HTML, CSS and JavaScript
Essentially, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript make up the important building blocks of a website.
In recent years, this is now an expected skill for most web design jobs. HyperText Markup Language is a coding language that’s used to place content on a web page and give it a good structure.
CSS is the code that will tell internet browsers how to style and format the HTML code for web pages. With CSS, you can adjust the design of your website (backgrounds, images, fonts, etc) while focusing on making every web page look good and unique.
If you already know how to program using JavaScript, this is a great way to have a leg up in the competition. With JavaScript, you can transform static elements to make them interactive for users, creating a website that will create a strong impression and look unique from others.
6. Copywriting
This may be unconventional, but when you understand how design and copy work together, it will help you create a more functional website with ease. Like visual design, copywriting is about making a lasting impression on viewers. If you have even basic copywriting skills, you will be able to easily identify text that’s too lengthy and illegible, and rather than spending more time asking someone else to edit it, you will be able to do so yourself!
Additionally, knowledge of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) will come in handy when designing and creating a website. The goal is to have your website appear high up on Google’s search algorithm and the best way to do so is by incorporating relevant keywords all over your website. Copywriting will help you make sure your text flows naturally, rather than just having keywords placed randomly simply for the sake of SEO.
7. Responsive Design
Being able to create a responsive design is a key skill for the web design process. It helps ensure that HTML, CSS, and JavaScript elements are usable all over the website. Responsive design will ensure consistent delivery of your website, providing an enjoyable and stress-free experience for users.
With responsive design, you will also be able to make sure your web pages are device friendly and can adjust to every screen it is loaded on (mobile phones, tablets, etc).
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