Telling people that I work as a User Interface designer usually stirs up some confused looks and curious questions. I usually have to follow up by explaining that I design websites, which then opens up another can of worms. Here are some of the more popular questions I tend to get:

What is Web Design?

Web design includes the process of carefully planning web layouts that will successfully engage users and convey information. Web designers do this by utilizing colors, typography, images, videos, layouts, and other web elements. Web design unlike most other mediums of design is a medium that relies on incorporating user experience. These designs have to not only be aesthetically pleasing but also be usable and perform a utility.

What are Web Design principles?

Principles of effective web design include user experience, communication, colors, images/videos, typography, and designing for mobile. Communication and user experience are at the core of those principles. Web designers have to be able to effectively communicate to users through their design while also implementing functionality into the design. Ultimately effective web design is judged by the users of the website and utilizing these principles can help designers create an effective design.

What tools do Web Designers use?

Some tools that Web designers use include Sketch, Adobe XD, Zeplin, Invision, Codepen, and Figma. At Red Shark Digital we design most of our web designs in Sketch. Sketch specializes in screen design and integrates with prototyping programs such as InVision and Zeppelin.  For those still relying on Photoshop for UI design, I urge you to make the switch to Sketch and thank me later!

How can I become a Web Designer?

Although there's no exact answer on how to become a web designer, there are some steps to take to start going in the right direction. Start developing a sharp eye for aesthetics and become familiar with current design trends. Familiarise yourself with some basic web design theory and user interaction trends with web pages. Research layouts and different types of structuring found on the web. Starting with these few tips will get you started on the right track of becoming a web designer!Red Shark Digital is known for it's attention to detail and cutting-edge web designs throughout Greenville and Raleigh, NC. Check out the links below for related articles!

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