Growth Trends for Related Jobs
Educational Requirements of a Web Designer
Web designers are responsible for how a website looks. According to Web designer Michael Aleo, "Good Web designers know their job is to present content in the best way possible. Period." Successful Web designers may have no education beyond high school or a combination of technical certifications and academic degrees. Career opportunities for Web designers are expected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Duties
Web designers create the site's layout, incorporate applications like shopping cart checkout tools, and create and integrate content such as graphics, text, sound animation and video. They also write programs in a variety of computer languages such as HTML or Javascript. Freelance Web designers also communicate regularly with clients.
Certifications
Dreamweaver®, part of Adobe CS6®, is industry standard for Web design professionals. Adobe offers a certification that validates to potential employers you have entry-level skills in Web communication. There is also a movement in the United States to create a Web design certification. Countries like Canada and Switzerland have already established successful design certifications.
Skills
Web designers should be able to communicate clearly with clients. A Web designer's job is to create a website that meets the client's vision and good Web design principles. Designers also need coding skills using such languages as Hyper Text Markup Language, or HTML; Cascading Style Sheets or CSS; Pre-Hypertext Processing or PHP; and Javascript. Throughout their career, Web developers must keep up to date on new tools and computer languages.
Education
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, educational requirements for Web designers vary with the setting they work in and the type of work they do. Requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. An associate degree may be sufficient for webmasters who do not do a lot of programming. Some employers prefer Web designers who have both a computer degree and have taken classes in graphic design, especially when hiring designers who will be heavily involved in the website’s visual appearance.
References
- Smashing Magazine: Web Designers, Get Out There and Make Something!
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects-Job Outlook
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects-What Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects Do
- Adobe: Education resources / Adobe Certified Associate program
- Graphic Design Certification: Home Page
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, and Computer Network Architects-How to Become an Information Security Analyst, Web Developer, or Computer Network Architect
Resources
Writer
Michele Garabedian Stork oversees an award-winning website and serves as the editor of several monthly e-newsletters. She is an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she earned a Master of Education. Garabedian Stork also holds an Ed.D. in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Science in business studies.
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