Web designer

Web designers use their creative and technical skills to design new websites and redesign existing ones.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • take a lead in maintaining and developing a site
  • attend meetings with clients to plan and develop website style and appearance
  • use content management systems (CMS)
  • analyse statistics about who is using the website
  • write reports for managers, clients and partners
  • report technical problems to IT support staff

Working environment

You could work in an office, from home or at a client's business.

Career path and progression

With experience you could:

  • become a lead web designer or manager
  • work as a freelance web designer
  • set up your own web design business

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • customer service skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Most relevant

  • Art and Design - Web designers create the visual look and feel of websites, including layouts, colour schemes, typography, and imagery. A strong foundation in design principles like composition, contrast, and visual hierarchy is essential for making sites that look professional and are easy to use.
  • Computer Science - Web designers work with HTML, CSS, and often JavaScript to build and style web pages. Understanding how code works, how browsers render content, and how websites interact with servers helps them turn their designs into functioning sites.
  • Design and Technology - Web designers follow a design process – researching user needs, prototyping layouts, testing ideas, and refining their work based on feedback. The iterative, problem-solving approach taught in Design and Technology maps closely onto how websites are planned and built.

Also relevant

  • Mathematics - Web designers use mathematical thinking when working with grid layouts, spacing, proportions, and responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes. They also analyse website statistics and user data to understand how people interact with a site and where improvements are needed.
  • Business - Web designers often work directly with clients to understand their brand, audience, and goals for a website. Many also go freelance or start their own web design business, so understanding how to manage clients, price projects, and market services is genuinely useful.
  • English Language - Web designers write reports for managers and clients, present design ideas in meetings, and sometimes help shape the written content on a site. Being able to communicate clearly – both in writing and in person – helps them explain design decisions and work effectively with teams.
  • Psychology - Web designers think carefully about how users behave online – where they look first, how they navigate a page, and what makes them stay or leave. Understanding human perception, attention, and decision-making helps them design sites that feel intuitive and satisfying to use.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

You could take a higher national diploma or degree in:

  • web design and development
  • multimedia design
  • digital media development
  • interactive computing

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

You could take a college course to learn some of the skills you need for this job, for example:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Web Design and Development
  • T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development
  • Level 4 Diploma in IT Web Design

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
  • 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

More Information

You could take an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Content Creator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Junior VFX Artist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Creative Digital Design Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

You could start working as a design assistant or web support assistant and train while you work.

You could volunteer for a local community group or charity and create a website for them. Any experience you can get will be helpful when applying for jobs.

Career tips

You'll need a portfolio of work that shows employers your creative design skills.

To make sure that you're up to date with the latest trends, features and design software you can:

  • get involved in free webinars or online training courses
  • sign up to free online magazines
  • read the latest industry blogs for news and tips

Further information

You can get more advice about careers in web design from techskills.

You can also find out more from Discover Creative Careers.

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