A career in web design

[Pawnless Endgame]

I worked for the Ministry of Defence way back in year 2000/1 re-writing the web pages for one of their departments in Bristol Abbey Wood. I was considered to be quite 'good', although my post was short being only a placement year between years 2 and 3 of uni. I then underwent web design in my final year dissertation, involving HTML, Javascript and WMRL, the latter I believe to be obsolete now. When I graduated in 2002, I looked for web design jobs, quickly finding out that it is rather competitive. In the end, I worked in 1st-line support for 7 years until my company went into liquidation 3 months ago. My coding experience so far is hand-written in Notepad, none of these WYSIWYG editors. Because my experience is some 8-9 years out of date, will there be another programming language that I could train myself on to make myself more employable? I know there's Flash, SQL, PHP, Java to name but a few, so I was wondering where I ought to begin, plus any pointers to training (either in the form of a book or a web site). My graphic design (which is normally essential with web design) is ok too. Many thanks!

 

[Edward01]

So you want to do more web development rather than design?

HTML / CSS, make sure you're up to date on these, I'm guessing you were still using tables when you were learning so you've got the pleasure of discovering <div>'s. Check out http://www.w3schools.com/ it's how I learn't. Just design a mock website and use that for reference.

JavaScript / PHP are the other ones id recommend. JScript etc is huge now so worth knowing your way around it. Pretty much all the free (and most paid for) CMS's & blogs, joomla, wordpress etc are all written in PHP, so again it pays to be able to find your way around.

 

[GravyMonster]

TBH if you want to have a career in web development you'll need to have a good knowledge of a server-side language. It's up to you whether what you choose - PHP, ASP.Net (C# or VB.Net) as plenty of jobs are available for either.

I can only speak for .Net as thats what I do, but at the minute a C# developet gets about 2-3k more than a VB developer for the same job.

 

[Pawnless Endgame]

Thanks a lot guys Yes Edward, I will be more into the development side.

 

[swinnie]

Hi Monserrat,

All points above are valid. However, it depends what kind of things you want to develop. I am a freelance website designer and developer, but I work for some design houses all over the UK as a front-end website developer.

My role is to develop static XHTML pages (including Photoshop slicing), ready for the back-end developers to put in their mark. I started off just doing standard XHTML and CSS development, but there is an increasing demand for jQuery, which I am learning at the same time.

Consider your options widely, and where you want to go, and you'll do just fine.

 

[suarve]

Hi Monserrat,

All points above are valid. However, it depends what kind of things you want to develop. I am a freelance website designer and developer, but I work for some design houses all over the UK as a front-end website developer.

My role is to develop static XHTML pages (including Photoshop slicing), ready for the back-end developers to put in their mark. I started off just doing standard XHTML and CSS development, but there is an increasing demand for jQuery, which I am learning at the same time.

Consider your options widely, and where you want to go, and you'll do just fine.

It's also worth noting that the role of a web dev/designer can vary greatly - ask employers exactly what you'd be doing.

For example, I'm a developer and for a new site would work off a layered photoshop file - I'd convert the design into xhtml/css and develop it using php myself (I also have to advise on what stuff works best design wise too).

 

[swinnie]

It's also worth noting that the role of a web dev/designer can vary greatly - ask employers exactly what you'd be doing.

For example, I'm a developer and for a new site would work off a layered photoshop file - I'd convert the design into xhtml/css and develop it using php myself (I also have to advise on what stuff works best design wise too).

Yep, definitely. I'm purely a developer for the organisations I mentioned. But ensure you know what you're getting yourself into.

 

[DezUk]

Hi Monserrat,

All points above are valid. However, it depends what kind of things you want to develop. I am a freelance website designer and developer, but I work for some design houses all over the UK as a front-end website developer.

My role is to develop static XHTML pages (including Photoshop slicing), ready for the back-end developers to put in their mark. I started off just doing standard XHTML and CSS development, but there is an increasing demand for jQuery, which I am learning at the same time.

Consider your options widely, and where you want to go, and you'll do just fine.

Sorry to hijack a thread but I too would love to get into this line of work and would be interested to know how you get into the work. When ever i browse jobs sites they always seem to be asking for way more than i have. I can hold my own in Photoshop and XHMTL/CSS. I stuck an online CV together but finding the vacancies is the hard part http://rdoyle.info

Would appreciate any advice

 

[swinnie]

Sorry to hijack a thread but I too would love to get into this line of work and would be interested to know how you get into the work.

I got into it purely by chance, if I'm honest. I'm only 17, so I'm quite fortunate to be in my position.

The basic story is I ran a website for company I have used for a few years to supply me with carp bait for carp fishing. I then offered to help out on a forum that had just started up. Got chatting to a guy on the forum who runs a website design and development company. He offered me some 'overspill work'.

So basically "who I know". However, I was offered a full-time position in his company for when I finish 6th form in June. I turned him down, however, as I am heading for University in September to study a Computing Degree. I wanted to keep my options open, gain some more knowledge.

He has however agreed to still pass me overspill work, which comes in on a regular basis.

Also, in this area we have a local magazine where firms can advertise their businesses. I simply find a few local firms that are medium sized, check if they have a website. If they've not got a website, I'll send off a letter. I'll offer my services to them, in a friendly, yet professional manner. Not bombarding them with "you must have a website, and I must design/develop your website otherwise your company will fail".

Out of all of the letters I send out, I've had around a 40% response rate that has converted into a website (or other forms of work). 40% is the most I can take at the moment due to current commitments with 6th form. I lead a very good relationship with all of my clients.

I have also offered to help out some businesses, and pick up a bit of work that way, also.

Hope the answer isn't too long!

 

[DezUk]

Thanks for the information and I must say thats a great effort at 17!

I have a 9 to 5 job so dont have enough time to do that but would be worth trying to see what kind of feedback i recieved. I assume you have your own portfolio site that you send out when trying to get work?

 

[swinnie]

Thanks for the information and I must say thats a great effort at 17!

I have a 9 to 5 job so dont have enough time to do that but would be worth trying to see what kind of feedback i recieved. I assume you have your own portfolio site that you send out when trying to get work?

Thank you! I sometimes find it's such a struggle as many, many people look at me and think I cannot offer professional services, simply because I'm 17.

I don't actually have portfolio website, so to speak. I set it up, put a holding page up but that's pretty much it. I'll design/develop it when I get a chance, just so busy sorting all of my clients out.