Working as a Web Designer
The tech industry is great for job security and compensation, but not everyone wants to spend all day programming. For those with a more artistic side, earning a degree in web design can provide many of the same benefits of working in tech while allowing for more creative expression. While earning a degree in the field, you will learn basic skills needed to create web pages and apps, as well as elements that make your work not only attractive but intuitive to use. Earning an undergraduate degree in web design lets employers know you have the skills necessary to build an attractive and functional website that can be attached to a database, e-commerce site, or anything else the company may need.
Why College Matters
You may be surprised at the strong market for this career. With companies that provide easy to use templates and drag and drop creation, you may think the days of ground-up design are in the past. While it is true that many companies do use these templates to create their sites, many others do not, and many use these templates as a jumping-off point and need someone with programming experience to make modifications to create the look and functionality they want. Don’t let finances stop you from attending college. Using a private lender to take out undergraduate student loans allows you to shop around for a great rate and favorable terms. Whether you are the student attending college or a parent who is willing to cosign the loan, private student loans allow you to make sure you are getting the best rate available for your situation.
What You Can Expect to Learn
Web design education focuses on learning to create a visually appealing website that provides the services needed by the visitor. Depending on the size of the company you work for, you may have little if any direct work with coding the site. While smaller companies may want you to have HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript experience, others only expect creative credentials. Even if you have no plans to do hands-on coding, understanding the basics allows you to make better decisions. Once you know what you can easily do on the programming side, it makes it easier to build a functional design.
Employers will expect you to be proficient with design software, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Webflow. The ability to edit and vector-based graphics is also an important skill. Finally, you need to be comfortable enough with new software that you can quickly and easily pick up a new CMS, or content management system. Using a CMS makes it much easier to manage websites and keeps the look of a site consistent while allowing for easy updates.
Who You Will Work With
The responsibilities of your job will vary depending on the size of the company you work for, and your clients depend on the type of company where you are employed. A small agency may expect you to meet with clients, work on the design, and even do some of the front-end coding for a site. When you work for a larger agency, you may never meet the clients directly and only be responsible for a small part of the design process.
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