What Does a Web Designer Do?

Discover the skills and mastery needed to be a web designer

Internet is the perfect and obligatory stage in which to showcase our work and projects to the world. Good planning and functional web design are essential for achieving a professional, current, and creative look. Web designers are a critical factor in this process.

But what exactly does a web designer do? What is the thought process they follow? What tools do they use? Read on as we analyze the know-how and skills needed for such a key profession.

What is web design?

Web design consists of applying a set of programming know-how, psychology, design, and communication to create a website featuring the necessary elements required by a business, a company, or online activity.

Do you need to study IT to be a good web designer?

Not anymore. According to designer Javier Usobiaga Ferrer (@htmlboy), nowadays, you can publish a web page by simply following basic programming rules and using pre-existing tools and designing platforms. A good designer uses these tools to create a good user experience filled with attractive layouts.

So, what do you have to study?

There are various routes you can take to become a web designer. The most straightforward way is studying web design. This career includes:

- Graphic design tools.
- Programming.
- Communication psychology.
- Marketing techniques and IT security.

There are undoubtedly many ways to become a web designer nowadays. There are system specialists who decide to get into this field and even security engineers and psychologists who choose to transfer their knowledge into web design. Professionals follow supplementary training courses to achieve the additional skills needed to handle a web project.

What is the role of the web designer in a project?

To begin with, a designer sets objectives (sales, conversions, or visits), understand the context in which a project is set (what type of person will visit the site, when, and for what purpose), and study the methodology to meet each aspect of the project adequately.

Later, the designers come up with strategies to establish the visual identity of their client’s project. Typography, color schemes, photos, illustrations, and possible icons are visual details to be included in the interface they have selected to work on. An expert organizes the information into wireframes at the design stage and creates a visual grammar, domain logic, and style.

What skills does a web designer need?

The following are some of the skills of a web designer:

- Mastering and understanding content management platforms. The most popular are WordPress, Drupal, Prestashop, and Blogger.

- Being able to use visual layout and page builders such as Divi, Elementor, and Visual Composer.

- Understanding coding languages such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript, among others.
Web designers must be fluent in coding languages.

Other technical knowledge

Designers usually take care of the technical aspects of the webpage, for example::

- Installing and configuring CMS (Content Management System).

- Installing plugins and extras.

- Links with complementary services, such as email marketing platforms or online tools such as Google Analytics or Search Console.

- Optimizing images.

- Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

- Security.

What is the difference between a web designer and a web developer?

A designer utilizes pre-existing tools and platforms. On the other hand, a programmer creates exclusive sites and tools using various programming languages, without the need for templates or pre-existing content managers.

Why is web design considered a complex and creative activity?

As we’ve discovered, good web design is not merely about creating attractive web pages: it must fulfill the expectations of the human brain. Often, a designer has to use intuition and irrationality to work naturally and organically. They have to create a space that is efficient, secure, and user-friendly while simultaneously harmonious and unique.

Do you want to know more about the skills needed to make it as a web designer? Sign up to the course Design, Development, and Launch of a Website, in which you’ll learn how to approach a web project from scratch.

English version by @acesarato

You may also like:

- What Is a Design System and How Can I Use One in My Digital Projects?
- Squarespace Tutorial: How to Choose the Right Template for You
- WordPress Tutorial: Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Blog Post