Choosing the Right Web Designer
Web designers and what you should know
Hiring a web designer can be confusing. Web design is a large field with different levels of expertise. Let me help you make a decision that best suits your needs. I'll cover the basics of the job of a web designer and outline reasons why hiring one is a good idea. This article will include essential considerations such as your desired design, budget limitations, and any specific requirements for your website.
What is a Web Designer's Job?
A web designer is in charge of designing the visuals of websites. This includes a range of tasks, from the layout to creating the overall visual appearance. Web designers are responsible for the arrangement and font of the text. They also choose and design the graphics and animation. Web designers focus on the user's experience. They ensure the user finds the website easy to use and explore. Overall, web designers make websites visually appealing and easy to use for users.
Web Designer vs Web Developer: What's the Difference?
Web designers and developers are two different jobs. These jobs are similar but work on other parts of a website. The part of a website that web designers work on is the visual part. They design the layout, color scheme, and overall visual appearance. Their overall role is to make the site's appearance attractive to users.
On the other hand, web developers focus on ensuring the website is functional. Web designers work on appearance, and web developers concentrate more on the technical side. They do more work behind the scenes. They're responsible for implementing the designs. Web designers and developers need to work together on building websites.
Benefits of a Web Designer
Having a well-designed website is very beneficial. A user will first judge a website based on its appearance. Because of this, it is essential to leave an excellent first impression of the website's appearance. A website's design dramatically impacts the experience of the user. A good design helps to make that experience more enjoyable. Spending more time on the design of your website will prompt people to explore and interact further with the website. For a more professional look, consider hiring the help of an experienced web designer.
Website designers can create a high-quality website for you. Yes, there are website builders and templates that you can find online, but a professional web designer can create a unique custom website that fits your business and other needs.
Website builders also have many limitations for how your website functions and looks. While they could cost less, they take up a lot of time and effort that could be spent on other areas of your business. A website designer will still follow your requirements, giving you control over the design. Leave the design process to the professionals so you can do other things for your business.
Qualities to Look for in a Web Designer
There are many web designers out there, so if you want to find the best web designer, these are some qualities to look for.
1. Creativity
A web designer must be very creative. Their job requires them to design visually appealing websites that are unique and stand out. They need to be innovative because good web designers should be able to create something new and different. After all, you want your website to stand out, so if a web designer follows a design pattern, I wouldn't recommend choosing them.
2. Good Technical Skills
A website designer should be proficient in programming languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript, which are mainly used to build and design websites. Good web designers should also be more familiar with using the new design software and tools. These tools can help web designers stay up-to-date and be more efficient.
3. Flexibility
It's good to have a solid plan before hiring a web designer so they understand your requirements and what you're looking for. Sometimes, plans change, so you need a web designer who can change things and adapt when needed. They must also be adaptable because design trends, user preferences, and technologies constantly change. Projects will also have challenges that a web designer will have to face along the way. Web designers need to be willing to change while building the website.
4. Good Communication Skills
Good communication skills are essential for a web designer to ensure a smooth collaboration with a client. Working in web design requires a lot of communication. A good web designer will understand the client's needs and vision. They also need to be able to provide their own insights, explain the design process, and suggest ideas. A web designer must work well in a team because they collaborate with clients, other web designers, developers, and marketers. They need to handle feedback and implement revisions when required. Not communicating well can result in incorrect work, and this will cause the process of creating the website to take longer.
5. Portfolio/Reviews
A portfolio showcases a web designer's abilities and experience. A more experienced web designer will have more knowledge in the field. A portfolio demonstrates their creativity and familiarity with design trends. A portfolio helps assess a web designer's skills and past work. This can be used to see if that web designer is a suitable fit for your website.
In addition, a portfolio will help instill trust in a web designer. Based on their portfolio, you can feel confident that your website's design is in good hands, further ensuring that it will meet your needs.
Trends in Website Designs
An experienced web designer should know the current trends in website design and what is marketable, but it's good to have some knowledge yourself. Here is a list of a few of the current popular trends in web design.
1. Animations
Animations are a fun way to capture the user's attention and improve their experience with your website. One of the most popular uses of animation is scrolling animation. Scrolling animation is animated effects when the user scrolls on a website. These animations will make users want to continue exploring the website.
Another trending use of animation is micro-interactions. Micro-interactions are subtle, small animations that provide feedback, guide users, or indicate changes. An example is a link changing color when a user's mouse hovers over it.
2. Interactive Marketing
Interactive marketing is when a website incorporates game-play elements. Examples of these include quizzes, surveys, and contests. Usually, these will have points or some reward system. These rewards will incentivize users to continue engaging with your website. This can also help market your brand, as users will share their amount of points with others.
3. Cursors
Cursors are the pointers that appear on the screen when users interact with the website. Making the cursors more creative is a fun way to make the user experience more enjoyable. This can be done by changing the shape of the cursor or having the cursor activate small animations. A changing cursor is more interesting than the usual white arrow or pointer.
4. 3D Models
Interactive 3D models help websites stand out. These models are engaging for users and can be used to show different angles. They can be helpful to show more product details or be something fun and interactive.
5. Material and Isometric Design
Material design is where colors and shadows create textures that create a more realistic appearance. This can be used to make designs look more exciting and 3-dimensional.
Isometric design is similar to material design, making designs look 3D using shadows and angles. Isometric design is meant to give a higher view as the design is done at a 30-degree angle, keeping it from looking 2D.
Web Designer Job Projections
When searching for a web designer, knowing web designer job projections can be helpful. Job projections can help understand the high demand for web designers, the availability, and the average salary of web designers.
The employment of web designers is expected to grow 15 percent from 2022 to 2032. The demand for web designers is predicted to increase because of the expanding e-commerce. The projected employment of web designers by 2032 is expected to be 115,500 compared to 98,800 in 2022.
U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWeb designer payment rates can vary based on their skill level and how difficult the job is. The average payment for hiring a web designer can range between 27 to 60 dollars per hour, with the average essential website costing about $6,760. A self-employed web designer can require a higher payment than a web designer employed by a company or an organization. The median annual wage for web designers was $83,240 in the U.S. in 2022, though this wage can be expected to grow because of a projected increase in demand. Below is a table showing the states in the U.S. with the highest employment for web designers and their average annual wage.
Web designers are also in high demand worldwide, especially in European countries. Five countries with high pay for web designers besides the U.S. are Switzerland, Australia, Germany, Norway, and Denmark. Below is a table showing each country's average annual salary of web designers.
Final Thoughts
Ensure that you do thorough research into whichever web designer you are considering. Read their reviews and portfolios, ensuring their work will fit your vision. The design of your website is too important to waste time with a web designer who does not align with your goals or standards. However, working with the right web designer will give you the professionally designed website you desire.
