Web design in South Africa can be a lucrative career because small businesses are all getting online. Businesses need to establish and maintain an online presence to get new customers and web design is a skill that can be a career or a fruitful side hustle. The internet is a vast place with endless possibilities and with millions of domain names getting registered every day, it makes sense to opt for a career in tech.

There’s also a high demand and a huge gap for women to get into tech careers. Coming off the heels of International Women’s Day 2020, it’s important to empower young women with the skillsets necessary to carve careers in tech.

If you’re interested in starting a career as a web designer, you’ve clicked on the right place because below we answer your most frequently asked questions about professional website design.

What is a web designer? 

Web designers are responsible for the visual, customer-facing elements of a website. The emphasis is on style, branding, and visuals.

What is the difference between a website designer and a website developer? 

Website developers essentially build the website from scratch. A great analogy on the difference between web designers and web developers are is that developers are builders and designers are interior decorators and both work together to bring the vision to life. The interior designer decides the drapes and color scheme of the space, while the builder is more concerned with the foundation and functionality of the home. Both are equally important and work hand-in-hand.

What skills do I need to be a website designer? 

  • Firstly, you need to have an eye for design and be fluent in color theories as well as on-page design elements  
  • Secondly, being brand-oriented is very helpful. Understanding branding and brand messaging is advantageous
  • Thirdly, understand the user journey and responsive design

Another skill that you need and can easily acquire by doing research and a short online course is coding. Understating the various coding and web design languages can take your website design to the next level.

Do I need a degree to be a web designer? 

Like most careers in tech, a degree definitely works to your advantage, but it’s not compulsory. If you’re a self-starter, are eager to learn, and can invest the necessary time in upskilling yourself, you can teach yourself website design through a variety of online courses.

Below are a few online courses that you can do in the comfort of your home. Before you invest too much money trying to obtain a degree, it’s wiser to start with some short courses and see if this career path is for you.

How can I learn web design? 

The best way to learn is to start. Register a domain with us and select a web hosting package to get started. Do a lot of research like watching YouTube tutorials and reading up about website design in South Africa. Also, consider starting one of the below courses:

 The best way to learn is to be a student and to read and practice as much as you can. Everything you need to know you will learn along the way and the online courses by Udemy and Get Smarter are elite.