A web designer primarily works on the appearance, layout, user menus, and in some cases, the content of a website. When we talk about appearance, it relates to the colors, fonts, and images used. When we discuss layout, it means how the information will be structured and organized within the website. Ideally, a web design should be user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and should suit the brand and purpose of the website. It should cater to the trust of the target audience and be free of potential points of user frustration.
Web design is a multi-faceted career. You’ll be expected to understand aspects like color theory and typography along with the necessary web design skills.
Needless to say, there’s a lot to learn - but once you’ve got a few key skills on lock, you’ll be in high demand for the rest of your career. Here’s a deep dive into how to shape a web design career, and where you can learn how to break into the field.
Launch Your Web Design Career
Learn how to design smarter websites from industry professionals, 100% online, with the security of a career guarantee when you graduate.
Learn Web Design: Schools And Courses
If you want to become a web designer, there are numerous paths you can pursue. From Master’s degrees to online courses, there’s the perfect fit for everyone.
Many universities and institutions offer web designing courses and degrees. Some of the popular courses related to this field are as follows:
Associate Degree Courses (2 years)
- Associate of Applied Science in Web and Mobile Development, by St Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas
- Associate of Science in Web Designing and Development, by Glendale Community College, California
- Associate of Applied Science in Web Designing, by Seattle Central College
Bachelor’s Courses (4 years)
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems: Web Application Development, by Illinois State University
- Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts: Web Design, by Long Island University, Brooklyn
Master’s Courses (2 years)
- Master of Fine Arts in Graphic and Web Design Course, by Lynn University, Florida
- Master of Science in Information & Communications Technology with Web Design & Development, by University of Denver, Colorado
- Master of Arts in Web Design and New Media, by Academy of Art University at San Francisco, California
- MBA in Web Development and Management, again by Lynn University, Florida
Certificate Courses (Variable Duration)
- Certificate Course in Web Designing, by Sacred Heart University, Connecticut
- Certificate Course in Web Systems Development, by New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Advanced Certificate Course in Web Designing, by Rochester Institute of technology
- Advanced Certificate Course in Application Software & Web Designing, by University of Cincinnati
Apart from university-led courses and certifications, there are several skill-development websites that offer well-structured, short-term, online courses. These can be either part-time or full-time and offer lucrative financing options, unlike conventional universities.
Here are some of the most popular courses that could set you on the path towards a long-term career in design.
- FreeCodeCamp: This is a free option for students who want to learn web designing and front-end web coding. As per the curriculum provided on their official webpage, you need to earn certifications by completing their five final projects. Certificates indicate that you’ve gained knowledge in a specific subject area such as Responsive Web design (HTML, HTML5, basic CSS, applied visual designs, flexbox, and grid), JavaScript algorithms, and data structures. Within each certificate, there are subdivisions that deal with more detailed topics with actual lessons.
- BitDegree: BitDegree’s an online educational platform that primarily focuses on teaching digital job-oriented skills. BitDegree’s beginner web design course focuses on rules and concepts of graphical design. It covers the knowledge of color theory along with the concepts of space, shape, and form. Their curriculum also includes rules of typography and ways to integrate sound and motion in design.
- edX: EdX offers a variety of highly-ranked, online web designing courses, suited for both beginner and advanced levels. The courses are free-of-cost. They include sessions on web design aspects like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, colors, text size, graphics, responsive design, layouts, social media, etc.
- Coursera: Like edX, Coursera has several popular courses in web design. You can choose from a variety of options that include both free courses and university-affiliated programs at affordable prices. The courses include training on coding skills and techniques to develop a responsive and accessible web portfolio. There are numerous self-paced quizzes and hands-on projects offered along with the course, all of which can help you master your web design skills.
- Treehouse: Treehouse offers more than 300 video-based training programs for web designing for beginners all the way to advanced designers. The videos are shot professionally with high-quality cameras, and the content is updated weekly to be on par with new technology.
- LinkedIn: This popular job search portal offers more than 500 courses in web design and web development, which are suitable for both beginner and intermediate levels. LinkedIn’s course videos are downloadable; however, you may need to do a bit of research to find your perfect course.
- LAUNCH SCHOOL: This web design school has a full-time program that takes three months to complete. It offers an income-sharing agreement where you can pay the tuition after you get a job.
- Skillshare: Skillshare’s an online digital platform that offers various kinds of web design courses, mainly for beginner and intermediate levels. Skillshare’s courses are affordable, but sometimes their videos can be repetitive.
- Thinkful: Our course is an excellent option if you’re serious about web design and want to start your career within a year. We’re all about creating courses that’ll actually land you a job you’ll love. Even better, if you don’t get a job in your field within six months of graduating, you get your money back. It’s that simple.
Tips for Your Web Design Education
You’ve obviously got plenty of options to help you hone your craft and leave your mark in the world of design. Above all else, make sure to find a school that fits your unique requirements so that you can get the most out of your education.
If you have any questions about our UX/UI Design Course, you can speak with a member of our team. We want you to thrive in a career you love, so we’ll guide you in the best possible direction for you. You can also check out our UX/UI Design blog to learn more about the field of web design and get motivated for your new career.
Launch Your Web Design Career
Learn how to design smarter websites from industry professionals, 100% online, with the security of a career guarantee when you graduate.