How to Be a Web Designer

While you can take classes to become a web designer, you can also teach yourself the basics of web design. Once you learn the basics, you may then decide you wish to take formal classes. Here are a few things you should know as you become a web designer.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the basics of HTML. This is the basic language of web design. Once you learn HTML, you can design basic web pages.

2. Study advanced HTML. Advanced HTML pages include frames, cascading style sheets and DHTML. A web designer with advanced HTML skills knows how to use scripting tools as well as how to add multimedia to a website.

3. Know the basics of good website design. As a web designer, you need to incorporate these elements into every website you create. Your prospective clients may be looking at your scripting abilities as well as your creative abilities with graphics and text.

4. Stay current on design trends. The Internet is a rapidly changing marketplace and you need to stay on top of things.

5. Create a sample portfolio of websites to show to prospective employers. These can be websites you design for yourself or friends. Make sure you feature your web designer skills on each website.

6. Understand how contracts work. Make sure you charge a fair price for your work and that you deliver websites as promised to your clients.

7. Realize that it is going to take time to build a web designer business of your own. Be steady and consistent in your work. Always ask happy customers to give you a good reference.