What is the best way to become a web site designer?

Question

Just looking for some input really, I am looking to change my career into photography, image manipulation, web site design. I am unsure really what I wanna do so any input would be great
many thanks Germs

Answer 1

Change your name by deed poll to Web Site Designer.

Answer 2

The best thing you could do is enrol in a design course and perhaps a specialist photography/image manipulation course. It's not just about learning some software and programming languages. Most people can learn to use Photoshop and a bit of HTML but to be successful in this industry you need to understand what good (and bad) user experience is.

Look for a reputable school/course and check out some of their graduating students work. Do they help you with work placement or experience after?

It is a tough industry and you will need to work hard to make it. You will also need to be good at networking. It does come down a lot to who you know. So get out there when you are studying - join groups, attend design events, see if anyone in your network works in the industry already and ask them for help/advice/introductions.

Last of all - Good Luck!

Answer 3

You can go 1 of two ways to get into the Graphic Design field. I went through one of them. You can either go to one of those trade schools you see on TV which is what I did. Or you can start out at a community college with the basics and then go to a University. Which that will be a lot pricier but more involved. I went to a college called Silicon Valley College which was a 2 campus trade school in Northern Cali. It was 54 weeks long and goes over all basic features of all computer graphic design programs. When I went it was a little bit of everything just enough to get your feet wet. I learned Adobe, Illustrator, Photoshop, Animation, Movie Editing, as well as basic Web Design. They will have projects and assignments and grade you upon knowledge and creativity. The schools will vary so you may want to look around I signed up at the first one I went to. The cost for the time I went was 12,000 dollars for a Diploma and it was 18,000 for an associates of Arts degree as a Graphics Design Specialist. But I transferred all my basic education over from my community college credits. That way I didnt have to take all the English, math classes that would have taken another 3 months and saved myself the extra 6,000 dollars. But its been approx 8 years since I graduated and still dont have a job in that field. If you want to succed in that field you will have to be aggressive and dedicated and have an awesome portfolio. Especially being from San Francisco Bay Area. Other than that it was a great experience. I still use the programs and some of the programs are a little shakey to remember. But If you are serious about it and are willing to take a 15,000 dollar student loan under your name which if it is a stafford federal loan you have up to 10 years to pay off which I am paying on right know. But anyways that is my advice. All in all it was a great experience but Graphics is a very competative field which you are constantly trying to be ahead of the next person in terms of ideas, composition and so on. Now adays everyone is trying to do websites themselves but maintaining them is more the trend. Well good luck check out some of the schools I told you about. Some of the Universities will require drawing and art skills already as a pre requisit. Well i think that just about does it. Good luck again and if you are interested make sure you take the time to see what its all about.

Answer 4

* " When a Site to Be, enters the Mind of the Would Be designer, a Solemn PLedge has to become a binding factor... That nothing one's to publish... Will consiously offend anyone. Not ON - , or OFFline.
* Under no circomstance may, this fragile little concept.........
............... Of an Idea, be raped in the Womb so to speak.....
* Not just any old Speak will psyche us all into a Hype you know.....
* Admin's ready to attack more criminal Junk anywhere in the Galaxy, then we stand a chance to survive Mother Nature's upcoming onslaught, when I look at the Weather in Holland....

Taking Cracks at Crackpots, usually make me want to Crack Wiseguys over Global Warming...

Any site that will hold the Fort agains Bored Weblife needs that extra... that Lures People straight into the Cuddly Safe, and undisturbed embrace, of a Long Life Inside The Web....
Not just Any Guru, can Deal A Joker in a Poker Deck."
Says IN ( means:' I have Ideological licence to speak for Web Women in collective mode. Men too, I'm a matey of the Big Drop.... Not just everybody can roam in the Catacombes of Dropping Knowledge.. We would have been Dust acattered as far as Andromeda if it weren't for the Drop.")

Germs..... However.... Web based Next over Next over Next F's in full Nana Nano Glory, can act as .......
Personal Computer a Person? Fact or Fiction......
Fictionalists, do not count their blessings when the going isn't just Tough....... They are Fiction........

How about it.... Want to buy me in? for a share of The Globes Laughter? Not for a Ziljon Laughs I'd stick my neck out for a Firewall's Wet dream...... And my Dream of A Free Intergalactic Founders Conference of Worthy Inheriters to the Universal Key To All knowledge

Answer 5

There are two parts to Web design

The Graphics and layout
The Programming (behind the website)

Learn Dreamweaver and HTML, along with Adobe Photoshop as a start.

Answer 6

I'd say, if you want to be a web designer then here is my advice:

- Change from PC to Apple Mac
- Start a tutorial on HTML via the software called "Dreamweaver". If I can do it, then you can! :-)
- Then go towards new softwares, like Flash, Director, Shockwave. You can also go for more intuitive softwares like "plone", but I think, in order to understand other HTML softwares, you should know about the basics.
- Finish off with media integration via softwares like GarageBand (for rss feeds and Podcasts).

Hope this helps,

Sonia

Answer 7

Ok you have my attention, what's the game plan... you may send me a message privately if you want more info on my web site designs.

Answer 8

Unless you're really talented or have years of experience it's going to be really difficult to break into the industry. The whole market is extremely saturated.
My suggestion is to practise, practise, practise. Read books, attend workshops, build a network of people who might need photographs or a website. Do some work for free to build your portfolio. And invest lots of time into it basically.
Good luck.

Answer 9

At first you learn HTML. If dont want to learn code, then you can learn Macromedia Dreamwaver. It is easy to design web site by this software. With this, if you want to grow up your strength in design, you must learn Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Flash etc.

Answer 10

Work solid for the next four years 18 hours a day 6 days a week.
With a bit of luck you may be an instant success