What are the steps to becoming a web designer?

Becoming a web designer involves several steps:

1. Learn the basics: Start by learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the building blocks of web design. There are many online resources, tutorials, and courses available for learning these languages.

2. Gain design skills: Study design principles, color theory, typography, and layout techniques. Understanding these concepts will help you create visually appealing and user-friendly websites.

3. Practice: Build your own projects to apply what you've learned. Create a portfolio showcasing your work, which will be essential when looking for jobs or freelance opportunities.

4. Learn design tools: Familiarize yourself with design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Sketch. These tools are commonly used in the industry for creating website mockups and graphics.

5. Understand responsive design: Learn how to design websites that work well on various devices and screen sizes. This includes understanding responsive frameworks such as Bootstrap and media queries.

6. Stay updated: Web design is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices.

7. Build a network: Connect with other web designers and professionals in the industry. Networking can lead to job opportunities and collaborations.

8. Gain experience: Look for internships, freelance projects, or entry-level positions to gain practical experience and continue honing your skills.

9. Specialize: Consider focusing on a specific area within web design, such as user experience (UX) design, user interface (UI) design, front-end development, or even specialization in certain industries like e-commerce, gaming, or healthcare.

10. Build a strong portfolio: Continually work on new projects and add them to your portfolio. Showcasing a variety of work, including different styles and types of websites, can demonstrate your versatility and expertise.

11. Learn about content management systems (CMS): Gain proficiency in popular CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla. Understanding how these systems work can be valuable when working with clients or companies that use them.

12. Develop soft skills: Effective communication, problem-solving, and time management are crucial skills for a web designer. Additionally, having some understanding of marketing and SEO principles can also be beneficial.

13. Consider formal education: While not mandatory, pursuing a degree or certification in web design or a related field can provide a structured learning environment and potentially open up more career opportunities.

14. Stay curious and adaptable: The digital landscape is constantly changing, so it's important to remain curious, adaptable, and open to learning new technologies and trends in web design.

15. Gain practical experience: Seek out opportunities to work on real-world projects, whether through internships, freelance work, or volunteer projects for non-profit organizations. Hands-on experience is invaluable for honing your skills.

16. Develop your own design style: Experiment with different design elements and techniques to develop a unique style that sets your work apart. Having a distinct design aesthetic can help you stand out in the competitive field of web design.

17. Learn about web accessibility: Understanding how to create websites that are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is becoming increasingly important. Familiarize yourself with accessibility standards and best practices.

18. Continuous learning: Dedicate time to staying updated with the latest advancements in web design, such as new design tools, coding languages, and emerging technologies like voice interfaces or virtual reality.

19. Seek feedback: Share your work with peers, mentors, or online design communities and be open to constructive criticism. Feedback can help you improve and grow as a designer.

20. Consider entrepreneurship: If you're inclined, consider starting your own web design business. This involves developing business acumen, understanding client management, and marketing your services.

By incorporating these steps into your journey, you can build a strong foundation and set yourself on a path towards success in the field of web design.

The term "web designer" is somewhat outdated. It was replaced by the more general terms "interface designer" and "frontend developer". The former focuses on the visual and logical aspects of design, while the latter specializes in web technologies and typically does not create the design themselves. The old term assumes that the designer will also program the site or at least configure the "engine" – a pre-made program for managing the site, which helps avoid extensive programming. In the early 2000s, web designers were often freelancers who worked on projects alone. However, professional development is a team effort with various roles. Website design is now commonly done by interface designers, who can handle different screen designs including web design, as well as mobile app and virtual reality interface design.

Therefore, I will address the question of how to become an interface designer. There are two major topics:

    UX – user experience. Designing the user experience to make it convenient, thoughtful, and logical. UX is the foundation of good design.
    UI – user interface. Visual design to make everything beautiful, pleasing to the eye, and inspiring. This involves graphic design focused on screens and other display methods.

To learn UX, one should start by reading several books on the topic. A good starting point is "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald Norman. The practical part of UX involves creating clickable prototypes to demonstrate the logic of the designed interface. In addition to understanding the user's tasks, knowledge of design patterns and how to apply them is essential, as well as conducting design testing with real users.

To learn UI, a few steps can be taken:

    Study a graphic editor such as Figma or Sketch. Figma allows for cloud storage and real-time synchronization, unlike Sketch, whose projects are files and harder to synchronize in a design team.

    Learn about typography to understand how to work with type. Good typography forms the basis of interface design and helps in analyzing others' designs.

    Analyze the decisions of other designers by regularly viewing websites on platforms like awwwards.com, behance.net, and dribbble.com. Watch documentaries such as Helvetica and the Abstract series: The Art of Design to get inspired. Explore design from the past, like Bauhaus and avant-garde, to develop a sense of style.

    Study guidelines from companies like Apple and Google to understand how to appropriately use existing design developments.

English is particularly beneficial for designers as many knowledge sources and manuals are available in English. For both beginners and experienced interface designers, I have created a website and a channel that focus on tools and demonstrate design techniques.

First and foremost, the role of a web designer as a distinct position is quite outdated. If you only know how to "web–diz", that's simply not enough. At the very least, you should have a grasp of interfaces and user experience (UI / UX), and at the most, you should also be familiar with color, fonts, composition, and have a basic understanding of html+css. The most effective way to learn is to read a wide variety of articles and any other materials available on the topic online.

It is important to put this knowledge into practice, whether by applying it directly or by initially imitating others' work. While you can certainly learn Photoshop and similar tools, it's better to start with prototyping tools right away - for instance, Figma (which works on all operating systems) or Sketch (for iOS only). I don't recommend using Adobe XD - it still feels too incomplete, considering its transformation from a paid tool to a free one.

Figma is the most convenient option - it doesn't rely on having a Macbook and allows you to create not only interactive prototypes but also design solutions. Although Figma is available in English only, it has a very low entry barrier - a couple of evenings will be sufficient to get accustomed to it. Once you become familiar with it, you'll be well on your way to gaining knowledge about designing websites and applications.

I'm quite skeptical about the quality of online courses, as all the necessary knowledge is already available on the Internet for those who search diligently.

However, if you manage to find an experienced specialist who can provide guidance and push you in the right direction, that would be incredibly beneficial.