Skills Needed For Top Web Designers In Kenya
What is Web Designing?
We are currently living in a world that caters more to the virtual world. Nowadays, everything is available on the internet. Let’s say you want to learn more about a subject, all you need to do is type in the required words on the internet and you’ll be taken to various websites that can provide you with the required information. The ones who create these websites and design them are the web designers.
User compatibility and interface is important to ensure that there is increased traffic on the respective web page or web application. A web designer must ensure that the design is adaptive to the customer’s needs. They are responsible for ensuring that websites are dynamic, aesthetically pleasing, and interactive. The demand for web designers has increased, and thus, web designer salary has increased as well. Before we learn about the salary trends, let us understand who a web designer is.
Who is a Web Designer?
A Web designer is a programmer who explicitly focuses on the complete canvas of a website – everything we click, see, retrieve or use to input is the work of a web designer. Certainly, one must have the technical knowledge and be creatively sound. They combine both design and technology to present the efficacy of a website’s back-end in a way that is easier to use by the users.
In simpler terms, Web designers are responsible for building or redesigning a website. They make the functionality easy to use and make it look appealing. The more skills one learns, the more the web designer’s salary in Kenya increases.
What are the responsibilities of a web designer?
The knowledge of a web designer depends on the extent of his knowledge and know-how. Given below are some of the responsibilities that are expected of a web designer to make sure the out is efficient and top-notch-
- Designing, maintaining, and creating easy to use and attractive web pages/websites
- Creating a design layout/user interface by using languages such as HTML/CSS/Java
- Be open to critics and communicate effectively to advocate everyone’s views and have a hassle-free atmosphere.
- Be up to date with the current trends and responsible for the expanding and scaling up of the website.
- Validating routines and test cases to ensure the smooth functioning of the program on all device types and browsers.
- Attending conferences, participating in discussions, workshops studying and reading about innovations, and refining one’s skill set.
- Look into industry trends and emerging technology to determine the user’s needs.
- Coordinating with the other developers to make sure that the applications are in sync.
All in all, a web designer must have the right skill set, must be communicative and dedicated to their profession.
Skills Required to Become a Web Designer
In this section, we’ll be listing the common web designer skills that are required for you to build a career in the field. Some of the web designer skills are as follows:
- Knowledge of server-side CSS
- In-depth understanding of the core design principles
- Proficiency in JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, and HTML
- Problem-solving skills
- Great written and oral communication skills
- A solid understanding of SEO practices
- Ability to create a responsive and adaptive web design
- Knowledge of graphic design applications such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Procreate.
Basic Programming Languages and Prerequisites for a Web Designer
1. JavaScript
When we talk about web development and software development, one of the mandatory web developer or full-stack developer skills is JavaScript. It is an object-oriented scripting language and is used to add behavior using HTML. JavaScript is a widely-used programming language that can natively run in the browser and on the server-side as well. It is useful for writing back-end and front-end code.
Having knowledge about JavaScript can help in creating web pages with numerous features such as prototypes, event delegation, functions, and closure.
2. HTML/CSS
Both HTML and CSS are important web designer skills and a prerequisite to learning web design. HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language and CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. While HTML is useful to add web content, CSS is helpful to personalize this content and design/style the website. These programming languages are helpful in deciding how the website would look. It plays an important role in bringing in customers to your website. If a website is poorly designed, the audience would click off and find a different website that is well-designed and easy to use.
Being proficient in HTML and CSS to create an interactive and engaging front-end application will directly affect a web designers salary and ensure higher pay.
3. Excellent design skills
Excellent design skills are a must if you wish to work as a Web Designer. Basic design skills are crucial to make the website look appealing and attractive to its users. A user-friendly design always performs better. Knowing design properties, UI/UX, scalability, prototypes, etc., is a must.
4. Soft skills
Apart from the web designer skills mentioned above, a few other soft skills to be kept in mind are:
- Curiosity to learn
- Attention to detail
- Analytical thought-process
- Time Management skills
- Patience
- Creative Vision
What are the few main steps to becoming a web designer?
The role of a graphic designer might seem a little daunting; however, nothing is too hard if coupled with a passion for the subject and the dedication to achieve.
A graphic designer must have the right combination of both hard skills and soft skills.
1. Step 1- Practice, practice, and more practice
Creating and putting together an excellent website/webpage requires a plethora of skills. These are also best learned in a classroom setting or under the guidance of a teacher. It’s quite possible to acquire jobs as a self-taught designer, but completing a degree provides one with the necessary foundational skills. One must also fully use the benefits of the internet and gather the know-how. Nevertheless, practice is a must, and one should develop the ability to re-read and refine their skills.
2. Step 2- Read and learn
It’s important to stay up to date with the evolution in technology and the current trends. A motivated and passionate designer should try to seek additional instruction, read and look into the insights of modern designs, aesthetics, colors, layouts and try to make the website easier to use and implement.
3. Step 3- Certifications
Getting hands-on vital industry certifications helps designers to enhance their career prospects. Certificates validate a comparatively high degree of expertise and aptitude in key fortes of the industry. The certificate also provides employers with a target of the applicant’s skill.
4. Step 4- Build a brand!
Having a strong portfolio that one can present to employers that showcase past projects is important. One must have a network of business associates and colleagues that they can tap for work such as job prospects, education, collaboration, and freelance projects. A novice web designer can build their brand by connecting to industry organizations, being a part of relevant conferences and events that foster networking. One should strive with a high degree of excellence and respect peers and employees.
Demand for Web Designers in Kenya
Web Design has grown immensely over the past few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of digital and web designers is projected to grow 8% from 2019-2029. This is much faster than most other job profiles and occupations. Why has the demand for web designers in Kenya grown over the past few years? Let’s find out.
1. Growth Landscapes
The industry itself is growing. Due to this, there is a rise in the demand for experts in web design. As we enter the digital era, most people spend their time online. Be it on social media, or websites and applications, the digital industry is growing. The expansion of the digital space are seen across the globe and there is massive room for entering the field at the moment.
2. Increase in Demand
There is a soaring demand for web designers in Kenya. Be it startups or multinational companies from any industry, everyone is looking to hire talented web designers. This is one of the reasons why the web designers salary has increased in Kenya.
3. Increase in Job Opportunities
Due to an increase in demand, there is an increase in job opportunities as well. Companies are hiring web designers and aim to employ even more in the upcoming few years.
4. Lack of Skilled Employees
There is a lack of employees who have the required knowledge about Web Design. This lack of job-ready employees is the perfect opportunity to upskill with the help of free online courses.
