When considering the term ‘website design’ more often consumers reference the process of creating visual elements of a website for distribution to end-users, via the internet. The color schemes, typography or fonts, imagery, layout and overall graphical appearance are typically forefront of one’s mind as a visible demonstration of careful planning and design formation.
The reality is, high-quality web design is considerably broader in scope than simply the front end design a user will engage with. A website's structure, information architecture, usability, compatibility, navigation logic, and user experience design are equally central to functional, and appealing websites as branding, color or imagery, and an effective website designer will possess a practical knowledge of these components and contribute to a successful website story.
In order to successfully create a website, designers need to consider a range of influences including a website's audience, industry, function and goals to ensure a design fit for purpose. Website developers require a varied skill set encompassing a number of disciplines. These include (but are not limited to) graphic design, user interface planning, coding, user experience design and optimization for search engines (SEO) for great web content.
Purists will argue there are distinct differences between website design and the role of a web developer. This is true. Clearly, the primary focus of a web designer is the visual component of a site. However, in reality, there is a significant crossover between web design and web engineering and it is increasingly common for a top class web designer to have a foundational understanding of markup languages such as HTML and CSS.
In larger website design companies, web design and development is split amongst several team members. This luxury is rarely available in smaller organizations where web designers often possess end to end skills from design through to programming and delivery. If you are searching for an individual with broad skills to manage an entire design and production process, or you require a design firm with highly specialized staff, then you need to leverage a community such as Freelancer.com for your website design job.
There are a number of basic tools any good designer must have at their disposal regardless of their specialization. Designers must be skilled in the use of vector and raster graphics editors for the creation of web imagery or prototyping. A working knowledge of HTML and CSS is essential, and designers are typically expected at the very least to have basic coding skills and to have utilized a range of WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editing software.
The importance of a killer website design cannot be overlooked. An eye-catching design will immediately attract and endear customers to your website and business. A satisfying web experience will keep customers coming back time and time again, and it all starts with creating the best homepage design. And a site that is optimized to deliver to your organization’s online goals will deliver positive business outcomes such as attracting new markets and increasing engagement with an existing audience.
Accordingly, the importance of hiring a top class website designer should not be underestimated. You need someone that is skilled in designing websites that not only look beautiful, but that perform. You can’t afford to spend hard earned money engaging a designer that won’t deliver effectively to your brief.
The Freelancer.com community includes thousands of website designers and developers that are instantly available to complete your next website design project. Sourced from the best talent worldwide, you can get your next website design job completed for an agreed price, in an agreed timeframe, and by a designer or design firm that you hand select after browsing their online portfolio.
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