Career In Web Design And Development

Read Our Popular Articles Related To Software Development

• Create a portfolio that looks the part: If you want to make the most of the web designing career opportunities available at your disposal, make sure that your portfolio gives your potential employers a glimpse into what they can expect from you. It is amongst the first things along with your resume that a hiring manager will look at. Leave a lasting impression!

Some of the tips to make a standout portfolio are mentioned below-

Some of the features that could be included in the portfolio are mentioned below-

Learn more: upGrad Free Online Courses: Upskill with upGrads Lifelong Learning Initiative!

Related Occupations: What You Need To Know

Employment research points to the same conclusion: individuals with programming and development skills are highly valued. A degree in web development can position graduates for career success not only in that specific field, but also across other professional areas, such as the following:

Computer Programmer

How To Advance Your Career In Web Development

Web developers can advance their careers in several ways, such as by pursuing certification, continuing education, and networking opportunities. Career advancement can lead to advanced titles and better salaries. Professionals can also find more opportunities for management positions as they improve their resumes.

Read on to learn more about advancement methods for careers with a web development degree.

Read Also: Other Career Options For Restaurant Managers

Demand For Web Designers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for Web Designers is expected to rise 8 percent by 2029, much faster than the overall rate of growth for all jobs across all industries. This demand, they say, will be driven by the rising popularity of mobile devices and eCommerce technologies.

Web Design And Web Development

Web design and web development are terms often used interchangeably, and though they do frequently cover a lot ofthe same type of work, there is a subtle difference between them. International students looking to study web designand/or development should be aware of these differences. Web design generally refers more to creating theaesthetics of the page: deciding how elements should look, sound, andto a lesser extentrespond to interaction.Dedicated web designers often come from the ranks of tech savvy graphic design aficionados who are interested inusing their expertise in the creation of effective, great-looking websites.

Web development, on the other hand, focuses more on the coding and technological aspects of creating a website. Webdevelopers are great coders, understanding multiple coding languages like Java, PHP, Python, and more. If thosenames sound like gibberish to you, but youre still interested in web development, dont worry! You can teachyourself some basic fluency in these languages to see if its something that you are interested in pursuing further.

Recommended Reading: Ati Career Training Center Fort Lauderdale

Combining The Skills Of A Web Dev And Web Designerthe Unicorn

What started out as a joke in the industrythe designer/developer hybrid who can do it allis now a viable endgame for both web designers and front-end developers, thanks to the increase in the availability of educational resources across the web.

Those developers/designers who have a good grasp of skills across both sides of the spectrum are highly sought after in the industry. The “unicorn” can take your project from the conceptual stage of visual mock-ups and storyboards, and carry it through front-end development all by themselves.

Not that you’d want them to the real value of developers who design and designers who develop are their ability to speak each other’s languages. This leads not only to better communication on the team and a smoother workflow, it means you’ll land on the best solution possible.

As a general rule, feel free to rely on the “unicorn” for small projects, where its feasible for one or two people to handle both the back and front-ends of an application. For larger projects, even if you do manage to hire a few “unicorns,” more clearly defined roles are required.

Work On Your Own Projects To Develop Your Web Design Skills

Now that youve stocked your web design tool belt, youre ready to begin building websites. As you go, youll likely pick up a lot of skills you might not have expected. Some of these are technical skills, or hard skills, like programming in HTML, CSS, or even JavaScript. The best way to sharpen these skills is just to get started the more sites you build, the better youll be.

There are also a number of user experience design skills that are useful for Web Designers to consider. Web Designers program the screens that users interact with and they can be far more successful with a good grasp of user-centered design and responsive design.

As you build sites, try to interact with them the way a user might. Where are the pain points or navigational issues? How could the site be improved, and does it load fast enough both for users and for search engine optimization considerations? Now youre in the mindset of a UX Designer, and thats going to be key to designing really solid web products.

Don’t Miss: What Career Cluster Does Cosmetology Fall Under

Optimism And Uncertainty Mix For Coding Boot Camp Graduates

Gladden and Velasquez-Deulofeu both have college degrees. This may have factored into their success, Gay said. In his experience, people with degrees do better than their non-degreed peers.

“It’s not necessarily the previous coding experience they may have had in college,” Gay said, “but more the discipline to study and learn what’s needed.”

This is how I learned photography. So I know the hours and dedication it takes. But I believe it will be worth it. Megan Carswell Gladden Nucamp coding boot camp graduate

On the other hand, students without coding exposure or a computer science degree will still struggle more than those who have such a background, he said.

Ultimately, leading indicators for course success have more to do with personality traits than educational background, said Ludo Fourrage, founder and CEO at Nucamp. Curiosity, motivation and patience — the ability to stay focused on one problem for hours before making progress — are among the skills that factor into whether students pass or fail the class, he said.

Although Gladden and Velasquez-Deulofeu passed the course, whether the certificate will help them reach their career goals remains to be seen, especially in light of the tight job market for developers.

Velasquez-Deulofeu said the boot camp credential will put her in a better position to apply for a promotion next April. She also intends to sign up for Simo Ahava’s JavaScript for Digital Marketer’s course, which is tailored to her career.

Myth: Web Designers Dont Need To Know How To Code At All

While web designers dont need to be pros at coding, per Cristy Koebler, Operations Manager at Hireguide, Its helpful for designers to understand how to code, but I wouldnt say they have to. If they can understand basic HTML and CSS, they know how to deliver a design that a developer can code up. So they know what works/looks best, they organize design files so developers can easily get the info they need, and theyre aware of best practices.

Cristy also points out that nowadays, some designers might do both design and coding and lots of freelancers do both. Its definitely a plus to have coding skills. If youd like to be a web designer who can also code, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are good bets, as well as learning a CSS preprocessor like Sass or LESS and knowing how to use jQuery, a JavaScript library. You can start by doing HTML beginner projects, CSS for beginner lessons, and practice HTML and CSS projects to get your feet wet.

While web design falls under visual design which also includes UX design, UI design, graphic design, digital design, and product design web designers who can code, especially those who have next-level skills like Sass, Bootstrap, and JavaScript, are in HUGE demand.

If a career in tech is right for you What tech careers fit your strengths What skills you need to reach your goals

Recommended Reading: Medical Career Institute West Palm Beach

Five Reasons To Consider Web Design Jobs

Why should you consider a web design career? Read on for five basic reasons.

If you’re an artist who innately looks for visual solutions to design problems and you also enjoy Web technology, a career in Web design may be the best of both worlds. Web design allows you to not only stretch your creative wings but also keep up with the latest technology and standards.

First, you’ll need to meet a few prerequisites. Entry-level design jobs usually require a certificate or associate’s degree along with some experience and work samples.

In addition, business and communication skills are indispensable. As a Web designer, you’ll work with clients, Web developers and marketing departments. So to be successful, you’ll need to articulate your design vision effectively.

Top 5 Positions In Web Design And Development Based On Pay

Yes, all web designers need to know how to create a website. All web developers must know basic coding and programming languages. But, in order to specialize in a particular niche within the development and design industry , you must have more specialized skills. Based on pay, these are the top 5 positions in web design and development, and what you must know to succeed at these jobs:

Recommended Reading: How To Plan Your Career Path

Career Salary And Education Information

What They Do: Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.

Work Environment: Some web developers and digital designers work in the computer systems design and related services industry. Others are self-employed. Still others work in industries including publishing, management consulting, and advertising.

How to Become One: Educational requirements for web developers and digital designers vary, ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelors degree.

Salary: The median annual wage for web and digital interface designers is $79,890. The median annual wage for web developers is $77,030.

Job Outlook: Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 23 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of web developers and digital designers with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as a web developer or digital designer with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Web Designer Vs Ux Designer

A UX designer is responsible for ensuring the user has a positive experience when using a product. UX design is a key component of the web design process. But the UX role exists outside of web design too. UX design can be applied to both physical and digital products.

This means that all web designers must learn elements of UX design, but not all UX designers must understand web design.

The most important distinction is that a web designer is client-oriented and works to satisfy the needs of the client. A UX designer is user-oriented and focuses on keeping the user happy when they use the product or website.

Also Check: Career Center Grand Junction Co

How To Start A Career In Web Development

Some choose to pursue an Associates or Bachelors degree in computer science. These programs will cover the basics of computer programming and logic, but a degree isnt required to land your first job or even to excel in your career.

Quick online tutorials are also popular. While these are a great way to get your feet wet, it could end up being a long road if your ultimate goal is a full-fledged career. Learning programming for the first time is frustrating if its just you and a computer, without any live support. And forging a career in web development is a nuanced process that takes more than a basic knowledge of Java and Python.

A structured online software engineering courselike ours focuses on the skills youll actually apply on the job, and pairs you with a personal mentor whos on hand to answer questions, help you think like a programmer, and achieve your career goals. Youll build a portfolio that appeals to top employers and gets you offers. And our graduates dont just land jobs: they go on to earn promotions and grow long-term careers doing something they love.

Learn through a hands-on, project based curriculum in the company of other students, a career support team, and one-on-one mentorship. It all starts here.

Working As A Freelancer

Freelancing features many advantages, including flexibility in schedule and location and greater freedom in choosing their projects and experimenting in their work. Depending on their specialty, freelancers may not need as much formal schooling they can learn new skills on a practical, as-needed basis instead of investing large amounts of time and money in education before getting started.

Freelancers do not have the same security or benefits, such as retirement accounts and health insurance. Despite these drawbacks, about 16% of web developers in May 2018 worked as freelancers.

Recommended Reading: Prism Career Institute Egg Harbor Township Nj

Why Should You Choose A Career In Web Development

There would be a novice having this question of Is web development a good career in future? Lets try to seek an answer for the same below. The web is going to get even bigger and better with time. Web developers will continue playing an important role. So having the skills to develop websites has several advantages.

How To Learn Web Design Online

As you can see, theres nothing mysterious or mind-blowing about the skills you need to be a web designer, but then there is the question of where and how to learn them. A foundation in the tech side and a good handle on the organizational parts will both get you going and be there for you as you build your knowledge and your career in web design.

You can learn ALL the skills we talked about above in Skillcrushs Break Into Tech program, a comprehensive, entirely online course of study designed to take you from zero to working in web development or as a web designer in months. It includes fast tracks for getting you into your dream career quickly, over a dozen courses, plus optional course add-ons to help you niche down and find your path in tech.

Weve also got a more specific Visual Designer course that covers everything from color theory and typography to becoming a Photoshop master. Its the perfect digital course for creative types obsessed with colors, fonts, and all things visual.

Our courses are fully online and include 24/7 access to materials, as well as lots of support from friendly instructors and your fellow budding web designers in the online student community. Youll even learn how to find, land, and complete your first paying web design project within months

Pro tip: You dont need any design or coding experience to get started for any of our courses. So, join us now to get that exciting and fascinating career in web design youve been dreaming of.

Also Check: How To Change Career To Cyber Security

Web Development Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics web developers and digital interface designers earn an average annual salary of $82,370. The BLS projects 8% growth in this industry between 2019 and 2029, which is much faster than average.

Keep in mind that salaries for careers in web development vary depending on a worker’s location, experience, and education. The table below shows the average annual salaries for a few web development careers based on a professional’s level of experience.

Growing concerns about global terrorism and online attacks fuel the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. This concentration prepares students to work as information security analysts and senior web developers. Learners take classes like cryptographic systems, computer forensics, and information assurance and security. Students also learn ethical hacking practices, which may prepare them for certification from organizations like the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants.

You Have A Thick Skin

Youre not too precious about your work. By the time you are showing a design to someone, you are ready to hear their feedbackeven if its critical. And if you were paid to design something for someone, you wouldnt take it personally if they wanted you to change things.

Ive known many designers just starting out who would really take it to heart when a client said they didnt like the design they came up with and get upset about it, Holub says. Overcoming this means understanding that your design isnt about your ego or portfolio, she explains. The design you create is for the clients needs, goals and audienceknowing that will actually help to build self-confidence in the long run.

You May Like: What Are Your Long-term Career Goals Examples

Youre Interested In Marketing

In the end, designers tend to love the art of design best. But you know a thing or two about what gets peoples attention and why companies are looking for web designers in the first place.

While creativity is a great trait to have, being grounded enough to understand that evidence-based marketing will lead to a better return on investment for your client is also key, Holub says. When it comes to web design, there is a wealth of research and statistics that can form a solid base for any design decisions you make. A great designer is able to balance evidence with creativity.

Holub explains that web design has three major aspects to it: function visual and marketing . The function and the visual parts of this career are essential of course, but designers need to understand the marketing function as well.