How to Choose a Web Designer

This article suggests some simple steps that will help you choose the right web designer for your site.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An understanding of what you want
• Time to review many resumes and portfolios

1. Know what you want. A web designer will help you communicate your design message but you must be able to explain your message to the designer.

2. A web designer is not a web developer and a web developer is not a web designer. A web designer has either an art background or a good eye for design. A web developer has a strong programming background.
   
   A web designer will create beautiful web designs but may not be able to create a database backend for your site or program in PERL, PHP, and other languages. A web developer will have strong programming skills but may not be able to provide the artistic skills that you need.

3. Understand the difference between design and a template. Know what is best for your design message.
   
   A web designer will design your web site. They will take your message and create original artwork, provide the necessary photography, etc. Templates are predefined designs. They contain predefined areas for graphics, text, and the menu.
   
   Templates may be fine for many web needs but they aren't a substitute for design. If you web site markets tailored made clothing, a tailor made web site will better reflect your business than an off-the-rack template design.

4. Supply your designer or developer with the copy and necessary graphics. A web designer or developer is not a writer. It is your responsibility to provide the designer/developer with the proper text and product or service descriptions.
   
   While web designers have strong artistic skills, they'll still need specialized images of your products or other aspects of your company. They will know how to place them, but you need to supply them.

5. Hire someone you can communicate with and feel comfortable working with. Whether it be a designer or a developer, communication is the key.

[lucie9980]

on 7/17/2009 Get a site plan at the initial stages so that you are clear on what your end result will be.

[thirdeyestudio]

on 11/3/2008 This is a good article, I agree 100%!

[member5]

on 8/4/2008 Above all make sure the web designer you choose understands your needs and has a proven record of building successful websites. A good example is www.megastarmedia.com

[rpromjr]

on 5/28/2008 Providing information to your web designer is very important. A web designer is not a content or technical writer so make sure you hire someone else to do that type of work.

[jonxblaze]

on 1/23/2008 Great article!