Tuesday Article: The future need for web designers
April 29th, 2008 | Filed in: I’m going to touch on a subject that I’ve been pondering for a while and have a few different thoughts on this time and that is the topic of the current need and the evolvement of the web designers in todays world. We are greatly evolving the techniques and the ways of doing things and it is getting a lot more accessible for people to make their own sites. Read this full article, after the jump.
In this world today we are seeing more and more DIY programs for websites and as late as today I found a new one, which seems to be really really good. Now the deal with these programs are pretty simple, especially with the new generation of them. You purchase and download the program, then you fire it up, create a new ”file” which is kind of like your site database. In it, you can create a lot of different pages using pre-set templates and even blogs as well, all within the management of the program. It also lets you choose between premade templates, or to buy new packs (official and third-party) as well as make your own. At the end it lets you upload the site to an FTP server, regularily, in a ”smart” way.
Granted, the idea of these programs are very smart and I think it is really great that we’ve come such as long way that we now have these applications so that really everyone and their dog can make a website. What is greater is that we have a three-step application choice. At the bottom are these programs, that lets you do things easily, simply, with absolutely no HTML need (although you can apply basic HTML knowledge). Then there is the high-end WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) applications like Adobe Dreamweaver and Microsoft Expression Web, where you can use a good design mode and such, but you still need to know your way around the basic code properties, the lazy designers way to code. Then we have the top end way, which is knowing all the code in your head, and write it yourself, which still relatively few know in comparision to the amount of computer users.
Now, with the background set and when we actually established that everyone and their dog can make a website, like they can make music, movies etc. Where do we web designers come in nowadays and where are we heading?
Personally I’m a strong believer that there will always be a need for industry professionals. Without the web designers, there will obviously be no designs for these applications but what’s more, there are still people looking for professionals to do a really good job for them, mainly to get things customized.
It is however, most vital to start dividing the market and seeing two different markets right now. We have two and there is no denying it either. Business and Personal.
This is where it is time to begin to talyor where you are at. Lets take a look at the personal market first because the least to say is that it is very tricky. In this sector, we really have the applications or online applications dominating, mainly because it is a cheap way of getting a good looking website. The future I think, holds the need for custom solutions still, where many will be starting to looking for people who can make their site stand out from the other millions online. Everyone wants to be unique and stand out right?
I’m starting to see it, more personal clients are beginning to come rolling your way and many choose to discard the, because it is low-paying jobs, with loads to do. This is the tricky part, where do you draw the line. How do you stop loosing your potentially great clients to the applications again?
I think it is a two way matter. The individuals, familys, couples etc. need to see web designers as working professionals, like any plummer or contractor that fixes with our houses. I think the reason why that respect so-to-speak, isn’t there is because, yes, everyone and their dog can supposedly do it.
On the other hand, being a web designer is obviously a lot about pride and you need the money to live on. I think there are a pretty nice sized market of people who do realize that and who realize that you need to pay a bit, in order to get a personalized website. It is something that more and more people are seeing, after they’ve tried it themselves. It is just the need for us web designers to dare take on individuals and try it.
The second market being businesses is high-paying and is really known for that but perhaps a lot harder to break into. It is certinately all about professionalism and to look proper, have business cards properly etc. to score the most high-paying jobs. This can be hard and it is not where you need to snow into as a web designer, there are the personal market which I think ought to be tried more.
If we go a little back to the start topic, there is no doubt that web designers will always be needed and that really nothing will change greatly. Sure, more people will have access and be able to create a website but what that does is really shifting the focus and work a little bit further away to the things that you cannot do in these applications and DIY ways. It will also inevitably mean that those not serious about designing and keeping it up, will loose in favour of the ”application way” because what they know, is what the applications are taking over. If you however are in the game to stay, then you’ll probably know beyond the scope of application editing and what I think is requested of us in the future!
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Well put-together thoughts, it is really hard to be competitive these days and you must always be looking for new markets.
Very interesting article and very well written.