Web design is an Internet-based career in which artists and innovators create visual solutions using online communications. While Web design often requires extensive training and technical skills, the field can also be highly creative, depending upon the type of design you pursue.
Web design consists of two main components:
- Page design, which positions together different elements, such as text, pictures, icons, banners and fonts in one cohesive piece that a user sees in a Web browser.
- Dialog design, which is the creation of the transactional processes experienced by Web users, and the responses of the website itself.
Required education for Web designers
Employers typically prefer Web and graphic designers to have a substantive digital portfolio, as well as associate or bachelor's degrees from an accredited program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits approximately 300, post-secondary institutions. When looking for accredited degrees and programs, consider these two types of accreditation:
- Institutional accreditation means that all parts of an institution have been recognized for maintaining certain operational and educational standards.
- Specialized accreditation means that accreditation occurs on a program level. Individual units or disciplines within the institution are recognized for meeting the set standards for quality.
Ultimately, your education will should off. The median salary for designers is $60,000 per year. However, the potential for future earnings can approach the six-figure mark.
