I am wondering what skills you guys think are necessary before you start offering your services as a designer? I am currently learning web design and I know that HTML/CSS knowledge is an absolute must but in terms of more complicated languages such as javascript, PHP etc. do you think it is necessary to have knowledge of these before I start trying to make money?

 

I really don't want to go in unprepared but it seems like there are so many things you can learn now I'd just like to get a clearer idea of what clients usually want and what is important to learn.

 

I made another post about the best way to go about learning to make ecommerce sites. I'm guessing they are the most popular project people want?

 

Advice is appreciated

I am wondering what skills you guys think are necessary before you start offering your services as a designer? I am currently learning web design and I know that HTML/CSS knowledge is an absolute must but in terms of more complicated languages such as javascript, PHP etc. do you think it is necessary to have knowledge of these before I start trying to make money?

 

I really don't want to go in unprepared but it seems like there are so many things you can learn now I'd just like to get a clearer idea of what clients usually want and what is important to learn.

 

I made another post about the best way to go about learning to make ecommerce sites. I'm guessing they are the most popular project people want?

 

Advice is appreciated

 

It really depends on what you want to do. If you want to be a designer then you could get by without PHP/ASP/.NET/Ruby, etc. You probably should know a little raw javascript and a lot of jQuery.

 

If you want to be a developer obviously you need to learn the back end language of choice.

 

I think the important thing to remember is as a freelancer you don't have other departments to draw on. You have to be Marketing, Sales, Creative Director, User Experience Designer, Visual Designer, Front-End Developer, etc. This means you need to have a really strong understanding of a wide variety of specialties to be able to offer professional service.

 

I pulled this from another post of mine (stuff you need to know):

 

Design Basics. I'm talking about the principles like color theory, composition, layout, typography, hierarchy, gestalt, balance, etc. This is not something that is easily learned on your own, so you might consider some instruction or getting a couple of really good in-depth books. If you can master the basics of design as a form of communication then you should be off to a great start.

 

Some form of graphics editor. Without getting into a debate about what to use, you should be proficient enough with a piece of design software to generate the images you need for the web. Some people prefer to do mockups and then go into HTML/CSS, but you can also accomplish most stuff with CSS3 nowadays. You will eventually find a workflow that suits you, but starting off by working in Photoshop/GIMP/Fireworks/Illustrator, etc. is a good visual way to practice the basics.

 

If you want to get a job as a designer you need to be able to code what you make. There are some exceptions to this (I only deal with Photoshop at work) but you want to know HTML/CSS/jQuery well enough to at least know what is and isn't practical.

 

The languages you need to know: XHTML and HTML5. Master both. XHTML comes first since it's the foundation of website structure, but with HTML5 on the (slow) rise, you need to get into that, too. CSS3 is an absolute must. You can generate a lot of the stuff you'd do in a graphics editor with well-written CSS3. This will help make your sites lightweight (since 10kb of CSS is better than 250kb of images) and easier to update. jQuery is becoming a must, too. Even if you don't want to delve into the world of AJAX, JSON and complex animation/interaction stuff, you should be able to at least implement plugins, animate basic elements, etc. PHP is great to have a rudimentary knowledge of so you can write your own simple scripts and interface with the popular CMS'es: Wordpress, Expression Engine or Drupal.

 

You should familiarize yourself with information architecture: laying out information so that it drives users to convert. Businesses only really care about conversion rates in the end; people buying their products or services. There are plenty of articles on the web about establishing Calls to Action and good user funnels.

 

Lastly, you really need to understand User Experience concepts. You need to know how users think and EXPECT to interact with your site. You can design the prettiest thing but if a user can't understand how to use it without ANY shred of confusion it really is a design failure.

 

The above is only really relevant for designers, but hopefully illustrates my point.

 

I think it's also wise to specialize. I see a lot of people marketing themselves as a Graphic Designer, Web Designer, UI Designer, SEO expert, Developer. There aren't many people who can truly offer professional quality work in all those fields, so pick an area you are good at and market yourself as an expert in one thing. You still need to have a solid foundation in the areas I mention above, but it allows you to carve out a niche instead of doing cheap generalist work.

Edited April 25, 201115 yr by porkchops

On top of the bricks and mortar of web design, as explained by Porkchops above, I'd say marketing, both online and offline, copywriting and SEO. No point in being the best designer if nobody can find you

I agree with everything those guys wrote ^ +1

 

The more skills you pick up the more jobs you can apply for. HTML/CSS on its own is relatively easy and there are a lot of freelancers out there already that do that, so the competition is fierce on sites like eLance. There is not much demand for static sites anyway so sooner or later you'll probably need to learn some PHP.

 

It helps if you specialize in a specific area, for example I only do 'web programming', specifically PHP5, so I market myself as an expert in that field. I don't even bother applying for anything outwith that area despite being proficient in other areas.

 

Also, bear in mind freelance is probably 50% business, how much do you know about running a business? how much about finance, bookkeeping, marketing, etc. do you know? People who walk blindly into working freelance without much business skills don't last long.

 

Someone posted this link a while ago which I liked: http://www.andyrutledge.com/advice-for-new-freelancers.php

Edited April 26, 201115 yr by Jock

Thanks for the responses.

 

I definitely hear what you're saying about specialising in one or two areas rather than trying to be an expert in everything. When I look at the amount of programs/languages you can specialise in it's pretty overwhelming. I'd obviously like to focus on areas where there is money to be made and I have some talent for. I am good at writing articles and have some experience with SEO from sites I've had in the past so that'd definitely be one thing I can do, also I like using photoshop and seem to pick it up quite quickly so I'd like to do banner/logo design. Also designing css themes is appealing since you can sell them on other sites as well as your own.

 

 

I intend to move onto learning javascript next but I'm confused about something - I hear people talk about jquery in relation to javascript. Can you learn jquery without learning javascript? How are the two connected? I just want to learn what's going to practical in terms of making my sites function well.

 

Also in regards to working for an agency - is it possible to still work freelance (ie from home) whilst working for an agency. Like they get you a job and take a cut of the money?

...I intend to move onto learning javascript next but I'm confused about something - I hear people talk about jquery in relation to javascript. Can you learn jquery without learning javascript? How are the two connected? I just want to learn what's going to practical in terms of making my sites function well.

 

Also in regards to working for an agency - is it possible to still work freelance (ie from home) whilst working for an agency. Like they get you a job and take a cut of the money?

 

jQuery is a Javascript library. It's built in Javascript and has a ton of useful functions prebuilt for you so you don't have to write them by hand. You can probably learn the basics of jQuery without Javscript knowledge, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice. Learn enough Javascript to start manipulating the DOM then switch to jQuery.

 

There are three or four ways an agency will let you work:

 

1. As a contractor. You work for them, get paid a fixed hourly rate. Maybe benefits, though that's rare.
   
2. As a freelancer. You don't work for them, they outsource to you.
   
3. As an employee that can freelance on the side. You are employed, have work-related projects but can also freelance on your own.
   
4. As an employee that is not allowed to freelance. Some companies prevent this to keep you from "competing". Almost all companies will make you sign a no-compete clause when you work for them but only some are really anal about enforcement.
   

You may not strictly have to know that things. More is need to know the marketing policy, research ability along with link building. But mostly it is great if you know the concept of almost every sector. This is cool and key to success.

 

Also in regards to working for an agency - is it possible to still work freelance (ie from home) whilst working for an agency. Like they get you a job and take a cut of the money?

 

It all depends on your contract of employment? I few companies wouldn't like the idea of you running a part-time web design business whilst working under them(as my contact stated) and they would place a condition within the contract. My contract states(and I can't remember the exact words) that I am forbidden to do any freelance, talk about running a web biz with colleagues, taking a new position with an agency that is in direct competition for at least twelve months (yes I couldn't believe it either) and some other crap that I couldn't be bothered to read.

 

So...that's why, after two ****e years, I am off to work for another company that is NOT in direct competition with them!

 

But i wouldn't even think about going freelance until you have at least seen what it's like to work in a commercial environment, working to deadlines and talking to clients - stupid arrogant ones at that!

 

What was it that someone told me....."Going freelance fresh out of uni or with little commercial experience was like jumping out of a plane and then asking how the parachute works!"

Edited April 26, 201115 yr by neilp

...But i wouldn't even think about going freelance until you have at least seen what it's like to work in a commercial environment, working to deadlines and talking to clients - stupid arrogant ones at that! ...

 

This is great advice.

 

You have to do EVERYTHING as a freelancer, so you get far less time to actually design. I'd recommend finding an agency job for a couple of years to master the design aspect before jumping into a full-time freelance career. Especially if you've only been designing in a bubble at school.

 

Not to mention that a good creative director will whip your design skills into shape very quickly, far better than you could ever learn on your own. Being surrounded by other talent is a good stimulus for learning, too.

This is great advice.

 

You have to do EVERYTHING as a freelancer, so you get far less time to actually design. I'd recommend finding an agency job for a couple of years to master the design aspect before jumping into a full-time freelance career. Especially if you've only been designing in a bubble at school.

 

Not to mention that a good creative director will whip your design skills into shape very quickly, far better than you could ever learn on your own. Being surrounded by other talent is a good stimulus for learning, too.

 

Wouldn't you need a degree or some other qualification to get a job with an agency? I am pretty much self taught so I won't have anything like that to show

Wouldn't you need a degree or some other qualification to get a job with an agency? I am pretty much self taught so I won't have anything like that to show

 

 

No, all you need is a good portfolio. I have two web design qualifications(CIW) and back when i was looking for my first role, not once was i asked about what qualifications i had. And that was out of ten or so interviews. It is tough getting that first position but if your portfolio is good and you can demonstrate that you are on the cutting edge(HTML5, CSS3, jQuery) then it will only be a matter of time before you will be taken on.

 

Don't give up though. It took me about two years to find my first junior position but it was at the start of the recession, and i did have plenty of interviews because of my portfolio!

No, all you need is a good portfolio...

 

Words of wisdom, right here.

 

It certainly helps to have a degree, but any good design house is going to appreciate talent and past work far more than a piece of paper.

 

You have to have a REALLY solid portfolio though, so don't just slam together a bunch of stuff. Find 4-6 GREAT pieces and put them in there.