Web Design as a Career???
This is the main and most important qualification for a web developer: "Its not about what you know, its about how fast you can learn it." The web is changing way quicker than your your school's schedule. Next, it is very unlikely to get a job as a designer and as a programmer. To be a designer you definetly do need a degree in graphic/screen design. As a HTML programmer its not that important. If you wanna do harder stuff (Perl, ASP,...), a degree in computer science is helpful.
The company I work at spends about $7000 each month for ads looking for new programmers/designers but there wasnt a single response in 6 month. I can just recommend if you have the skills, use them - companys are probably looking for you.
Later,
Malte
dangelo posted this at 12:05 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 152 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
The thought has come across my mind many times, and I really need to know now:
How many web designers here actually make a living off it? Or is it just something you do on your spare time? I do it on my spare time, but I have heard of other people actually having a career in web design.
Anybody have anything to say?
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-RJ D'Angelo
D'Angelo Web Design
http://www.dangelowebdesign.com
-RJ D'Angelo
http://www.dangelowebdesign.com
http://sopranos.virtualave.net
[email protected]
Rob Pengelly posted this at 14:03 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 850 posts
Joined: Jul 1999
I would think it depends on the quality of the work you produce. If you are very talented at doing graphics, flash animations etc, than you have a good chance of doing very well in web design, and could probably make a living out of it.
I think JP is a full time webdesigner?
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Justin S posted this at 15:03 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 2,076 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
So is Malte (works for a big design firm in Germany). I do web design (and hosting) full time as a student (9th grade) and really enjoy it. If you persue it enough then you could definantly do it full time. I know Digital Spinner Online has three people working for them, and they are always PACKED with jobs (50-100 per month). It's definantly possible.
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Justin S.
Justin Stayton - [email] [icq]
vy22 posted this at 15:26 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 296 posts
Joined: Sep 1999
Yes I agree with Robp. You can become a web designer as a career but it is really difficult! It's not just a case of knowing html and graphics but now requires you to know a lot about databases. Companies seem to be wanting to push over more to the e-commerce side of web publishing so if you know SQL and Oracle then you got a good chance! In the UK they prefer you have a degree of some sort and also at least 3 years experience.
The job is well paid if you work in the oil side of things but meeting demands on target is essential.
I used to work for a web design company and we made a lot of money off the big contracts but the competition is fearce as there is always a company out there that can beat your price. Unfortunatley we went bust!
~Vy~
Brooke posted this at 16:10 — 1st February 2000.
She has: 681 posts
Joined: Feb 1999
You definately can make a living off of designing full time. I did for over a year - but didn't want to expand the company and was tired of working alone. So now I do it on the side. And without doing any promotion, I keep getting new clients. Oh - the power of referrals!
But it's not just your design skills - though that's the basis of your business. It's also how well you can run a business, find your niche and market yourself.
Good luck!
Brooke
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Providing quality websites for businesses and individuals!
www.cataluna.com
dangelo posted this at 20:18 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 152 posts
Joined: Dec 1999
Thanks for all the replies, that was exactly what I needed. I do web design as an eighth grade student, and I was wanting to know whether I should pursue it and take courses in college like that or whether I should just have some fun with it for a while.
What is the main programming language out there besides pearl?
I still have a lot of thinking to do. College is far away!
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-RJ D'Angelo
D'Angelo Web Design
http://www.dangelowebdesign.com
[This message has been edited by dangelo (edited 01 February 2000).]
-RJ D'Angelo
http://www.dangelowebdesign.com
http://sopranos.virtualave.net
[email protected]
Adam Lysne posted this at 21:11 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 247 posts
Joined: Sep 1999
I myself, am a full time 10th grade student, starting my own website design, and hosting businesses. Yes, its possible to do it, just you got to put your mind to it. I did, and I should be getting a new computer and some other nice stuff very soon. Its possible, and I say do it. However, technology changes alot too.
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Adam Lysne
[email protected]
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Justin S posted this at 21:23 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 2,076 posts
Joined: Jun 1999
Languages that will never go away:
• HTML
• JavaScript
• Perl
Up and coming languages:
• XML
• dHTML
• PHP
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Justin S.
Malte posted this at 21:41 — 1st February 2000.
They have: 297 posts
Joined: Apr 1999
You might want to read this post I made a while ago:
http://www.webmaster-forums.com/ubb/Forum15/HTML/000308.html
Malte
T posted this at 10:07 — 6th February 2000.
They have: 21 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
Malte,
With what you said before about needing a degree in design do you think you cuold do say a diploma and combine that with programming HTML and be employable....
Anonymous posted this at 19:04 — 6th February 2000.
They have: 5,633 posts
Joined: Jan 1970
I’ve been “professionally” (for money) designing sites for over 2 years now. My company is a little over 9 months old. It’s amazing to me how many quote request we get, offers, etc. I’m basically a one-man team – with a few contractors and part-time guys. If I had a few more people in-house I know for a fact that I could make a thriving company that would easily be full-time. The only down side being that I’m currently a criminal justice student and hope to become a Police Officer.
If anyone knows anyone interested in web design in Santa Cruz/San Jose area have them contact me, I’ve always got projects – I just need locals so that we can work as a team (most projects are good size, e-commerce, large database, etc).
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Adam
AIS Internet Solutions
[email protected]
www.aisinternet.com
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