Website design encompasses a variety of disciplines and skills in the creation and maintenance of websites. The various disciplines of website design range from web graphic design to web development and programming. Web design refers to the visual appearance and functionality of a website. There are a number of web designers who specialize in creating unique website designs for corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, and other businesses. Some web designers also create websites as a part-time job.
The disciplines of website design span many fields and subfields. Among these include art history, journalism, visual communications, computer science, and applied arts. Web developers create websites that support business practices such as advertising, product marketing, web development, and web management. Web graphic designers provide images or illustrations that are needed to develop websites, usually done by a freelance web designer or web developer. Web authors write texts, poetry, and other material on a website and web designers provide the coding necessary to make it run.
A web designer should obtain formal training at a technical college or university before entering the business. Students in this field will learn about web development and website design through four specific phases of study: (a) content analysis, (b) planning and designing, (c) coding and implementation, and (d) business analysis and finalization. Most web designers choose to specialize in one of these four areas, although some web developers choose to expand their practice and become consultants. Many web development companies and small freelance web designers work with larger businesses as independent contractors. Students will learn technical skills through books and courses at technical colleges, web schools, and online classes.
There are many benefits to working as a web designer or developer. Web developers work in a competitive market and website design companies are always looking for new talent. Web graphic designers are required to follow specific guidelines for creating print and web design work, including appearance, typography, layout, photos, and color scheme. This art form has evolved into an acceptable way to communicate ideas in print media, on the Internet, and in advertising. In print, design is almost always set against a text or image. In the Internet, web designers use words and graphics to create both an image and text.
Art Director, Fashion Consultant, and Interiors Designer are different types of website design professionals. Film, Television, and Music Producers deal with directors of photography and audio. Fashion consultants deal with the creative aspects of clothing and design.
There are many website design principles that web designers must follow. Some of those principles include: clean layouts, intuitive design, and an intuitive user interface. Web pages should be designed in a manner that does not overwhelming for visitors. Designers should take into consideration the layout before the content and ensure that all visuals match. Web pages should be developed on the principle of unity, as well as adaptability, flexibility, and performance.