Michelle Holmes

1/2/2011

Block 3

10th

What Is a Web Designer and What Do You Have To Do to Become a Web Designer

What is web design? What do you have to do to become a web designer? Web design is a

career, where someone is paid to make websites. There are three important aspects to quality

web designing; structure, layout and Conceptual design. There are several ways for someone to

become a web designer. For example, you can go to school and get a four year degree; you can

go to technical school; or you can use a free web design website.

When designing a website the aspect of structure is important to create a quality web site.

Structure refers to the information architecture; navigation schemes or the navigation bar; and

naming conventions. Information architecture is the actual information that is to be contained in

the website. Navigation schemes or the navigation Bar is the set of buttons or graphic images

that a website user will use to navigate through the website and its links. Naming conventions

refers to using consistent and appropriate naming of web site parts and files.

Another important aspect of website design is layout. The layout of a website refers to

several different ways of organizing the information on the website; the three most common

layouts are pixel measure, EM measure, and percent measure. If the layout is done in pixel

measure, then the content is fixed. If the layout is done in EM measure, then the content is

proportional to the font size. If the layout is done in percent measure, then the content is fluid

goes from smaller or bigger to fit into display windows.

The third aspect of web design is conceptual design. Conceptual design refers to the

overall content, usability, and appearance of the website. Content, or the substance of a website,

and the information on the site, should be relevant to the site’s subject or purpose and should

target people who have something to do with that subject or purpose. A website should be user-

friendly, meaning simple and reliable. The appearance; graphics and text, should be consistent

throughout the website.

To become a web designer there are several paths that one could take. First, many

universities offer four-year degrees in web design. Second, technical schools offer certification

in web design. Lastly, there are several website, both free and for a cost that will allow someone

to train themselves in web design.

Web design is a complicated career choice that requires a lot of technical knowledge and

skills. Even though it isn’t as easy as I thought it would be I still want to be a web designer. My

next steps are to determine which path I will choose to achieve this goal.