A Seattle Web Designer
As digital media becomes increasingly common and in demand, the need for web designers is growing rapidly. Web designers plan, code, and create websites and pages, incorporating sound, images, videos, and more. Typically, web designers design a website layout from scratch or an existing page. They understand what it takes to function well while appealing to the users. In contrast to web developers, web designers focus on the visual aspect and users' aesthetics, whereas web developers concentrate on the website's back-end functionality. Being a web designer in Seattle gives the designer more space to grow and the proper guidance to better themselves.
Let us explore what website designers do in their typical day and how being in Seattle helps them navigate their job.
What does a Web Designer do?
A Web Designer or front-end plans and codes a website, making it functional and visually attractive while ensuring that it is easy to navigate and engage. They usually meet with clients to visualize the message and create layouts and designs that best fit it. Web designer often has to make sure their visuals appeal to a target audience, depending on their client's website's purpose. A web designer has a distinct personality. Their work requires critical thinking skills, creativity, and discipline, so they tend to be creative, intuitive, articulate, and expressive.
What are the qualifications to become a Web Designer?
Most web designers have basic coding knowledge, especially CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. From there, they can adapt to new languages or languages preferred by their clients. Freelance web designers tend to have more coding knowledge since they have to cover other aspects of the website instead of having a team.
While most web designers typically need a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, there are more ways for a web designer to qualify. For example, certificates and courses offered by Adobe, Google, and more. Universities also provide coding camps to help one learn the proper web designer skills.
Workplace of a Web Designer
Web designers in agencies usually work in an office environment, although they often require out-of-office meetings with clients and supervisors to discuss project progress. The modern office is an open space, which gives designers more freedom to think and share their ideas. Freelance designers often work from their home office and meet with their clients. Because of the fast-paced nature, web designers must be flexible with their time and willing to change things at the last minute or come up with ideas. Flexibility comes with freedom, making you eligible to work from anywhere worldwide. Sometimes, your clients will be entirely online, and working with them, regardless of location, is an exciting experience.
Why Seattle?
Seattle is ranked #6 in best cities to work in IT and #1 in best Metros for STEM professionals. It has a growing number of job listings in tech and employment growth. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Seattle web designer is $63,509, ranging from $44,000 to $88,000. One Google search of "Web Designing in Seattle" will yield thousands of results and hundreds of job openings, making it a high-demand city. Furthermore, regardless of their purpose, most businesses need a website to reach their target audience. Being a web designer will guarantee you a job in Seattle.
Seattle Tech Companies
Seattle is home to thousands of businesses, small or big. According to Statista, nearly 11% of Seattle's workforce is employed in tech. Below is a list of companies headquartered in Seattle:
Amazon
Amazon is a multinational technology company based in Seattle, Washington. Its main focuses are e-commerce, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital streaming. Amazon is America's second-largest employer, with its headquarters comprising more than 40 buildings and boasting an impressive headcount of more than 45,000 employees.
Microsoft
Microsoft is another multinational technology company located in Redmond, Washington. It develops and manufactures computer software, consumer electronics, and related services. The headquarters has undergone multiple expansions, is estimated to encompass over 8 million square feet of office space, and has more than 50,000 workers.
Tableau Software
Tableau Software offers data analytics for several departments, including IT, finance, sales, and marketing. They create interactive data visualization products focused on business intelligence, aiming to make a difference globally by empowering people with data. Their campuses in Seattle hold an employee count of over 4,000, making the pool for applicants more extensive and more diverse.
Expedia Group
Expedia Group is a traveling booking agency encompassing other brands such as Trivago, Hotels.com, Travelocity, and more. Initially founded as a Microsoft division, it made its mark in 1999. Expedia's headquarters is in Seattle, with over 22,000 employees. The company values each and acknowledges their contribution to the team's success. Expedia Group has opportunities for people with different career paths, particularly one interested in IT.
Local Seattle Web Design agencies
Web designing has been among the growing job demands in recent years, so it is difficult to pick which company best suits your skills and potential. According to TheManifest, below is the list of top-rated agencies for web designing in Seattle and Bellevue:
Sayenko's designs
Sayenko specializes in the Shopify platform. Despite its small number of employees, they deliver quality products, supporting small to medium-sized businesses. Besides their primary focus on web designing, they also do online marketing and branding.
Jordan Crown
Jordan Crown is a nationally known design firm based in Seattle, WA. They specialize in creating websites for the construction, consultation, and technology industries. Their small circle of 11 works together tightly to deliver their best product and satisfy their clients.
Visualwebz
Visualwebz is a Seattle-based digital innovation agency that designs and develops digital products and online services that help its customers grow and transform. A team of experts works to determine a client's goal and develop strategies to find that sweet spot of impact and realism.
Why you should be a Seattle Web Designer
Not only is Seattle home to big tech companies and thousands of job offers in the tech industry, but it also boasts a magnificent mountain setting: to the east is the ice pyramid of Mount Rainier National Park, arising out of the Cascade Mountains, to the west, the partly snow-capped peaks of Olympic National Parks.
Being a Seattle-based web designer means being close to tourist attractions such as Seattle Center and the Space Needle. An entertainment complex and park area with stadiums, museums, restaurants, and theaters. T-Mobile Park, located downtown, is the hotspot for concerts and sports games if you need a distraction from time to time. Seattle is also known for its diverse cultures.
So why not become a Seattle website developer and work in the Northwest?
