(I apologize if this is not the right place for a topic like this--staff, please move it to wherever you feel is appropriate if necessary.) Anyway, I am studying web design and interactive media in school and, for an assignment, I need to put a few questions to someone (or multiple someones ) currently working in my intended field. If any of you have the time to answer my questions, I would really appreciate it (the sooner the better, if you can swing it). 1. How difficult would you say it is to stay on top of changes in the industry—both changes to technical specifications, such as (X)HTML and CSS recommendations, and changes in web design trends, like the Web 2.0 craze? 2. Aside from obvious things like providing high-quality designs and fair prices, what would you say are the best ways to keep customers coming back? 3. If a web design student intended to become a freelance designer, would you say that it is easier to start working freelance immediately or find a job with a design firm first and then move on later? 4. Do you have any advice you would give to someone that is entering the field of web design? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide, Achillobator
How difficult would you say it is to stay on top of changes in the industry—both changes to technical specifications, such as (X)HTML and CSS recommendations, and changes in web design trends, like the Web 2.0 craze? Well changes do take place real fast in this field, like you are designing one way one year and you have to change it the next. Hence, obviously we also face problems in adapting to new stuff. It requires a great deal of learning resource and tests, before we ourselves can confirm it. However, if you know the basic handling these things aren't really difficult. So in nutshell response, I'll say it is not that difficult to adapt yourself as long as you are willing to do it. 2. Aside from obvious things like providing high-quality designs and fair prices, what would you say are the best ways to keep customers coming back? Give them something, that'll give them the edge over others. Something that would just say WOW! 3. If a web design student intended to become a freelance designer, would you say that it is easier to start working freelance immediately or find a job with a design firm first and then move on later? Well depends on your caliber. If you really have the talent, you can prove yourself anyways. However, I'll say that one should always start Freelancing first. Why? Well mainly because at the initial stages you are just in need to adapt to the market. Once you are done with that, than you yourself can judge whether you belong in a firm or run something on your own. 4. Do you have any advice you would give to someone that is entering the field of web design? Yes, whatever you do. Just let it be original. Go through designs that people liked and see what was that special element that makes them what they are.
Lemme see... I do more particularly web development, but there are many times where I have to modify a design from a psd and build a new site in html/css from it. So some of my answers should be relevant. 1) I don't find it hard to keep on top of the specifications, more so the requirements needed to make the sites appear correctly across all browsers. Thats where one of the most major problems and slow downs lie. 2) The way you treat them. The company i'm with says they're known for being one of the most expensive in the region, but customers keep coming back. This is because of the way we treat them throughout the process, and the usual positive end result of the development. 3) I'm not quite sure how to answer this, but I find that working with a company has been easier than working by myself. When working with the company the managers can take care of all the work for you with regards to contacting clients. They just pass on stuff to you, or take stuff from you to pass to the client. That then allows you to focus on what you should be doing, and thats doing the design aspect. 4) Build up a portfolio to show what you can do, and even try some freelance work to help build the portfolio. Then you can try and join a company by showcasing your portfolio.
There have been very few technology changes. HTML has been stable since 1999, CSS since 1998, ECMAScript (javascript) core language since 1999, and javascript DOM3 since 2004. What does constantly change is how they are used and abused. Web 2.0 does not apply to designers, except as a silly buzz word. For the programmer, both server and client side, it is about creating an immediacy of community. Amazon is an excellent example. The vast majority of site owners, site users, and, for that matter, web designers wouldn't know a high quality design or a fair price from a dented piss-pot. What does matter is that the designer is able to adapt his sensibilities to the site's needs in branding and affordance. The salesman logging in to post his expenses does not want distractions, nor does he want to hunt for the information or widgets he needs to complete his task. Don't kid yourself, if you're going to work on large projects, the public facing parts of the site are likely in the minority. If your designs make it easier for the user to do what he wants to do, you'll have a happier client. Go to work for a web developer that has mundane clients; salvage yards, lawyers, online catalog shopping, etc. None of these wants the artsy fartsy stuff, and you'll get the chance to adapt your skills to the web. No. cheers, gary