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Published on Dec. 16, 2021

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Trent Victor | Aug. 11, 2022

What is web design?

Web design is the process of creating a website in a way that appeals to a target audience. Because web designers are focused on the user experience, they must ensure their website is simple and intuitive. This vision requires a knack for organizing visual elements, writing succinct code and adjusting to feedback. By following the principles of web design, teams can craft sites that stay true to their brands and the needs of their desired customers.

What are the main steps in web design?

Plotting goals and the design layout beforehand will help teams design a crisper, more clearly defined website.

A website is only as strong as the foundation it’s built upon, so designers should take the time to plot out the minutiae. Defining goals, target audiences, and general layouts is a crucial stage that teams can build off of. From there, creatives can brainstorm the text, colors, page structures, and other site details. By considering something as small as a contact form, teams can account for all variables and anticipate how elements will look in their final product.

No matter how thorough designers are, there’s no such thing as a perfect site. That’s why teams deploy rounds of testing before publication and make adjustments after finalizing a website. Websites require constant tweaking to cater to the changing needs of consumers and to sharpen the rougher edges of the product. However, teams can deliver a more streamlined user experience by demonstrating patience as they follow the steps of planning a website.

What skills do I need to be a web designer?

While web designers must understand how visual elements interact, they must also keep in mind how users interact with those elements.

A seasoned web designer will have a balanced background that features both technical expertise and a user-oriented mentality. Knowing how to work with colors, text, images, and other media is key for web design and development. To gain an even greater advantage, designers dabble in HTML, CSS and other coding languages. Those who know how to bring these factors together can create accessible websites that users will enjoy.

Still, web design is not a solo profession. Designers must demonstrate an empathetic approach since the success of their sites hinges on the approval of consumers. Plus, designers often collaborate with team members to bring sites to fruition and improve them. With problem-solving and communication skills, designers are more likely to consider various perspectives and democratize the internet with user-friendly sites.

How can I learn web design?

With the growing importance of web design, aspiring professionals have a slate of resources at their disposal.

Web designers with technical training have a head start, but those without formal education can still carve out their own path. Online courses and tutorials enable designers to isolate specific skills and strengthen them. From visual design principles to copy-space detection tools, there are free resources that cover numerous aspects of web design and serve as excellent stepping stones for beginners.

Those new to design can benefit from fostering connections and finding communities as well. Group classes and professional networks are great spaces for those looking to gain new skills and valuable relationships. By leveraging the knowledge of other professionals, budding web designers can glean expert tips and accelerate their advancement in the field.

Courses

Expand Your Web Design Career Opportunities

Udemy courses expose students to in-demand techniques and practices. You’ll be sure to turn heads with your enhanced design and UX skill set.

Intro to UX Design Webinar

General Assembly

Are you interested in UX Design, but have no prior experience or an idea of where to start? You’ve come to the right place!

…

4.5

(462)

Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS

Udemy

Topic:

Launch a career as a web designer by learning HTML5, CSS3, responsive design, Sass and more!

What you'll learn:

Create any website layout you can imagine
…

4.6

(19315)

Learn Photoshop, Web Design & Profitable Freelancing

Udemy

Topic:

Learn Adobe Photoshop and use it to create amazing website designs and create a high, stable income. No coding needed!

What you'll learn:

Learn how you can make…

4.6

(6203)

CSS - The Complete Guide (incl. Flexbox, Grid & Sass)

Udemy

Topic:

Learn CSS for the first time or brush up your CSS skills and dive in even deeper. EVERY web developer has to know CSS.

What you'll learn:

Build beautiful…

4.7

(12890)

Certifications

Web Design Certifications + Programs

Take control of your career path by achieving design and UX certifications via Udacity courses.

Visual Design Accelerator

General Assembly’s Visual Design course helps you explore the art and science of visual communication and the process of creating beautiful digital products. Create a production- ready composition for a responsive webpage, conveying your vision through typography, layout, and color. You’ll learn to give and receive design critique and implement feedback to improve your designs.

What you'll accomplish

This is a beginner-friendly program with no prerequisites, although many students have used software such as Photoshop, Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD* previously and may be familiar with basic design principles. Beginners will have access to optional tutorials to practice using software and boost their confidence ahead of class. Throughout this expert-designed program, you’ll:

Conduct research to inform content strategy and design decisions.
Create a digital design solution that balances client needs and user goals.
Design digital layouts with industry-standard tools such as Figma and Sketch.
Implement visual design best practices in composition, typography, imagery, and colors.
Communicate design decisions to stakeholders and collaborators.
Apply what you’ve learned to create a portfolio project: a production-ready mockup for a responsive webpage and a presentation deck to document your process.

Why General Assembly

Since 2011, General Assembly has graduated more than 40,000 students worldwide from the full time & part time courses. During the 2020 hiring shutdown, GA's students, instructors, and career coaches never lost focus, and the KPMG-validated numbers in their Outcomes report reflect it. *For students who graduated in 2020 — the peak of the pandemic — 74.4% of those who participated in GA's full-time Career Services program landed jobs within six months of graduation. General Assembly is proud of their grads + teams' relentless dedication and to see those numbers rising. Download the report here.

Your next step? Submit an application to talk to the General Assembly Admissions team

_{Note: reviews are referenced from Career Karma - https://careerkarma.com/schools/general-assembly}

General Assembly

UX Design Accelerator

Learn the tools and techniques to design products that are equal parts useful, functional, and delightful. Focusing on both theoretical frameworks and practical applications, students in General Assembly’s User Experience Design course will develop a portfolio project of their choosing — receiving expert feedback along the way.

What you'll accomplish

This is a beginner-friendly program with no prerequisites, although many students are familiar with digital design concepts. Whether you’re new to the field or you’re looking to formalize your practice, our curriculum helps you gain fluency in end-to-end UX processes, tools and documentation and put them to work for you, your company, and your career. Throughout this expert-designed program, you’ll:

Discover how to identify, ideate, articulate, and develop design solutions for UX challenges.
Describe how UX designers work with product managers, developers, and visual designers.
Explore the current UX design landscape through relevant, real-world examples.
Develop and document personas, journey maps, user flows, and annotated wireframes.
Utilize industry-standard tools to propose and refine design decisions.
Apply what you’ve learned to create a portfolio project: a new or redesigned digital product experience.

Why General Assembly

Your next step? Submit an application to talk to the General Assembly Admissions team

_{Note: reviews are referenced from Career Karma - https://careerkarma.com/schools/general-assembly}

General Assembly

Front-End Web Development Accelerator

General Assembly’s Front-End Web Development course equips complete beginners with the cutting-edge tools they need to build rich, interactive websites. Dive into essential programming languages, then round out your skill set with industry-relevant topics like responsive design, APIs, and version control. You’ll apply what you’ve learned to build a custom website from scratch.

What you'll accomplish

This is a beginner-friendly program with no prerequisites, although some students may have coded previously. First-time programmers will have access to pre-course preparatory lessons and additional resources to boost their confidence with key concepts. Throughout this expert-designed program, you’ll:

Discover how the web works.
Create the structure and style of a website using HTML and CSS.
Apply interactivity to a site with JavaScript programming fundamentals.
Host a website on a server.
Learn the basic technical vocabulary to communicate with front-end web developers and other technical stakeholders.
Apply what you’ve learned to create a portfolio project: a dynamic, responsive website.