Web design is a career that allows the professional to show their creative side, even though there are limitations as far as what their client’s needs and wants are. Many Web Designers have the necessary Web Designer skills to design sites competently and to the specifications required by their organisation.

However, to become a great Web Designer, rather than just a good one, requires a well-rounded set of Web Designer skills that need to encompass technical ability as well as business-oriented know-how. Below, we list the Top 10 Web Designer Skills.

1. Writing skills

A website that is designed to be aesthetically pleasing will immediately catch the eye and invite the visitor to stay on the page for a while longer. This is of no use if they find it hard to figure out what is on offer.

One of the most important Web Designer skills is being able to effectively communicate the message the organisation is trying to convey. The service or product on offer should be instantly understood and pointed out effectively.

Likewise, the site should make use of words to enable the user to quickly understand where to click in order to proceed to where they want to be. There is nothing more frustrating than being unable to navigate a site due to poor wording and sub-par Web Designer skills.

2. Basic and core skills

Having a good grasp of graphic design theory is vital as far as Graphic Designer skills is concerned, but this needs to be backed up by ability. Basic Web Designer skills such as ensuring that spacing is just right and consistent, organised and logical grouping, having the right colours and contrast and eye-catching flow will make for an effective website. But is it all it can be?

The more in-depth Web Designer skills like effective 3D effects, typography, original and custom images applied with creative and relevant graphics will take the site to a higher, more engaging level. Putting all your Web Designer skills to use will make for a well-rounded site that is easy on the eye.

3. Further Reading

Technology is moving at a pace where a We Designer skill may be relevant one day and utterly redundant the next day. New styles and techniques that were obviously not included in your studies are being developed on a daily basis and the only way to keep up is to learn every day.

There is a wealth of information from where to glean new Web Designer skills and to stay on top of your game. The internet is the best source of new developments in nearly all walks of life, as with Web Designer skills, as new tech, new software, techniques and tips and tricks are uploaded almost as they crop up.

Subscribe to magazines dedicated to Web Designer skills and all things web design. They are a great source of reference and include the latest news and information relating to web design and may even include free software to try out.

4. Typing skills

You will be doing a lot of typing. If your typing skills are lacking, it will become extremely frustrating and demoralising, especially when coding manually. It is an essential Web Designer skill that just has to be mastered, no matter how long it takes. The faster your ability to type, the faster your ability to write code.

5. Search Engine Optimisation

Another vital Web Designer skill. Search results are the main factor in how well the site does. If your page ranks low down on search engine search results, you will receive very few visitors.

Every site that you create should be designed with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) in mind. Search engines will scrutinise your content and rate your site according to relevance. Linking to content that is applicable and relevant will make a massive difference to the number of return visitors.

6. HTML/CSS

As mentioned before, designing a visually appealing site takes some doing, but creating a page that works well and easily will test your Web Designer skills. This is where your ability to use HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (cascading style sheet) will make a world of difference.

Having a strong vision of how these production methods will be used before starting the design will save a lot of time and effort as you will be able to utilise them quickly and efficiently, rather than having to struggle through the process.

7. Understanding business

Creating a site for a company without fully understanding what it is that you are trying to promote can make the entire process extremely frustrating and will quite frankly waste your time and the time and money of those that you are designing for.

It all comes down to marketing. Having the ability to display your product in a unique and captivating way that is truthful and uncomplicated while still remaining enticing is a Web Designer skill that can make or break your reputation.

8. Mobile Support

One only needs to spend a small amount of time looking at the people around you to see how massive the mobile market is currently. Tablets, mobile phones and such make up a huge percentage of web users browsing the internet continuously.

It is almost unacceptable to not have mobile support that is not only compatible, but responsive and user friendly in today’s day and age. Using your Web Designer skills to include mobile support can substantially increase an organisation’s profit margins.

9. Web servers

Web server administration is not considered a vital Web Designer skill, but it certainly will make your life much easier to have at least a basic understanding of the server that your site will be running on. This will enable you to understand how the server responds to different aspects and can make a difference in your site’s performance.

10. Project Management

This is not only a useful web Designer skill, but something that can be used in all walks of life. The start of any project is of the utmost importance since it lays the foundation from which to build the rest of the project.

Having a good understanding of project management will help you keep track of your progress, ensuring that it is headed in the desired direction and will give it a far better chance of having a favourable outcome.

In conclusion

Honing your Web Designer skills to the point where you are comfortable with the work that needs to be done will keep your interest and passion or the work continuously peaked. It is best, after all, to do it correctly and passionately or rather don’t do it at all.

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