The web wouldn’t be where it is today without the innovative work of web designers. Web design is the creation of websites. From the user interface and layout to the colors, fonts, and images, web designers build websites from the ground up and help maintain their aesthetic appeal and function. This challenging and ever-growing field attracts many artistic and technical-minded people who have excellent communication and computer skills. The best online college web design programs will allow you to build upon your current skills and train you to think and perform like professional web designer.
Web design graduates typically find work as web designers who plan, design, and maintain websites. Most web designers have formal training in web design or a related field and have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to working. However, some web designers work their way into the field by training at a vocational or technical school and working entry-level jobs. If you are a working professional or a student in need of a flexible school schedule, it may be in your best interest to pursue distance learning.
Like many design professions, web designers typically work full time and put in long hours when working on a deadline. They spend a great deal of time working at their desk, hunched over a computer, so it’s important to have good concentration, as well as strong organizational and time management skills. As more companies increase their online presence and offer online products and services, the more they will need the website-building skills of web designers. They can work for or do contract work for a variety of small and large companies, newspaper and magazine publications, computer systems design and specialized design services, and virtually any other business that needs web design services.
There are no formal licensing or examination requirements to work as a web designer, but you may want to consider earning a certification. Since web designers need to have a working knowledge of languages, software, and technologies, it may be in your best interest to become certified in one of these subject areas. Depending on your interests or areas of expertise, you may want to do certification training in CSS, HTML, JavaScript, or PHP. Check out the W3Schools online web tutorials to begin your certification training.
Choosing the best online college web design program that fits your academic and career goals can be a tough decision. There are a lot of factors to consider when picking a program, but the first and arguably most important thing is whether your program is accredited. Accreditation ensures the quality of your web design degree program and indicates to potential employers that your degree came from a reputable institution. To ensure your degree is accredited and widely recognized, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited post-secondary institutions and programs.
As a graduate of an online web design program, you will be prepared to embark on a career in web design or another related field. You will have a working knowledge of various software and hardware programs and technologies used by industry professionals, and be able to fully express your ideas using these tools. Graduates will have many opportunities to showcase their artistic and technical skills through individual and group projects.
While most web designers enter college with some background experience in fine arts, graphic design, publishing, or computer science, it is never too late to dabble in these subjects during or after your schooling. In fact, training in different art forms or computing fields can greatly increase your web design skills and make your more marketable to employers. The best online colleges’ web design programs cover basic computer, programming, and design lessons, but students are strongly encouraged to teach themselves additional skills and further their education. Since web design is a constantly changing field, students and current web designers also advised to stay up to date with the latest trends and techniques happening in the field.
