web designer

As a web designer, you’ll plan, create and code web pages, using both technical and non-technical skills to produce websites that fit your customers’ requirements.

Being involved in the technical and graphical aspects of pages, you’ll determine not only the look of the website but how it works as well. You may also be responsible for the maintenance of an existing site.

Responsibilities

As a web designer, you’ll need to:

• meet clients to identify their needs and liaise regularly with them
• draw up detailed website specifications
• design sample page layouts including text size and colours
• design graphics, animations and manipulate digital photographs
• register web domain names and organise the hosting of the website
• present initial design ideas to clients
• carry out coding using a variety of software
• work with different content management systems
• search engine optimisation (SEO)
• meet relevant legal requirements such as accessibility standards, freedom of information and privacy

Salary Starting salaries vary and can range from £18,000 to £24,000. With four to six years’ experience and more, salaries can increase to between £24,000 and £40,000. Those in senior roles can earn upwards of £40,000. Qualifications There are a number of entry routes into web design. A formal qualification is not always necessary, as some employers place greater value on creativity and experience. However, larger employers who offer graduate training schemes may require a related degree at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. Relevant degree subjects (with either a creative or technical element) are numerous, but could include: computer science digital media production fine art graphic design information technology multimedia web design software engineering web design.