As a web designer or developer, you want to have the skills that will put you a cut above the rest. What are some needed skills that will help you get started in a web design or web developer career? What will help you polish the quality of your product? Below is a short list of needed skills for these promising careers.
1. HTML. Knowing HTML is essential for both web designers and developers. Although you may use editors for the majority of your career, having a basic knowledge of HTML will give you a better grasp of the web and improve the quality of your work.
2. CSS. Knowing CSS is vital for web designers because it is what will power your design and be a major factor in the layout of your design. So make it a top priority to learn.
3. Design Sense. It is imperative for designers to have a knowledge of web design principles and elements. This is more than just matching colors or picking out your favorite shades. Common design sense can differentiate a novice from a professional.
4. Knowing a Computer Language (I.E. PHP, APS, Java, or C++). The first step to developing a site is knowing and using a computer language. This applies more to web developers than web designers.
5. Understanding Video Editing – Adding video to sites can help make it look more professional. You can get many tools like the Xvid viewer for free. It also helps to have editing software like Virtual Dub and video conversion software like Handbrake to ensure you have all the tools you need.
6. Flash. This is what improves sites. Web developers can use Flash to create better programs, and web designers need flash to enhance their design and graphics.
7. SEO (Search Engine Optimization). You can’t build a good website without SEO. Although many factors contribute to SEO, such as the way the HTML is written or the quality of graphics and web content, having a good grasp of SEO can give any web designer or web developer added appeal to their employability.
Gaining and improving these skills can help make web designers and web developers more marketable and enhance their careers.