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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A Web Designer
A Web Designer is a person that creates and arranges the pages that make up a website. Web Designers often have to balance how a page looks versus how a web page functions, which can involve some compromises.
Web designer is responsible to design the overall layout and look of the web site. This covers the area from design small and meaningful icons or creating logos to complete the web layout and present it in html format. Web designer is the one who knows which colors to select, and what images should be placed where, to greatly communicate the business sense of client.
A Web Designer is a person that creates and arranges the pages that make up a website. Web Designers often have to balance how a page looks versus how a web page functions, which can involve some compromises.
Web designer is responsible to design the overall layout and look of the web site. This covers the area from design small and meaningful icons or creating logos to complete the web layout and present it in html format. Web designer is the one who knows which colors to select, and what images should be placed where, to greatly communicate the business sense of client.
- How to make page attractive for target audience?
- Whether it demands some flash intro or some other flash effects or the simple site will present the elegance of client’s organization?
- Which data is to be displayed at right place to get the best required viewer’s concentration?
Web Designer’s role in the whole website making is to answer the above question practically by making relative web contents.
Moreover, a web designer may take part in the initial planning of a Web site, meeting with the client to discuss ideas for the layout and organization of the site, the types of colors or images to use (photos, illustrations, videos, etc.), and other matters concerning overall graphic design.
Once the basic concept is agreed upon, the web designer must collect the text documents and images that will appear on the page and convert them into a form in which they can be viewed. This requires a mastery of HTML (hypertext markup language), the computer language used to create web pages. The designer must also have knowledge of the most current HTML extensions—programs that make it possible to add special features to web pages such as animations and interactive surveys. Because a Web site may incorporate a variety of different functions, including clickable e-mail contacts or the ability to download files to a computer, the designer must have a working knowledge of FTP (file transfer protocol) and other programs that enable these functions to work.
Web designers must have an understanding of software functionality as well as graphic design skills to create successful Web pages.
Part of the web designer's task is to create pages that can be used on any type of server (a central computer in a network that stores files and provides these files to individual computers) and viewed with any type of browser (the software that enables people to access the World Wide Web). To do this, a web designer must be familiar with issues of browser/server compatibility, including which browsers and servers work well together and which ones do not. In addition, the designer must know computer languages such as Javascript, which can be used to create web pages that are compatible with a wide range of hardware and software.
Because web designers work with a client or web producer to develop and refine ideas, they must have strong verbal and visual communications skills. Designers should be able to listen closely to the client and create pages that reflect what the client is looking for. They also need to be flexible because they may be called upon to change their designs. Since Web sites are constantly updated to remain current, a designer has to be able to work well under the pressure of tight deadlines and changing demands.
Career Path
A Web Designer may progress in seniority within the Web Design function. They may also progress within a marketing communications function, depending on their skills and interests.
A Web Designer is very different from a Web Developer. A Web Developer works more on the server side development, web server configuration, and web server security. In order to become a Website Developer, a Web Designer would need to learn additional programming languages and methodologies, such as Object Oriented design and Java programming.
Web Designer Job Description
* To be fully responsible for the layout, visual appearance and usability of the company website, ensuring that brand continuity is maintained.
Duties and Responsibilities
* To design Web sites and ensure that they are visually effective and easy to access.
* Liaising closely with the customer or client at the design stage to answer questions such as: why is the site needed, who is the target audience, who are the leading competitors, etc.
* Advising the client on the categories and information needed to construct the site.
* Designing a draft site for client approval or modification.
* Develop and maintain the company’s intranet that will provide an accurate and immediate source of information to all employees.
* Writing web pages in a combination of codes such as hypertext mark-up language (HTML), JavaScript, CSS, Flash.
* Design and distribute newsletters and other documents relating to the website and the intranet.
* Conduct presentations, internally and externally, to promote the company web site and intranet.
* Testing the web sites for functionality in different browsers and at different resolutions.
* To upload the websites on to the Internet.
Getting the Job
As more companies develop their own Web sites, web designer openings can be found in classified ads in local newspapers, magazines, and on the Internet itself. Quite often, web designers begin their careers as graphic designers or layout artists for advertising firms or publishing companies. After learning the appropriate computer skills, they can transfer their artistic experience to the online world.
Prospective web designers should put together a portfolio of their work to show to potential employers. Many web designers are freelancers who sell their services to clients on a consulting or contractual basis. Self-employed web designers often establish a personal page on the World Wide Web that showcases their design skills for potential customers.
References:
- ttp://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/142/Web-Designer.htm
- http://www.cvscreen.co.uk/JobDescription/WebDesigner.Html
- http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/careersintechnology/p/webdesign.htm
