Such specialists are responsible for the appearance and layout of the site. This can be a completely new page, which is created from scratch, as well as a redesign of an existing portal. Designers decide how different parts of the site will be combined with each other and what logic will work between them. Unlike web developers, who are involved in programming and writing code, a web designer focuses more on the visual. But in some cases, these professions may overlap.
In the first place, the task of the web designer – to make the portal was beautiful and attracted the attention of users. Here are important artistic skills and a sense of taste. At the same time, if at the start of the profession’s origin, the main objective was to create a beautiful picture, but now to the problems added more and convenience. The designer should make sure that even on the first visit, the user is not confused and immediately find the section of interest. It turns out that the designer strikes a balance between the external appearance of the site and ease of use.
The main responsibilities of a web designer are:
- Creating or updating the appearance of the portal (including individual pages);
- designing its logic;
- Creation of web layouts of the future site;
- development of the appearance of pages for different devices;
- working with key programming languages;
- use of basic graphic editors;
- meeting with customers for discussions.
Becoming such a specialist will require a wide range of skills. It is important not only to be creative, but also to be able to work with a number of programs and have a certain knowledge base. At the same time, soft skills are also important, since the work of a web designer is inextricably linked to communication with clients.
What a web designer might need:
- Knowledge of the principles of design: learning the basics will help to better delve into the profession;
- knowledge of typography and the ability to work with fonts;
- understanding of the rules of composition in order to build visual harmony;
- familiarity with the color wheel and an understanding of how different colors work together;
- ability to use design programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma;
- ability to work in adaptive web design programs: they allow you to check how pages look from different devices;
- graphic design skills that will help improve performance and expand potential employers;
- understanding of business strategies. It’s important to know how design can help a client’s goals. Sometimes when redesigning a site, all it takes is a few tweaks in the navigation to attract a flow of visitors.