webmaster skill set

Hiya Block,

I have taught myself to build websites in html using Dreamweaver (but can handcode when required to tidy up add code etc) and as far as graphics are concerned I use Fireworks and create what I need for the websites. If it comes to the company wanting a logo designed then I'll generally pass that out to a printer/artworks that we work closely with as my graphics skills aren't what I consider to be that good! I don't think you necessarily need to be brilliant at either to build good websites but it depends on what basic skills you have. There are many ways to create good looking graphics without being considered a graphic artist.

let's not forget communication and "general" information management skills (i.e., those not directly related to programming)

left brain/right brain

One of my frustrations in life was that I never really found a career that really satisfied my jekyl/hyde personality. I was never really truly bohemian enough (lack of talent aside ) to be an artist yet the rigidity of most business I found stifling, although I liked the analytical challenge sometimes.

Web design offers me a balance - creativity and code, programming and poetry - ok, maybe I'm getting carried away. Having said that, there DOES appear to be two camps out there - designers and developers. Personally, I think that both need a bit of the skills of the other to make it. Others, like me, are a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none although I guess I'd put myself in the designer camp before the developer one.

Pursue the avenue that you enjoy the most but do not ignore the other one if you have any aptitude for it.

It is a good point that you bring up, blockchords. Some people can do it all, graphics, programming, etc. I think that most have a tendency to lean one way or the other. To be a good webmaster, you need to be able to do everything or know how to get it done. Even if you farm out the programming or design to someone else, you should still know enough to be able to make code or graphics changes.

Of course, you will never know what you like until you try it. There are a lot of artist that despise even the word programming. And plenty of programmers that couldn't draw a stick man.

oh, one more thing. Graphic designers do not necessarily make good web designers - frequently it is quite the opposite in fact. I actually have 2 different graphic designers (both highly talented, from what I've seen) approaching me to design sites for them because they have tried and failed.

I think that it is possible to do both and to be good at both. But usually one or the other will be your strong point. Which ever you are not good at is the one you have to work at the hardest. IMO it would be most difficult to do one without the other unless you are with a company who has "seciality" departments, so to speak.

I am crappy at making graphics (and at times the code too....LOL)but have improved over the years and think that if you apply yourself you can do both and be successful. I don't think you should limit yourself to just doing one. Who knows, you may find you calling if you work hard enough.

However, there are some people who are just not cut out for one or the other. I guess it would just depend on the individual and their motivation or on their basic skills like webmistress said.

*waves arm*
That's me, that's me!

I'm a total left brainer. I think. If the left brain is the developer, then that's me. I can't draw anything. I draw crooked stick figures when no one is looking. *shh*

Does starting off younger help? Maybe by starting younger it is easier to develop both sides of the brain and therefore be more well rounded. I'm not really sure. I think there has to be some sort of property that allows people to integrate both sides of webdesign into one. I know because I can do graphic design and I can do programming but it is finding the right balance between the two that is hard for me. I don't want to make a site with to many graphics because it might not be practical for design but I also don't want a site to be completely boring and technical.
-dk

I don't believe starting younger will help in that it will make someone who thinks analytically able to be creative. However, it will help those with the ability make the abilities stronger.

Graphic design doesn't mean lots of graphics, by the way. It includes typography and layout as well as look and feel. You can do graphic design without a single image. It's essential that you understand the difference between doing things only in Photoshop and knowing Graphic Design.

Most people have strong skill sets to one area. Which makes sense -- it is not reasonable to expect someone to be great at both, because each piece requires the brain to function differently. Most people have some overlap (there are few, if any, at the extremes of being entirely left brained, or entirely right brained -- it would be hard to function in society if that were the case), but I think having some overlap doesn't mean you should pretend the skills are there.

The quantity of information you need to process and learn to cover what some are saying a "webmaster" needs to know covers 3-4 entirely different careers. Understanding what is involved for others you are working with is great! But saying that one person can do it is insulting.

For a small site, sure. For a passion site, undoubtedly. But for a career, no way. There is simply too much to know. Even as a programmer, how many languages are enough? A webmaster by that definition would have to learn applications for graphic design, graphic design theory, layout, typography, and then plunk down java, javascript, perl, php, asp, cold fusion, then wander off into xhtml/css and xml/xslt and somehow remain sane.

Wait! What about content? Can a webmaster do all the rest and be a good copy editor and writer at the same time? I don't think so. For one thing, it's impossible to be both editor and writer for the same work and have it be any good.

And that's just touching on the scope of information a webmaster (by that definition) would have to know. I didn't even touch on the project management side of things, information architecture, marketing, branding and business and legal issues.

The thing is time. If you have all the time in the world, you can certainly learn what you need to learn to do everything you want to do for yourself. But who has the time to do that while not earning a living.

***

To answer the question -- do what you're most interested in. Focus on what you can't stop doing, and remain aware of the general goings on in the other areas that you interact with, which will make you better at whatever you choose to focus on.

Interesting question, and a great response Suzanne! Saved me a lot of typing - another key [:)] webmaster skill.

Btw, what about people like me, ie the no-brainers?

Suzanne made a key point from which techies can take heart - you can make a very attractive site without an image in sight or site I'm more leftie, so I've picked up a lot of principles from design sites about color balance and matching, typographic issues for computer screens, layout, etc.

Now if only I could find all those notes... Doesn't make me a designer of course, but does enable me to avoid most blatant design errors.

Another point is that I feel the necessity - or superiority - of attractive sites is way over-rated. For example, magazines are quite attractive usually - but people buy a heck of a lot more newspapers than magazines. I guess designers will always see site building as a design problem, while techies will see it more as an engineering issue.

I agree with Suzanne's conclusion. If you're a designer, look for clients in your field, eg media, fashion, artists. If you're more techie, look for clients with a mainly content-driven focus. There's plenty of work for all - become great at a few things rather than competent at many [assuming it's a career of course]

Start with one, learn all you can about it, the other will follow as you will want to make the first look and perform better!

I started on AOL, with pages, way back in the early 90's. Then I started making graphics. Learned from a book how to do HTML. Learned how to use Photoshop. Learned how to us FP. Learned how to use PSP 6. Devoured DW. Learned how to use PSP 7. See a trend?

I think that the 2 really feed off of each other.

Sara

't seems that to be a "true webmaster" you have to have both programming and graphic design skills. However, these two skill areas require very different cognitive skills
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Hmm. Imagination has been my limitation. When a client wants a site I unfortuately need to rely on that person to tell me what HE/SHE wants ... otherwise I am kinda lost. my own site (brustasconsulting.com) is really pretty basic but it gets my point across.

I have and use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash 5 and Fireworks... so I certainly have the tools. In using Flash I find myself looking for images all of the time. In creating stuff with the Fireworks/Dreamweaver combo, I find myself using similar themes over and over again. Ya know, menu bars on the top or side, standard graphic interface.

I really like website design ... but doubt I'll ever make alot of money at it until/unless I get more creative!

That, in a nutshell pbrustas, is a sign that you should team up with a graphic designer. Having the tools isn't the same as having the ability to create with them. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just recognize it and find yourself a graphic designer who knows what needs to be done code-wise but can't write it and you'll both be happy. And probably more successful.

In my opinion a "true webmaster" is someone who can not only make his/her own site without a program (IE, Frontpage, DreamWeaver, FireWorks, etc...) and only uses NotePad. If they can do that, then they can go use the fancy programs to tweak their abbilaties.

When it comes to Graphic Design I like to use as little images as possible. Not ten on a page, but two or three. The less the better, I think. The real Graphic Design is how you put the site togethor to appeal to people. Not to cluttered but not to spread out. Not to complex but not to simple. If you use CSS, make sure it actually goes with your layout. Don't have a red link on a green backround. That's just terrible.

As for programming skills, you don't have to know every language on the planet. A few is good. I for one know some PHP/MySQL, very basic JScript, and quite a bit of HTML. That's enough in my opinion. If you want to learn more and can without getting confused, go for it. But if you get confused easily, stick with two or three at most, maybe four.

That's my two cents.

Hey, I'll put my two (non)cents in here.

I have no idea what a "true webmaster" is supposed to be. It's not one of those jobs like plumbing where everyone knows what you can do.

I would say you don't have to concentrate on just one path, design or programming. Start with the one that you like better first and then start with the other later on. I also found that there is a lot more information on the web about programming than there is on design concepts. Just FYI. If you want to get started with a little programming get the the PHP bible and make your own blog with mysql and php. Fun stuff and php is probably one of the easiest web programming languages. Learn html first though. As far as the design stuff? I still don't have that down myself. Some people just have it, but for us normal people I think it takes a lot of practice and finding what "looks" good. Look at other peoples sites on coolhomepages.com or linkdup.com or one of the many link sites out there. Maybe get some books about design. Yeah, books are just great.

I think that there's room for many different skill sets and ranges of specialties in this industry. It really depends on what you want to do.

You may just want to design and develop a website for personal interest. In that case it doesn't really matter what you can and cannot do - it's entirely up to you and what you want to do with your page. You can pick things up as you need them.

You may want to do freelance work for small business. In that case you'll need a fairly wide range of skills from front-design to light programming to business logistics etc. You'll need to be prepared to hand off work to contractors when it gets outside of your skill range. This would be a similar skill set to that need for an individual working within a larger company that only needs a few people in house to maintain a web site or intranet.

If you want to work for a company that specializes in web design you'll want to specialize quite heavily in one area or another. One of the comapnies I interviewed with had front-end design, mid-end coding, backend, usability, and marketing all as completely separate departments. Another place had the front-end design and mid-end coding together but backend was still separate. This type of skill set could also work for someone wishing to work as a contractor for the freelancers and companies described in the previous paragraph.

I would say that my skills range from front end design to mid-end coding and light programming, as well as writing and copy editing. I have always been looking for a field that can combine my left side and right side skills into one career so this has really worked well for me. I don't profess to be amazingly good in any one of these areas but I think that it's enough to put up a good, solid, functional website for a client.

Aye, that is true. I consider myself as more of a programmer. A left brained person. Which is why I decided to take a Web Design course this year - I don't know how to design.

It really depends on the person. Make a choice:

Do you really want to be sitting infront of a desk thinking of new/fresh ways of doing things which have already been done, finding new/fresh ways of doing/displaying things

OR

Do you really want to be sitting infront of a computer terminal racking your brain, trying to figure out the logic to a program/problem?

You choose. The choice is yours

loveair: Welcome to the forums, glad you could join us. Why not stop by the introductions forum and introduce yourself?

Thanks for the warm welcome Have put my answers in the Introductions forum.

Have also learnt how to setup an Apache/PHP/MySQL environment on my home PC and started working through PHP Web Development with Macromedia Dreamweaver Mx 2004 which has a five star rating and is proving to be an excellent introduction to these essential skills.

I hope you are aware you are replying to an old thread?