MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT

Unlike the other positions from IT, web designers work more in freelancing. The exceptions are the web design firms who have qualified persons for this position.

Web design is a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media delivery via Internet in the form of Markup language suitable for interpretation by Web browser and display as Graphical user interface (GUI).

The intend of web design is to create a web site -- a collection of electronic files that reside on a web server/servers and present content and interactive features/interfaces to the end user in form of Web pages once requested. Such elements as text, bit-mapped images (GIFs, JPEGs, and PNGs), and forms can be placed on the page using HTML/XHTML/XML tags. Displaying more complex media (vector graphics, animations, videos, and sounds) requires plug-ins such as Flash, QuickTime, Java run-time environment, etc. Plug-ins are also embedded into web page by using HTML/XHTML tags.

Improvements in browsers' compliance with W3C standards prompted a widespread acceptance and usage of XHTML/XML in conjunction with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to position and manipulate web page elements and objects. Latest standards and proposals aim at leading to browsers' ability to deliver a wide variety of media and accessibility options to the client possibly without employing plug-ins.

Typically web pages are classified as static or dynamic.
Static pages don’t change content and layout with every request unless a human (web master/programmer) manually updates the page. Dynamic pages adapt their content and/or appearance depending on end-user’s input/interaction or changes in the computing environment (user, time, database modifications, etc.) Content can be changed on the client side (end-user's computer) by using client-side scripting languages (JavaScript, JScript, Actionscript, etc.) to alter DOM elements (DHTML). Dynamic content is often compiled on the server utilizing server-side scripting languages (Perl, PHP, ASP, JSP, ColdFusion, etc.). Both approaches are usually used in complex applications.

Going professional in the Web industry can be as easy as setting up your own Web design Web site, or as complicated as taking a four year college course in Web maintenance and development. There is a lot to think about for the professional designer, beyond just how the pages look: pricing, contracts, legal issues, freelancing or not, how to get customers, and how to keep the ones you have.

If you're running or thinking of starting a Web design business, you should know that getting customers is more than just putting up a Web site and waiting for them to roll in. There is a lot of work involved and you have to try hard to get customers and keep them.

The first question that may come is whether this job is limited to local markets.
Well, the answer is that you can do web design work for anyone who has a computer and a way to comission a job from you. Distance is not a problem, as you may work for people who live several states away from you or even in other countries.

The challenge of doing remote work is getting the work in the first place. And most of the freelance jobs can be with people you don’t even meet in person at first.

It is quite possible to get jobs with people who you've only met online, via email, or telephone. But chances are they heard of you from someone else who recommended you or your company. I don't think it's terribly common for businesses to hire Web designers they've never met based on a design company Web site alone. You still have to do all the legwork that is common for any type of sales job - you're selling yourself and your design skills. And this is much easier to do in person.

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The next thing you have to decide on is what type of web designer you want to be. You can choose from HTML, Design, Layout, Programming, Administration, XML, Graphics, and much more.

No matter where you are along the path of Web design, there is sure to be something more for you to learn and grow. But how do you decide where to go next? Luckily, there are many different paths you can take and review whether you are brand new to HTML and Web design or have been writing programs and DHTML for years.

Beginning HTML:
If you're just starting out on the Web design path, this is your stop. The beginning HTML resources cover the basics of HTML and building a Web page. The classes and tutorials will help you get started. The glossary will explain new terms. Plus you can learn more about the basic software you need to create a Web page.

Advanced HTML:
Once you've got the basics of HTML down, you can move down the path to Advanced HTML. Advanced HTML includes tables and frames, DHTML, and Cacacading Style Sheets. There are more advanced scripting tools available to the advanced HTML programmer. Plus, you might want to learn more about cookies and updating your site with multimedia.

Once you're an expert of basic HTML and advanced HTML, you'll have a lot of the skills you need to move into Web development as a career. But there the path forks. You can choose design or programming. It's also possible to do both.

Professional Web Designers:
Professional Web Designers focus a lot on the look and feel of Web pages. Many, if not most Web designers work as contractors or for contract design firms. This means that a lot of their focus needs to be on contracts, legal issues, and what to charge. But in order to get contracts, designers need to know how to create good layouts, write or manage excellent content, and then promote and market both themselves and the sites they create.

Professional Web Programmers:
Professional Web Programmers focus on the unseen part of Web pages. Things like the CGI, scripts, and programs that make Web sites work. Plus programmers work on the servers and keep them up and running. They manage the security of Web sites and Web pages. Web programmers often implement and manage content management systems and e-commerce portals. Being a Web programmer is often less glamorous than a Designer, but it is just as important a role.

XML Developers:
XML is the next step in Web design and development. Many Web programmers move from standard Web programming into XML programming, and there are a lot of directions you can take within XML. Whether you want to focus more on multimedia and SMIL or you want to post documents for wireless devices with WML or XHTML Basic, XML is where that programming starts.

Know Where You Are on the Path:
Knowing where you are on the path of Web design is the first step to getting the information and resources you need to keep learning and growing in your choice.

If you're going to be a Web programmer, languages like C++, Perl, PHP, Java, ASP, or JSP will feature heavily in your daily workload. But designers and content writers don't use them at all. You would use C++ to write CGIs and scripts to make your Web pages dynamic and interactive.

There are lots of other jobs in the Web field that don't require any programming; they have titles like Designer, Program Manager, Information Architect, Content Coordinator, and many others.

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