As a business owner, it is important to have a web designer on your team who has more than just technical skills. A great web designer needs to also be able to communicate with clients and work well in a team environment.
They also need to be creative enough that they can come up with design ideas for different projects, even if they are not asked for them.
In this post, we will go over what a Web Designer does, the tools of the trade, as well as 18 qualities that make up a great web designer so you can find the best candidate for your business.
What Does a Web Designer Do?
A web designer is someone who designs and creates websites. This includes the layout, text placements, and images. They do this by using code, such as HTML and CSS.
A good way to think about what a designer does is by comparing it to an interior designer. Just like when an interior designer will design your house, a web designer will take your thoughts on how you want something to look and perform, and then create that for you. However, rather than making the design feel good for guests, they are optimizing a website for website visitors/customers.
They will use the knowledge and skills they have to create a website page that will look good on any computer, tablet, or phone.
A web designer creates websites by using code like HTML and CSS. This is what makes them different from someone who does graphic design for sites, as it requires programming skills too – not just artistic ability in Photoshop. Web designers also work closely with content creators, UX and UI experts to build the best user experience during a website redesign service.
As a web designer, it is important to create websites that align with the needs of the target audience. For example, a website targeted at young children needs to be engaging and fun, which means bright colors, large font, short sentences, and big images.
Conversely, a target audience of lawyers would need a professional style, which means toned-down colors, professional text, sophisticated content, and carefully selected media.
Some may be self-employed and do freelance design projects on a contract basis, while others are employed by an organization to create websites specifically for that company.
The Responsibilities and Skills of a Web Designer
The web designer’s responsibilities typically include: creating a website design, adding content to the site, and arranging objects on the screen (elements). This will also include utilizing colors or other style preferences in accordance with business needs and goals. Furthermore, web designers will ensure that all pages are accessible for users who visit with different devices, and take time to understand how people interact with their screens when online.
1.) Proficiency in HTML
HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML) is a set of instructions for creating pages on the web and it’s what you use to create content that will appear in someone’s browser window when they visit your site.
HTML is made up of tags that act as placeholders for data like text or images, which are inserted into these spaces by other programs called “viewers.” The end result should be code that is readable from machines and then displayed in a way that’s easy for humans to understand.
2.) Proficiency in CSS
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets and it’s used to style the content on a webpage with fonts, color, size, spacing etc. It’s usually embedded in code that looks like this:
.button {
background-color: #fff;
border: 1px solid #000;
}3.) Proficiency in JavaScript
JavaScript allows programmers to do cool things like manipulate page elements in real-time. For example, if you want a particular element to appear when someone rolls over it with their mouse cursor, JavaScript would help make that happen seamlessly.
This falls into the job description of a web developer, but most web designers should also know some JavaScript. Developers are also responsible for making sure all these scripts work together smoothly and don’t conflict with one another.
4.) Proficiency in basic graphic design
Graphical elements are images and other visuals on a web page that provide decoration, create emphasis for content, or help display navigation menus. These elements include things like logos, icons and banners, as well as photos of products or people.
A good designer will use graphics to not only make the site visually appealing, but also to organize the flow of information on each page. For example: a banner at the top of a homepage is helpful for both branding purposes (to let visitors know who they’ve come across) and also as an introduction statement about your business (such as “We offer affordable house cleaning services”).
Web Design vs. Web Development
There’s some overlap, but web designers are responsible for making a website look aesthetically pleasing on the front-end, whereas web developers are responsible for the functionality and the back-end. The web designer will work closely with the developer to ensure that everything looks good while also being functional on each type of browser and device.
Web Designer vs. Graphic Designer
A web designer is focused on the design and layout of a website. Meanwhile, a graphic designer will work to create logos, branding visuals, and other marketing materials.
In terms of skill-set for both jobs, web designers require knowledge of HTML/CSS code to build websites (or WordPress if that’s what they use). However, graphic designers are not required to understand code or how websites are built.
Common Traits of a Good Web Designer
1.) Great communication & team skills
Every design project requires good communication. A web designer needs to be able to understand the business goals, and then develop designs that align with these objectives. Failure to communicate can result in incorrect work, which can cause delays and excess costs.
Designers also usually have to work with other professionals to get the results they need. Typically, a designer will work closely with programmers during the development of a project, which allows them to design around the type of elements that will be used.
2.) Ability to think creativity
It’s important for a good web designer to have creativity when designing for their client. Their job depends on improving an existing website or creating something new from scratch, so a lack of creativity will get them nowhere. Many web designers are only able to design a single type of visual – and you don’t want your website to look like all the rest.
3.) Ability to meet reasonable deadlines
Web designers should be able to meet deadlines. It’s important for a web designer to work closely with the client, which will ensure everything is delivered on time. Some responsibility lies with the client too, as the designer should be reminded amount upcoming milestones and deadlines.
4.) Problem solving skills and capability
Web designers need problem-solving skills because there are always problems that arise during the designing process. These problems must be sorted out quickly and efficiently before further issues arise.
5.) Passion for designing quality websites
If your designer has a passion for web design, they’ll be more eager to find new and unique ways of doing things. A lack of motivation can lead to stagnation in creativity, which means you’ll have a harder time getting people’s attention on the internet.
6.) Self discipline and time management
Discipline comes into play when dealing with clients or deadlines. If an internal drive is lacking, then the designer is less likely to meet goals and deadlines. It’s important to hire a web designer who respects the time and budget of their client, so look out for this quality.
7.) Understanding and familiarity with common web development software
Web designers need to know how to use the best software for design, such as Adobe Illustrator, XD, Photoshop, Figma, and Webflow. Web designers should how to change vector-based graphics and make small edits to images.
8.) History of successful website design projects
The more experience a designer has, the better they’ll be able to think of solutions for problems that may not have been considered before. A portfolio that shows a range of different work is essential, as it demonstrates what the designer is capable of. The portfolio doesn’t have to be extra special in appearance. In fact, a few links to their best work is enough. Even having presence in general web design listings as an experienced web agency is a good sign to look for when finding a web company for your business.
9.) Examples of quality design skills
Web designers need to possess the fundamental skills needed to do the basics. In fact, they need to be able to think in a logical, structured way. Designers should have the ability to create attractive visuals and layouts that are both functional and usable.
10.) Basic understanding of SEO concepts
Search engine optimization (SEO) is important for any website. A web designer should be aware of SEO and know how to optimize a site so it ranks higher in the results on search engines like Google or Yahoo. Every piece of code will impact the overall load time of the website.
11.) Ability to learn without help or instruction
The best web designers are constantly learning. A great web designer should be aware of the latest trends in design, new capabilities and functions of software used for creating websites, as well as any changes in browser rendering.
12.) Ability to work collaboratively, or on a team
Web designers need to collaborate with others. They will be able to work with various disciplines like marketing, programming, or SEO specialists. Great sources for inspiration are other sites that successfully connect.
13.) Understanding of responsive web design
Web design is no longer just for the desktop. Mobile devices are now an integral part of everyone’s life, so a designer should be able to create designs that work on any screen size. The designer should have expert knowledge of fluid grids and flexible images for websites that flow smoothly.
14.) Ability to present ideas and completed work
Presentation skills are crucial for a web designer. Web designers should know how to create slides, presentations, and other visual aids that communicate clearly what they plan to do for the client.
15.) Ability to understand the importance of minor details
The best web designers are detail-oriented. They think about every aspect of a design and spend time on the small things that will make a difference for their clients. A designer who isn’t detail-oriented will not notice small coding bugs and design mistakes.
16.) Basic understanding of user experience
User experience is the key to any successful website. A web designer will need to be able to create a user interface that guides visitors through your site in an intuitive way, providing clear signposts and direction without being too directive or hectoring. The navigation should be easy to use on all devices and should provide an intuitive layout with a clear hierarchy of information.
17.) Ability to provide honest feedback and communication
The best web designers are honest about what they know and don’t know. They can tell clients that a project will take more time or money than originally planned. Designers that lie should be avoided at all costs! They tend to take on more than they can handle, which results in huge errors in the long run.
18.) Ability to control emotions while communicating with others
When things go wrong, it’s important that the web designer is in control of their emotions. They should be able to pick themselves up and keep working on your project without getting flustered or feeling too overwhelmed by what has happened.
Final Thoughts on Finding a Great Web Designer
In conclusion, we have seen that there are many qualities of a great web designer. You should be detail-oriented and honest with your clients if you want to do the best work possible. Web design is not an easy job but it can also be very rewarding for those who spend time on their craft!