Being a web designer involves creating visually appealing, user-friendly websites that provide a great user experience. Web designers focus on the look and feel of a website, ensuring it is aesthetically pleasing and functional. Good web designers are creative and detail oriented. Familiarity with design & prototyping software, as well as basic HTML and CSS knowledge are advisable.
Almost every business and organisation needs a website, each of which is unique - so there is plenty of work out there for good web designers.
At it’s core, a web designer is responsible for planning, designing and optimising how a website looks. This is different from a web developer who is responsible for implementing these designs and looking after the functionality of a website. Web designers are expected to have knowledge of specialist software used for designing websites - such as Adobe XD, Illustrator or Figma. They may be expected to create prototypes or wireframes during the planning phase.
A good web designer will be familiar with UX / UI (principles that underline how users experience and interact with websites), and may work with or specialise as a UX / UI designer. Designing websites could come under the umbrella of graphic design - although a graphic designer is a broader skill-set which may include designing logos, brochures, adverts and other visual content. Web designers may also have knowledge of the basic coding languages HTML and CSS, as it is likely they will work with a front-end developer, whose job it is to implement their designs and build websites.
Typically, a web designer will work for a digital marketing agency who offer website design and development services. Web design is also well suited to freelance or contract work. Larger companies or organisations may have an in-house web designer. Web design is suited to remote work, as in many instances employees or freelancers can perform the job without needing to be on site or at an office.
Responsibilities
A web designer is responsible for designing the layout. visual appearance and usability of a website. Their key responsibilities are as follows.
Visual design.Selecting colour schemes, typography and imagery that align with the identity of the brand. Creating graphics, icons and other visual elements using design software.
User Experience (UX) design.With knowledge of user-centred design principles, a web designer can ensure that their designs are user-friendly, easy to navigate, and accessible to all users.
Responsive design.A web designer is usually expected to create designs for different platforms - usually desktop, tablet and mobile.
Website layout design.Creating the structure and layout of web-pages, using tools like wireframes and mockups. Deciding on the placement of elements such as text, images, menus, videos, forms and other features.
Collaboration.A web designer is usually a part of a wider team, including a software developer (usually a front-end developer) who will turn their design into a website. Some designers may also handle development themselves.
Key skills & traits
Web design is a specialised job which requires certain hard and soft skills.
Graphic Design.
A strong understanding of visual design principles, which may include colour theory, typography, and layout. Proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, or Figma.
UX / UI Design.
Knowledge of user-centred design principles. The ability to create wireframes, prototypes, and conduct / analyse user testing.
Creativity.
A creative approach to take a vision, capture the branding of an organisation and bringing it to life on the page.
Problem-solving.
The ability to troubleshoot design and usability issues. Finding solutions that meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.
Attention to Detail.
Being organised and precise is important for creating pixel-perfect designs.
Education & qualifications
"When looking for a job as a web designer. a university degree in a related subject (for example, graphic design or digital media) may be beneficial but often is not a necessity. The same can be said of certifications in web design, UX / UI or specific tools. Usually a strong portfolio of previous work is an excellent indicator of a good web designer, and considered more important than qualifications. Like any role, requirements may vary between organisations."
Lifestyle
Web design is a popular choice for those looking to enjoy a remote career, as many companies do not require physical presence either on-site or in an office. Generally, being a web designer is not considered a stressful job. There is the opportunity to achieve work-life balance.
90%
Remote Suited
Suitable for remote working. Some companies may require physical presence in the office. Often, freelancers or self-employed are fully remote.
0%
Stressful
Web design is generally not considered stressful. Working freelance or having to meet strict deadlines may add some stress.
80%
Work Life Blance
Good opportunities for work / life balance. Freelancers web designers can dial workup and down. Employees generally aren’t required out of hours.
4.0Enjoyment
Our collection of reviews from industry professionals have scored being a web designer as 4.0 out of 5 on average.
55/hrs
Weekly
Typical working hours for an an employer are a standard 40 hours / week. Self-employed or freelancers have more control over hours worked.
Salary data
The average salary for a web designer in the UK is £29,109. Entry level web designers can expect to make around £22,000 per year, with more senior designers pulling in £40,000 or more. An intermediate web designer can charge £25 / hour as a freelancer, and specialist web designers or contractors may have higher rates than this.
£23,000
Entry
£32,000
Average Salary
£41,000
Senior
£23,000
Entry
£32,000
Average
£41,000
Senior
Career path
The career path of a web designer isn’t as rigid as many others. Web designers come from many different backgrounds and may branch out in different directions.
Junior Web Designer
Entry into a junior position is likely to be from A-levels in subjects which may include maths, art, or even coding. A degree in a subject such as BA Graphic design may lend itself to becoming a web designer out of university, but it should be possible to find positions that do not require a university degree.
Senior Web Designer
Promotions will involve more responsibility - for example, running point on clients or projects in a more senior position. In this role, a Web Designer may be able to move laterally, transitioning into an an Account Manager (looking after a client or clients) or a Freelance Web Designer - working for themselves
Entry into a junior position is likely to be from A-levels in subjects which may include maths, art, or even coding. A degree in a subject such as BA Graphic design may lend itself to becoming a web designer out of university, but it should be possible to find positions that do not require a university degree. More important is experience or a good portfolio, which may well come from an apprenticeship or work experience.
Promotions will involve more responsibility - for example, running point on clients or projects in a more senior position, or leading a team in a “Head of” role.
Moving laterally, a designer may transition to
an Account Manager (looking after a client or clients) a Front-end Developer, if the designer has coding skills to implement their designs a Freelance Web Designer - working for themselves a Digital Project Manager, overseeing design and implementation projects a C-level or Director role after experience running a department or division
Additionally, a web designer may transition into any similar careers.
History of the profession
Being a web designer is a relatively new specialism which has emerged in the digital age.
1991 - 1994
The World Wide Web
"We can probably consider Tim Berners-Lee the worlds first ever web designer. The founding father of the internet, he created the first ever website in 1991. However, the concept of a web designer as a profession didn’t exist at this time. Websites were purely text based, with headings, paragraphs and links - but no need for design beyond basic html coding.
As people started creating and publishing more information on the web, it was clear that one day, how the web looked might become just as important as the information that it held."
1995 - 2000
Browser Wars and Graphic Web Design
"As the web grew, the need for visually appealing and user friendly websites grew. During the second half of the nineties, the first dedicated web designer roles began to appear. The introduction of CSS (cascading style sheets) was important, as it separated the code that drove design from the code which drove content (HTML). This allowed for superior web design - CSS is still the principal coding language for much of the internet today, and almost always one of the first few languages learned by coders.
However it was not an easy time to be a web designer in the early days. The competition between browsers, known as the ""Browser Wars,"" led to inconsistencies in how websites were displayed across different platforms, making web design more challenging."
Reviews
We think that hearing from other professionals in the field is perhaps the best way to figure out whether a career as a web designer could be a good fit for you.
Web Designer for 10 Years
Sammy C
Review TEXT
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Regulatory bodies
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
