Learning Web Design Online
You can learn online
In a world of technology, new inventions, and constant updates, it is easy to expect things to work without giving much thought to the process. “In this interconnected world, the first thing a customer experiences about a business is its web presence.” Whether shopping online, ordering groceries through your phone, or staring at the Domino webpage, we forget how active the digital sphere is in our lives. “It’s estimated that more than 4 billion people are now online regularly.” A world where so much representation is onscreen, a world where web design plays a significant part.
To better grasp the idea, let’s start with the basics. What is web design? Web design is the creative outlook of what CSS, HTML, Javascript, and any other coding language build. Essentially, what you see on screen is the work of a web designer whose requirements were to create an appealing outlook. It is how clients familiarize themselves with a brand. It’s also a way people learn information and build trust with the website they’re on. “75% of users judge a company’s credibility based on visual design alone.” All due to web design, the creative world of imagery, and a world of visual communication.
Web Design’s Role in the Modern World
You might wonder how this job plays out in the current world and how much of an effect it has on people. Statistic says, "It only takes visitors 50 milliseconds to form a first impression of your website design.” With a short amount of time and lower tolerance levels, people quickly decide about whatever they see onscreen. It is as practical as looking for a local doctor. A source states that “94% of users’ first impressions of healthcare websites were design-related”.
The stakes are high when the information states, "38% of people will stop engaging with your website if your content and layout is unattractive”. The demand for web designers to create a webpage outlook that attracts and encourages viewers to invest in the company is rising. Ever wonder why Apple is so successful?“ Research shows that 86% of your website visitors want to see product or service information, 65% look for contact information, and 52% seek an About page for your business.“ It could be as simple as implementing what is necessary for clients to know.
Web Designers Requirements
Now, the question comes down to what qualifications are required of a web designer.
“Some organizations may use other Adobe Creative Suite tools, like Illustrator and InDesign, to create graphics and other content. Most other tools are found on the website’s platform, like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.”
Demand for an aesthetic and clean outlook is no doubt necessary. Now, humans are wired to understand information; the easiest way to do that is by keeping a web page understandable.
Depending on the area of work a web designer needs, categories like “E-commerce websites will often use platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce.” Although website templates are available, the things to be evaluated are the benefits a website brings compared to a custom-built one. When comparing the two options, the client’s main concern besides readability is originality. Aside from the platforms used, it is crucial to note that “85% of adults think a company’s mobile website design should be as good or better than their desktop website design.”
This means any web designer, no matter what degree of education earned, should also understand how to structure the web page on the phone.
Other personal factors to consider are the qualities needed for a web designer. Simple concepts such as “Learn not to take critique personally” eventually play a considerable role. Additionally, it is vital to “Understand each other’s point of view. Many disagreements are often escalated or unresolved when working together because neither side is willing to consider the other’s case. “ After all, the goal of the designer, developer, and other team members is ultimately the same: provide the best product while being on the same page.
Is There a What If?
You might ask yourself just how necessary it is to have an education. “Worldwide, only 18.9% of active web developer job advertisements list a degree as a requirement, according to our research.” Specifically, “over 52,975 web designers/developers are currently employed in the United States.”
So what is crucial to making something of yourself with no education? Although most people might assume web design is strictly about visual appearance, it’s untrue.
Most web designers know the coding and structure approach to building a website. An example provided, “This will lead to a frustrating situation where the designer is standing over the developer’s shoulder saying stuff like “increase that padding with 1 pixel” or “that’s not the exact right color”. Who else to turn to other than web designers with experience working with employees that have no coding education? “Personally, as a designer, I’m not comfortable handing over a PSD to someone else to do the HTML and CSS simply because I won’t be in complete control of the design anymore.“ The conclusion is clear: a digital world will demand knowledge of both. Now that we have seen the web design world’s core fundamentals let’s look at alternatives to proper education.
For those considering options, something to keep in mind is the opportunity of a boot camp. “And outcome reports show that they mostly deliver on their promises. As one example, BrainStation reports that 93 percent of UX design graduates have a job in the field within 180 days.” Apart from hands-on education, a benefit of attending a boot camp is creating your portfolio and knowing how the hiring process goes. “A good UX boot camp will hold networking events and offer job interview training. When you start applying for UX jobs, you’ll know exactly what to expect.”
With that in mind, a web design boot camp might suit some. Data shows the opportunity to be a web designer, even if a bachelor’s in web development is not your case. Staggering information proves how much demand and opportunity exist. “The number of active and inactive websites changes every second, and the latest data shows 1.87 billion. Up to a staggering 85% of those are inactive. The total number of websites first exceeded 1 billion in 2014.”
How This Ties In
When searching for web design, you might have stumbled upon a title about web development, HTML, CSS, and other names you’re unfamiliar with. The reason is that web design is not the only aspect required to build a website from scratch. It’s simply what you see, not the site as a whole. “To start, most web pages on the internet are written in HTML, at least in part. To see the HTML that creates this page, you must “View Source” in your browser.”
“HTML and CSS are not technically programming languages; they’re just page structure and style information.”
JavaScript is mentioned out of all programming languages because “JavaScript is a more complicated language than HTML or CSS, and it wasn’t released in beta form until 1995. Nowadays, JavaScript is supported by all modern web browsers and is used on almost every site on the web for more powerful and complex functionality.” Other popular ones used are Python, C, and C++, which also provide their perks, but the general makeup of a webpage lies in this structure.
Regarding the relationship between web developers and designers, remember that “Developers will be less likely to think outside the box. Most of the time, they will code the solution they’ve asked to code without thinking about the end user.” Situations such as misunderstandings could hurt the product worked on by both sides. “The lack of design information might lead to a situation when developers make assumptions about design (i.e., they use their imagination to understand how something should work).” Although the two roles are crucial and work together on one job, it is essential to make sure communication and the same ideas are the goals of both the developer and designer.
The Future of Web Design
The information provided makes it possible to estimate what web design online will look like.
“Once static Sites now come to life with interactive elements and new technology. Designers now frequently work with HTML and can do things with CSS that would have been considered science fiction just a decade ago.” With available resources and tools such as web templates, new inventions are being incorporated into web pages. “The ability to create a website without sending files through numerous servers is a major benefit that can be achieved using cloud computing or SaaS (Software as a Service).”
Other tools that future web designers might incorporate are
“With the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence technologies, and developers are also working on making it easier for designers who want more control over their responsiveness function with automated tools.”
