If you are interested in pursuing a career in web design, you are in luck because according to some statistical reports the number of web design job openings has been increasing year after year, and according to some projections it is expected to grow by 20% in the next few years.

Which web design skills do employers prefer?

A professional web designer needs to have a keen eye for design, but mastering crucial industry skills will surely give you a heads up in your job hunt. Having technical education comes in handy, as graduates of Computer Science or Graphic Design typically study all the relevant subjects, such as Design, Programming, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Graphics, etc.

However, there are also many self-taught web designers you have acquired all these skills on their own, either by completing online courses or by researching the skills they would need and working on obtaining them on their own.

You need to know how to use professional tools such as Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, because they are essential tools that you will need when to you need to enhance a photo, design logos or create mockups.

As technology is continually changing, you need to be up-to-date with trends and innovations, and to never stop educating yourself.

Which jobs can web designers do?

Web designers can either work for a company requiring this skill set or freelance as independent contractors. It is good to know that when it comes to web design jobs outlook, there is a demand for both of these areas.

People usually think that a web designer is just another title for a graphics designer. In the broadest sense, however, a web designer is so much more. Aside from UX design, which involves color schemes, layouts, typography and imagery, the job of a web designer may encompass other essential tasks. Building data structure or even complete information architecture, planning navigation and designing user interface blueprints also fits the job description of a present-day web designer.

Designing a website today involves more processes than just presenting templates and page mockups and showing them to a client. Therefore, a web designer is, and should be, much more than just another Adobe Illustrator power-user. Say a client has some raw data and wants to present it on a website; web designers are the first link in the design and development chain whose job is to make sure that both aesthetics and presentation logic satisfy visitors’ needs.

How to always be one step ahead of others?

Now that we’ve established just how broad the definition of modern web design is, the next logical step would be to explore ways to always be at the very top of the wanted list. One thing you should consider would be mastering responsive web design.

According to Statista, just under two-thirds of total requests on the Internet today are made by mobile devices. Today, it is practically assumed that website design is such that it responds and adapts its design scheme to various devices. In the past, mobile and desktop websites were separated, but modern responsive websites are managed with ease, analytics are consolidated, and development costs are practically cut in half.

Furthermore, this approach provides a consistent user experience across a variety of platforms, so returning visitors can find their way around either version of your website with ease.