Apr 8, 2025
5min read
Starting and Growing a Career in Web Design
As the internet continues to evolve and expand, the opportunities for those working in web-related fields grow alongside it. Among these, web design and development stand out as some of the fastest-growing areas. Recent projections suggest that by 2029, demand for web design and development professionals will increase by approximately 8 percent, outpacing the average growth rate for many other industries. Whether you’re aiming for a salaried position or considering a more flexible freelance path, web design offers solid career prospects, competitive earnings, and a unique mix of technical and creative work.
What Does a Web Design Career Look Like?
A web design career typically involves designing, building, and refining websites across different industries and use cases. The work often includes direct collaboration with clients to understand their needs, collecting and applying feedback, working on visuals and images, and adding features like audio and video to enhance the user experience.
Unlike web developers, who usually handle the more technical side of website functionality, web designers focus primarily on how the website looks and feels. Still, the two roles often overlap, especially in smaller projects or freelance settings where one person may cover both the visual and functional aspects of a site.
The Difference Between Web Designers and Web Developers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups web developers and digital designers into one category but makes a clear distinction between them. Web developers are generally responsible for building and maintaining websites, focusing on areas like speed, server capacity, and overall technical performance. Web and digital designers, by contrast, focus on the user experience, site layout, and visual design. They play a key role in testing how users interact with the website and making adjustments to improve usability.
Developers may specialize in back-end, front-end, or full-stack development. Back-end developers work with databases and servers, front-end developers bring the visual design to life on the user’s screen, and full-stack developers handle both ends of the process. Web designers typically work alongside front-end developers to make sure the look and functionality align.
Is There Demand for Web Designers?
The need for skilled web designers continues to grow as more businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators build their online presence. With billions of websites already live, and countless more being launched every year, this demand is not going away anytime soon. Web designers who have a strong grasp of coding, particularly in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, tend to have an edge in the market and can often command higher rates, though the use of AI tools is closing that gap.
As with most careers, salaries and opportunities will vary. Some positions will offer higher pay, especially those that combine creative design with solid technical skills.
For those considering this career path or looking to start a freelance web design business, building a strong portfolio is essential. Having a professional website to showcase your work is often the first step in attracting clients. Using customizable website templates can help you get started quickly, especially if you want to present your projects in a clean, impactful way without diving too deep into coding.