Video
How to become a FULL TIME Web Designer | Full Guides 2023
This video from the YouTube channel ‘Create a Pro Website’ gives an excellent overview of how to make the leap to becoming a full time web designer.
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Web Designer
Web designers are the architects of the digital world, transforming ideas into stunning, user-friendly experiences that shape how we interact online.
"Ever scrolled through Airbnb and felt instantly at home? That’s the power of great web design."
Web designers don’t just create websites—they craft experiences that connect people, brands, and technology. From making Spotify seamless to navigate to turning Nike’s website into a digital storefront that inspires action, great web design is everywhere. But this career isn’t just about building beautiful websites—it’s a launchpad to something bigger. Whether you dream of leading your own creative agency, designing for global brands, or even launching the next big SaaS platform, web design gives you the skills to create, innovate, and shape the future of the internet.
Summary
Web design is where creativity meets technology. As a web designer, you’ll blend aesthetics with functionality to build engaging, user-friendly websites that make an impact. Whether working for top brands, freelancing on your own terms, or building your own startup, this career offers endless opportunities for growth, innovation, and personal expression.
Many designers move on to create game-changing digital experiences, lead UX/UI design for major tech companies, or even launch their own design-driven businesses. Think about the minds behind platforms like Webflow, Figma, and Squarespace—many started as web designers. Others become industry leaders, educators, or consultants, shaping the next generation of digital experiences.
Trailblazers like Jeffrey Zeldman and Jessica Walsh have defined the industry—now it’s your turn. If you love turning ideas into reality, solving problems through design, and creating digital experiences that leave a lasting impression, a career in web design is waiting for you. Where will it take you?
Responsibilities
A web designer is responsible for crafting visually appealing, user-friendly, and functional websites that align with a brand’s identity and user needs. Their key responsibilities include:
Visual Design Selecting colour schemes, typography, and imagery to ensure a cohesive brand identity. Creating custom graphics, icons, and visual elements using design software like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch.
User Experience (UX) Design Applying user-centered design principles to create intuitive, accessible, and seamless experiences. Ensuring websites are easy to navigate, engaging, and functional for all users, including those with disabilities.
Website Layout & Structure Designing the layout and structure of web pages using wireframes and mockups. Strategically placing elements such as text, images, menus, videos, and interactive features to enhance usability and engagement.
Responsive & Adaptive Design Ensuring websites function flawlessly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Creating flexible layouts that adapt to different screen sizes for an optimal viewing experience.
Collaboration & Development Handoff Working closely with developers, marketers, and content creators to bring a website to life. Preparing design files, assets, and style guides to ensure seamless implementation.
Performance & SEO Considerations Designing for fast load times, SEO best practices, and mobile performance. Optimizing images, typography, and layouts to improve accessibility, usability, and search engine ranking.
Key Skills & Traits
A successful web designer needs a blend of creative, technical, and problem-solving skills to design visually appealing, user-friendly, and high-performing websites.
Visual & Graphic Design
Mastery of colour theory, typography, spacing, and imagery to create compelling website aesthetics that align with brand identity. Proficiency in design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, or Photoshop.
Responsive & Adaptive Design
Designing websites that automatically adjust to different screen sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile) for a smooth, consistent experience.
SEO & Performance Optimisation
Creating SEO-friendly designs with fast load times, structured navigation, and optimized images to improve search rankings and user experience.
User Experience (UX) & Usability
Understanding user-centered design principles to create seamless, engaging, and intuitive experiences. Ensuring clear navigation, accessibility, and responsiveness across all devices.
Basic Front-End Knowledge
While web designers don’t need to code, an understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript helps in working with developers and optimizing designs for different platforms like Webflow and WordPress.
Collaboration & Communication
Working effectively with developers, marketers, content teams, and clients to bring a website to life. Strong presentation skills to explain design choices and justify UX decisions.
Prototyping & Wireframing
Ability to create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes using tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Balsamiq to plan layouts and functionality before development.
Web Accessibility (A11Y Standards)
Designing for inclusivity by following WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure sites are usable by people with disabilities.
Education & Qualifications
Anyone can become a Web Designer—no formal degree required! While some employers may value qualifications in design, multimedia, or computer science, what really matters is your ability to create visually appealing, user-friendly websites. Many top Web Designers started with curiosity, free tools, and a passion for design and code.
Success in this field is built on your portfolio, not just your credentials. A strong body of work—showcasing your design thinking, layouts, responsiveness, and real-world results—will take you much further than a qualification alone. Whether you’re freelancing, joining an agency, or working in-house, your skills and creativity are what count most.
Lifestyle
A career in web design offers a flexible and dynamic lifestyle, blending independent creative work with collaboration. Designers spend much of their time working independently on layouts and prototypes, but they also collaborate with developers, marketers, and clients to bring projects to life. Employment type impacts lifestyle—full-time designers enjoy stable earnings, paid holidays, and job security, while freelancers have greater flexibility but need to manage their own income stability and holiday planning. With competitive salaries and opportunities for remote work, web design provides both financial security and work-life balance, making it a rewarding career choice for creative professionals.
90%
Remote SuitedSuitable for remote working. Some companies may require physical presence in the office. Often, freelancers or self-employed are fully remote.
20%
StressfulWeb design is generally not considered stressful. Working freelance or having to meet strict deadlines may add some stress.
80%
Work Life BlanceGood opportunities for work / life balance. Freelancers web designers can dial workup and down. Employees generally aren’t required out of hours.
Our collection of reviews from industry professionals have scored being a web designer as 4.0 out of 5 on average.
40/hrs
WeeklyTypical 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
£41,000
Senior
Career Path
The career path of a web designer is flexible and diverse, with multiple entry points and opportunities for specialisation. Unlike many rigid career tracks, web design allows professionals to move laterally into related fields such as UX/UI design, front-end development, or digital marketing, while also offering opportunities for career advancement into leadership roles.
Junior Web Designer
Many web designers start in junior roles, typically entering the field through one of the following routes:Formal Education – A degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Computer Science, or Web Development can provide a foundation. However, a degree is not always required.Self-Taught & Online Learning – Many web designers learn through online courses, bootcamps, or self-directed study, building their skills in design software, UX principles, and coding.Apprenticeships or Work Experience – Some enter the industry through internships, apprenticeships, or freelancing, gaining experience while building a portfolio.Regardless of background, a strong portfolio showcasing real-world design projects is often the key to landing a junior role.
Mid-Level & Senior Web Designer
As designers gain experience, they take on greater responsibilities, such as:Leading client projects and collaborating with developers and marketers.Specialising in areas like UX/UI, branding, or interactive design.Mentoring junior designers and contributing to creative strategy.At this stage, web designers may choose to:Advance to a Senior Web Designer role, taking on larger projects and strategic responsibilities.Become a UX/UI Designer, focusing more on user research and experience optimisation.Move into front-end development if they develop coding skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).Transition to digital marketing by integrating design with conversion optimisation.
Leadership & Specialised Career Paths
Experienced web designers often progress into leadership roles or transition into related fields:
- Creative Director / Head of Design – Leading design teams and setting creative direction for agencies or in-house teams.
- Freelance or Agency Founder – Many web designers move into self-employment, building their own client base or launching design studios.
- Digital Project Manager – Overseeing website development projects from a strategic and operational level.
- Account Manager – Managing client relationships and project workflows in agencies.
- C-Level / Director Roles – With experience in running design teams or projects, web designers may move into Chief Creative Officer (CCO) or Director of Digital Experience roles.
Expanding Beyond Web Design
With the growing demand for immersive digital experiences, experienced web designers can transition into product design, SaaS development, or AI-driven UX/UI roles. Some designers move into teaching, consulting, or launching their own digital products, leveraging their skills in new ways.
A career in web design is what you make of it—whether you want to work for global brands, start your own agency, or dive into new technologies, the opportunities are endless.
History of the Profession
Web design is a relatively young profession, emerging alongside the rapid evolution of the internet. From its text-only origins to today’s dynamic, interactive experiences, web design has evolved into a highly creative and technical discipline.
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
Ortiz
I've been working as a web/interactive designer now for a while and it's a fantastic career. There's sort of two verticals for web design jobs - agency and in-house. A lot of agencies have web designers on their books - your best bet is to find a smaller creative to get your foot in the door as they're more likely to take a chance with someone without experience.
💰£37,000Annual
salary
salary
💼40Weekly hours
🏝️70%Remote suited
🤷♀️15%Stressful
⚖️80%Work life balance
Freelance Web Designer
Mike
The most rewarding part of being a web designer is seeing a project come to life and knowing that my work helps businesses establish a strong online presence. Every project is an opportunity to innovate and make the web a more engaging place.
💰£27,000Annual
salary
salary
💼45Weekly hours
🏝️90%Remote suited
🤷♀️30%Stressful
⚖️100%Work life balance
Creative Freedom & Flexibility
Alex
Being a web designer allows me to combine creativity with problem-solving. Every project is different, and I love the freedom to experiment with layouts, colours, and UX flows. As a freelancer, I have full control over my schedule, but it also means managing my own workload and finding clients, which can be stressful at times.
💰£45,000Annual
salary
salary
💼40Weekly hours
🏝️90%Remote suited
🤷♀️50%Stressful
⚖️80%Work life balance
Reviewing a career on Focus can help others decide whether being a web designer is right for them. If you’ve worked a web designer, please help others by leaving a review using the link below. It takes two minutes and you’ll be improving the careers and lives of others. Thank for helping out! 😊
Similar Careers
The following careers are closely linked to being a web designer. It is likely that a web designer may work alongside or transition into one of these roles.
Resources
Want to learn more about being a web designer? We’ve collected the following resources to help you learn about or prepare for a career in web design. Keep learning!
Book
Don’t Make Me Think
Hundreds of thousands of Web designers and developers have relied on web expert Steve Krug's guide to help them understand the principles of intuitive navigation and information design. Its a stellar introduction to web usability!
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Article
A Day in the Life of a Website Designer
A typical day for a website designer at GFIVEDESIGN involves staying updated with industry trends, engaging in client briefings, creating wireframes and interactive prototypes, designing visual elements aligned with the client's brand, coding the approved designs into functional websites, and conducting rigorous testing to ensure quality and responsiveness.
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Article
10 web design trends you need to know in 2025
Discover some of our favourite web design trends for 2025 and how they can help your brand steal the show over the next year.
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Video
5 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Starting Website Design
This video shares five essential tips for aspiring web designers, covering landing page design, effective call-to-actions, and key skills needed for success. Whether you're new to web design or looking to improve, these insights will help you create better websites and build a successful web design business.
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Book
Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
A must-read for beginners, this book covers the fundamentals of user experience (UX) design, explaining how to create intuitive, user-friendly websites. Krug’s writing is clear, engaging, and packed with real-world examples, making it perfect for those new to web design.
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Book
HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites
A visually stunning and beginner-friendly guide to HTML, CSS, and the basics of web design. The book uses beautifully designed layouts and practical examples to help newcomers learn how to build modern, responsive websites from scratch.
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Course
Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS
Launch a career as a web designer by learning HTML5, CSS3, responsive design, Sass and more!
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Course
Complete Web Design: from Figma to Webflow to Freelancing
The "Complete Web Design: from Figma to Webflow to Freelancing" course on Udemy offers a comprehensive, three-in-one learning experience designed to equip students with the skills necessary to excel in web design and freelancing.
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Podcast
Design Matters with Debbie Millman
For aspiring web designers, this podcast provides inspiration and understanding of the broader design landscape, emphasizing the importance of creativity and storytelling in design.
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Podcast
99% Invisible Podcast
This podcast encourages future web designers to appreciate subtle design details and consider user experience from a broader perspective.
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Specialisms
Web design is a broad field with various specialisms that allow professionals to focus on different aspects of digital design and user experience. Some common areas of specialisation include:
Many web designers overlap between these specialisms, while others transition into UX/UI design, front-end development, or digital marketing. Specialising in one area can enhance career opportunities and earning potential.
Many web designers overlap between these specialisms, while others transition into UX/UI design, front-end development, or digital marketing. Specialising in one area can enhance career opportunities and earning potential.
Regulatory Bodies
Web design is not governed by a single regulatory body, but several professional organisations and standards help maintain industry best practices. The Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) supports design professionals and promotes ethical standards. The British Computer Society (BCS), also known as The Chartered Institute for IT, provides certification and guidelines relevant to web design and digital development. Additionally, web designers should follow accessibility standards such as ISO 30071-1, which replaced BS 8878, ensuring websites are inclusive for all users. While not legally required, engaging with these bodies and adhering to industry standards enhances credibility and ensures best practices in design and user experience.