As you go through your daily Internet browsing, you might be struck by a particularly impressive website design. You might wonder how such websites are created and even ask yourself, “How do I become a web designer?” Web designers create all the websites you see on the Internet today. Web designers also work behind the scenes to code the design and ensure browser compatibility. Many web designers also perform regular maintenance on a website, constantly making sure it is functional for all visitors.

Web designers spend most of their day in front of their computer. If you become a web designer, most of your time will go towards creating and coding new website designs. Your clients may be famous brand names or the little barbershop around the corner. Your design skills are as important as your interpersonal skills because your job relies on receiving customer feedback. Ultimately, it is your customer’s opinion on your design that matters the most when it comes to completing a successful assignment. Additionally, web designers need to spend time learning the latest advances in the website design business. Coding standards are constantly changing as web browsers evolve.

Although anyone can become a web designer through self-directed learning, most successful web designers have relevant training and experience. Web design companies are far more likely to hire you if you have a degree. Most colleges offer degrees in a variety of relevant fields, including graphic design. A degree in graphic design will give you the skills to manipulate digital graphics and photographs to make a visually pleasing design. Students will learn how to use computers and software to create designs. Students will also learn about color theory, fonts and many other elements of a good website layout. A good artistic vision is necessary for a successful website design career.

If you are planning to become a web designer, taking as many web design classes in college as possible is the best way to land a job later. Having a degree in graphic design will help you get your foot in the door, but you need the technical skills to back it up as well. Web designers also need a solid understanding of the coding languages that power website layouts. Many advanced designers know additional computer languages so they can write their own powerful website scripts.

Typical job opportunities for web designers include working for a company or freelance opportunities. Company work involves either working in an in-house web design division for a large corporation or working for a web design company. This type of work is consistent and doesn’t require you to seek out your own clients. These types of web designers can expect to make about $30,000 a year when first starting out. Most web designers must show an impressive portfolio and have a college degree to get a job with a company.

Additionally, if you become a web designer, you can also choose to freelance. Freelance web designers must market themselves to find new work and rely on positive feedback from current customers to get paid. Freelance designers are free to work their own hours and set their own hourly rates.