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<\/a><\/p>\nThere is a phrase that goes like this: “Jack of all trades, master of none”. These days, jobs and contracts are\u00a0chock full of requirements that would require you to be a graphic designer, a web designer, an app developer and a back-end developer all rolled into one.<\/p>\n
Many seem to be unrealistic in their requirements but if you can show that you excel in certain areas you’ll stand more chance of securing freelance work and\/or a job.<\/p>\n
HTML(5) and CSS(3) should be main two as a web designer but there are other areas that need at least some knowledge.\u00a0In the last 5 years the role of a web designer pretty much requires a few other tools in your toolbox.\u00a0The other important ones to try to focus on are:<\/p>\n
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- jQuery and Javascript frameworks – Used on websites, apps and database driven sites. This is the main requirement for most\u00a0jobs now.<\/li>\n
- Responsive design skills – Being able to turn a website into a responsive\u00a0one will only get bigger for freelance work.<\/li>\n
- WordPress \/ CMS – Many jobs and freelance work require some kind of data-base driven content. Having an understanding of at least one blog and ecommerce platform will not only help you find a job, it will also help you land more freelance jobs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Learn from other websites<\/h2>\n
![\"Learn](\"https:\/\/simonday.com\/web-design-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/learn.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen I first started back in the 1990’s there were no books, no courses and very little online help for building a website. What I used to do, when I came across a great website, was to download it, strip\u00a0it apart and then rebuild it from the bottom up to see how the code worked.<\/p>\n
Still to this day if I see something on a website and i wonder how they did it, I’ll either inspect the elements or download the page and strip it down to that section’s components so I can work out what they did to achieve it.<\/p>\n
I’m not talking about copying someones work, I’m talking about learning how they did it and applying that knowledge to create your own version on your designs.<\/p>\n
Don’t stop pushing yourself!<\/h2>\n
During the naughties there wasn’t really much changing in the front-end World. 800×600 was\u00a0the majority\u00a0screen size, IE was the most used browser and a front-end designers couldn’t really push the limits because they were always restricted by a nameless browser dragging its feet, kicking and screaming, instead of pushing ahead (*Cough* Internet Explorer *Cough).<\/p>\n
Over the last few years there has been an explosion of different methodologies, CSS advancements and screen sizes. Browsers (including mobile browsers) are trying much harder to standardise how a website will look across those browsers. CSS3 can do a LOT more than basic CSS and it\u00a0will work across most browsers now instead of the lucky one or two.<\/p>\n
There is a lot more to learn now than there was then and new techniques and ideas are coming out all the time. Use sources like Smashing magazine<\/a>, Web Designer Depot<\/a> and social media to find out what’s hot and what’s not. If you don’t keep up then you’ll very quickly be left behind!<\/p>\n
You need a\u00a0great Portfolio<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nYou don’t have to have a large portfolio, you just need a few really good examples of your work. If you’re just starting out and don’t have a portfolio to show off then here are my suggestions:<\/p>\n
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- Charities are always looking for free help. Approach your local ones and see if any need help with their website.<\/li>\n
- Create a hobby site. I created Torbay Fishing<\/a> back in 2004 and it’s been my pet project for all those years. I constantly tweak and improve the content and design as a showcase.<\/li>\n
- Do a “If they had come to me I would have designed it like this”. Improve a website and highlight why you did what you did to improve it.<\/li>\n
- Offer to build a free website on social media. People have little to complain about if it’s free. Make sure you stipulate what\u00a0it will and will not include.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Treat every client like they’re your only one<\/h2>\n
![\"Treat](\"https:\/\/simonday.com\/web-design-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/phone_call.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMany web designers get constant work from word-of-mouth and I’m no exception. Most of the websites I’ve built over the years have come from word of mouth. Even after the work is done I keep engaging with my clients, asking them how it’s going, do they have any questions and so on. I try to reply to all emails within an hour. If I’m out and about I’ll send them a quick email to let them know I can’t answer now but I will as soon as I get back.<\/p>\n
If a client wants an update I don’t charge a fortune for it and I try to do it the same day. NOTHING is worth more than having people out there in the big wide World singing your praises!<\/p>\n
I hope these tips help anyone starting out in todays crazy World of web design…<\/p>\n