The role of a web designer has evolved from designing a website and working with HTML to include interaction with clients and undertaking online campaigns. Various other aspects such as website maintenance, user experience design, and SEO implementation has broadened the role of a web designer and blurred the divide between web designers and developers. Broadly, here are the roles performed by a web designer nowadays:
Designing
The fundamental and primary role of a web designer involves developing the layout and look of a website. To ensure that the website is user friendly and interactive the designer considers the specific requirements of the company branding or logo and uses tools such as Photoshop, Flash, and so on to design the color and typography of the website.
Involvement in Programming Tools
Web designers are now expected to get involved at the backend design of a website as well to ensure that their vision of designs can be optimally implemented in the later processes. This involves understanding the programming languages, writing the coding, identifying any technical problems, and uploading the site on a server and carrying out its registration with different search engines.
On-page SEO
Such a designer is now also expected to have an understanding of at least the basics of on-page Search Engine Optimization techniques. By inculcating SEO techniques right from the designing stage, you can ensure your site to rank well on the different search engines right from the start and drive traffic to it.
These are some of the broad roles that are required to be performed by a web designer nowadays. Such a professional is thus required to possess skills of planning, organization, communication, teamwork, and analysis to be able to perform these manifold roles optimally and for survival in this competitive field.