I am interested in Web Design and intend to become a professional Web Designer

A few days ago I stumbled upon a forum discussion that raised some questions for me about the way we understand Web Design as a profession, the web as a medium and its technologies.

Why some people think that learning how to use the tools of a profession, makes you a master in it?

Essentially, a person was asking for advice on his Web Design career:

“Hi,

I am interested in web design and intend to become a professional web designer.

Would like to know your comments on web design future trends so I can take the appropriate training/self-learning.

Some few questions come to my mind; like, should I learn Java Script/PHP/Adobe tools (Cold Fusion, Flex)? What are useful to learn so I can be more productive and efficient?

What are the tools used for mobile web design? Are those the same as for PC?

Thanks and best regards,

XXXX”

As you see it’s a usual question from someone who is about to enter the Web Design field and wants to know the most efficient way into becoming a professional.

What I found weird about the discussion was not the original post, but most of the replies.

“I have currently graduated the University of Phoenix with a degree in Multimedia and now work for a Casino in their IT department. Dreamweaver is an excellent tool to know how to use. Along with that you must know how to create custom graphics using some form of graphics program, I use Photoshop CS3 Extended. I have found out the hard way that Java is a must to know how to use. Almost every program will understand JavaScript. I would say if you could learn Dreamweaver, Flash, Java, and Photoshop you are well on your way.

I hope this was helpful.

XXXX”

Sounds reasonable, right? He suggests many of the nice tools that Web Designers use. Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Flash, etc (his mix-up of Java with JavaScript is not very useful to a newcomer, but that’s not the point).

The rest of the replies on that discussion, like many similar discussions that I’ve read on various forums, tend to focus on the tools of the profession.

There you go people:

1. HTML
2. CSS
3. Flash / ActionScript
4. JavaScript
5. PHP
6. ASP
7. SQL, Flex, ColdFusion, Java, Silverlight…

Learn all of the above and become a grand master Web Designer! – not

You will not become a Web Designer if you learn how to use Dreamweaver and Flash, like you will not become a Graphic Designer if you learn how to use Photoshop. What if Adobe ceases to exist and their products disappear from the market? You’re not a Web Designer anymore?

Sure, you can create some things, you can experiment and actually get to see if you like working with these applications (they’re going to be your daily tools of the trade anyway). But if you’re really interested in the profession, why don’t you take a look at the principles first?

The applications/technologies listed above are just that: applications and technologies. Everybody can use them, and even become good with them. But only a Graphic Designer knows why a specific color does not match with his overall design. Only a Web Designer knows why he/she should use JavaScript instead of Flash in your site.

…what is a Web Designer after all? What is the difference with an Interaction Designer, or a UX Designer. Does Web Design include programming too, or that’s what Web Developers do? Aren’t you interested in learning such details first?

It’s not about the tools and the technologies, these come and go anyway and we all have to learn and adapt into the new ones. It’s about the principles, the guidelines and the understanding of the medium that we work on and how we can put all these applications(tools) and technologies to good use.

Now, if you’re going to focus on CSS, or JavaScript, or Graphics, or Flash, this is just called specialization and it’s up to your personal preference and/or the current & future job market.

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