reading this and have never had a formal design lesson in your life, this doesn't mean you have to abandon your dream of becoming a web designer. Academic qualifications have to a degree (excuse the pun) taken a back seat in favour of hands on skills. Web design is now a diverse industry and offers a large number of specific jobs that you can work in. From creative director to artworker, there is a job that's perfect for you. Talk to other designers; expand your knowledge and work on developing your creativity. But don't forget that often you will be asked to work within a team, so hone your communication skills as well.

Freelance freedom

Landing a job in a design agency can be easier said than done, which is why many designers make the decision to employ themselves. Going down the freelance route can have many benefits, but take this step with great care. Running your own design agency will require

Whether you are a recent graduate, self-taught or an established designer looking to make a change in your career, web design as a vocation has changed out of all recognition over the last few years. Where HTML jockeys once ruled the web, today if you want to get ahead in web design you need an armoury of skills that you can sell to an employer. More designers are also breaking away from traditional studios and setting themselves up as freelance agents in a bid to fulfil their creative ambitions.

No matter how you came into web design, understanding the market as well as possessing the skills you'll need to succeed are both essential. To make it in what is now a very competitive and creative environment you'll need flair, good business sense, solid skills in your chosen field and a relentless pursuit of your goal. Web design is one of the most dynamic fields any designer can work in, but how do you land that dream job?

Design landscape

The dotcom crash of the late Nineties was a turning point in web and multimedia design. Before the crash shook the industry, anyone with a basic knowledge of HTML could get a job hand coding pages or flying an early version of Dreamweaver. The design industry that had a background in print couldn't quite understand what design for the screen really meant. After the crash, some hard lessons were learnt as the industry put itself back onto its feet. The new web would not only have a much sounder business footing to build on; it would also use the design lessons of the screen generation and apply them to the new wave of websites that blasted across millions of PC screen worldwide.

The good news is that today if you're looking for a web or new media post, the range of jobs on offer has mushroomed. Where once HTML skills reigned supreme, today a more rounded approach to design is required by the industry as a whole. Yes, technical ability is still required, but this must be supported with a well defined design sense. If you can't use your technical prowess to solve problems, you'll find it impossible to land a job in this industry.

No blagging allowed!

One question that is often asked is what skills you should gain to give yourself the best chance of securing a job. Web design today encompasses many technical disciplines, which you’ll be required to be fluent in. The industry as a whole is moving away from highly specialised designers to staff that is multi skilled.

The design industry doesn't tolerate anyone who can't deliver what they say they can. If you're lucky enough to land a position, from day one you'll be required to prove to your employer that they made the right decision. You can either do the work or you can't there's no middle ground. And in an industry that puts great trust in reputations, you should protect yours at all costs.

You can't have failed to notice the increase in online portfolios that have now become a part of the design landscape. In this industry it's what you can do that counts to prospective employers. They simply don't care which university you went to or who your teachers were. All they want to know is what you as a designer can do for them. You show them with your portfolio. It should showcase your best work but also illustrate the kind of designer you are. Companies that are commissioning web designers for entire web based projects or for content need to know you 'fit' with the company, and that the work you'll produce complements their brand identity. Take a look at your current portfolio. What's it say about you? Does it reflect your particular design sensibilities?

Many budding web designers are of course self-taught. If you're reading this and have never had a formal design lesson in your life, this doesn't mean you have to abandon your dream of becoming a web designer. Academic qualifications have to a degree (excuse the pun) taken a back seat in favour of hands on skills. Web design is now a diverse industry and offers a large number of specific jobs that you can work in. From creative director to artworker, there is a job that's perfect for you. Talk to other designers; expand your knowledge and work on developing your creativity. But don't forget that often you will be asked to work within a team, so hone your communication skills as well.

Freelance freedom

Landing a job in a design agency can be easier said than done, which is why many designers make the decision to employ themselves. Going down the freelance route can have many benefits, but take this step with great care. Running your own design agency will require

m job?

Design landscape

The dotcom crash of the late Nineties was a turning point in web and multimedia design. Before the crash shook the industry, anyone with a basic knowledge of HTML could get a job hand coding pages or flying an early version of Dreamweaver. The design industry that had a background in print couldn't quite understand what design for the screen really meant. After the crash, some hard lessons were learnt as the industry put itself back onto its feet. The new web would not only have a much sounder business footing to build on; it would also use the design lessons of the screen generation and apply them to the new wave of websites that blasted across millions of PC screen worldwide.

The good news is that today if you're looking for a web or new media post, the range of jobs on offer has mushroomed. Where once HTML skills reigned supreme, today a more rounded approach to design is required by the industry as a whole. Yes, technical ability is still required, but this must be supported with a well defined design sense. If you can't use your technical prowess to solve problems, you'll find it impossible to land a job in this industry.

No blagging allowed!

One question that is often asked is what skills you should gain to give yourself the best chance of securing a job. Web design today encompasses many technical disciplines, which you’ll be required to be fluent in. The industry as a whole is moving away from highly specialised designers to staff that is multi skilled.

The design industry doesn't tolerate anyone who can't deliver what they say they can. If you're lucky enough to land a position, from day one you'll be required to prove to your employer that they made the right decision. You can either do the work or you can't there's no middle ground. And in an industry that puts great trust in reputations, you should protect yours at all costs.

You can't have failed to notice the increase in online portfolios that have now become a part of the design landscape. In this industry it's what you can do that counts to prospective employers. They simply don't care which university you went to or who your teachers were. All they want to know is what you as a designer can do for them. You show them with your portfolio. It should showcase your best work but also illustrate the kind of designer you are. Companies that are commissioning web designers for entire web based projects or for content need to know you 'fit' with the company, and that the work you'll produce complements their brand identity. Take a look at your current portfolio. What's it say about you? Does it reflect your particular design sensibilities?

Many budding web designers are of course self-taught. If you're reading this and have never had a formal design lesson in your life, this doesn't mean you have to abandon your dream of becoming a web designer. Academic qualifications have to a degree (excuse the pun) taken a back seat in favour of hands on skills. Web design is now a diverse industry and offers a large number of specific jobs that you can work in. From creative director to artworker, there is a job that's perfect for you. Talk to other designers; expand your knowledge and work on developing your creativity. But don't forget that often you will be asked to work within a team, so hone your communication skills as well.

Freelance freedom

Landing a job in a design agency can be easier said than done, which is why many designers make the decision to employ themselves. Going down the freelance route can have many benefits, but take this step with great care. Running your own design agency will require

is required by the industry as a whole. Yes, technical ability is still required, but this must be supported with a well defined design sense. If you can't use your technical prowess to solve problems, you'll find it impossible to land a job in this industry.

No blagging allowed!

One question that is often asked is what skills you should gain to give yourself the best chance of securing a job. Web design today encompasses many technical disciplines, which you’ll be required to be fluent in. The industry as a whole is moving away from highly specialised designers to staff that is multi skilled.

The design industry doesn't tolerate anyone who can't deliver what they say they can. If you're lucky enough to land a position, from day one you'll be required to prove to your employer that they made the right decision. You can either do the work or you can't there's no middle ground. And in an industry that puts great trust in reputations, you should protect yours at all costs.

You can't have failed to notice the increase in online portfolios that have now become a part of the design landscape. In this industry it's what you can do that counts to prospective employers. They simply don't care which university you went to or who your teachers were. All they want to know is what you as a designer can do for them. You show them with your portfolio. It should showcase your best work but also illustrate the kind of designer you are. Companies that are commissioning web designers for entire web based projects or for content need to know you 'fit' with the company, and that the work you'll produce complements their brand identity. Take a look at your current portfolio. What's it say about you? Does it reflect your particular design sensibilities?

Many budding web designers are of course self-taught. If you're reading this and have never had a formal design lesson in your life, this doesn't mean you have to abandon your dream of becoming a web designer. Academic qualifications have to a degree (excuse the pun) taken a back seat in favour of hands on skills. Web design is now a diverse industry and offers a large number of specific jobs that you can work in. From creative director to artworker, there is a job that's perfect for you. Talk to other designers; expand your knowledge and work on developing your creativity. But don't forget that often you will be asked to work within a team, so hone your communication skills as well.

Freelance freedom

Landing a job in a design agency can be easier said than done, which is why many designers make the decision to employ themselves. Going down the freelance route can have many benefits, but take this step with great care. Running your own design agency will require