UX vs UI Design

Exploring a Career in Web Design

As the internet continues to expand at an unprecedented pace, careers related to web design and development are growing alongside it. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2029, job opportunities in these fields will grow by 8%—faster than the average for all occupations. Whether you aim for a salaried position or a freelance career, web design offers diverse employment arrangements, competitive compensation, and the chance to merge technical expertise with creative vision.

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs

What Does a Career in Web Design Involve?

A web design career encompasses the planning, creation, and coding of websites across industries. Typical responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with clients to define website goals and specifications

• Incorporating feedback to refine design and functionality

• Working on graphic design, layout, and multimedia integration (images, video, audio)

• Ensuring responsive, user-friendly, and visually engaging interfaces

Web designers often operate at the intersection of creativity and technology, shaping how users experience a site. Unlike web developers, who focus more on technical infrastructure and coding, web designers are primarily responsible for visual storytelling, usability, and interface design.

“People ignore design that ignores people.” – Frank Chimero

However, in practice, the lines between designers and developers often blur. Many web designers today are proficient in front-end coding, enabling them to implement their designs directly and collaborate more seamlessly with development teams.

Understanding Web Designers vs. Web Developers

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups web developers and digital designers together, but distinguishes their roles:

• Web Developers: Build and maintain websites, focusing on technical aspects such as site performance, back-end functionality, and capacity. They may specialize in front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, using programming languages, frameworks, and libraries.

• Web Designers: Focus on the visual design, layout, and functionality of a website. They ensure usability, aesthetic appeal, and a coherent brand experience, often working closely with front-end developers to implement their vision.

“Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.” – Joe Sparano

Both roles are essential to creating modern, responsive websites, and designers with coding skills are increasingly valued for their ability to bridge the gap between vision and implementation.

Are Web Designers in Demand?

The demand for web designers and developers continues to grow as digital presence becomes crucial for businesses, organizations, and individuals. With 17.4 billion websites in existence as of January 2020, the need for skilled professionals shows no signs of slowing.

Web designers with coding experience or proficiency in modern design tools often command higher salaries and have access to more competitive opportunities. While pay varies by experience, skill set, and industry, there are clear pathways for career growth:

• Front-end web design and development

• UI/UX design and user research

• Interactive and multimedia web experiences

• Freelance or agency-based work spanning multiple industries

“Websites promote you 24/7: No employee will do that.” – Paul Cookson

Key skills for aspiring web designers in 2025 include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, UX principles, and proficiency with modern design software.

Bringing Your Portfolio Online

A professional portfolio is essential for web designers to showcase their skills and attract clients or employers. If you want to build a stunning portfolio website without starting from scratch, free Framer templates can help. These templates are optimized for both design and usability, making it easy to create a polished, eye-catching portfolio tailored to your work: Templyo.