How to Become a Web Designer in 2024
With new trends and technologies defining the web design industry, the role of a professional web designer becomes increasingly pivotal in 2024. The year is ripe with opportunities for those eager to cultivate online experiences. Aspiring designers need not only creativity but a strategic approach to navigate the field and stand out from the competition.
The moment you start building your own website, you have the potential to create beautiful, functional, and professional sites for others. Every site you craft is an opportunity to master the fundamentals while assembling a toolkit of advanced skills that expands your creativity. Squarespace is there every step of the way, providing everything from thoughtfully crafted and ready-to-use templates to advanced tools that help you build fully customized websites with unlimited flexibility.
Learn how to launch a professional web design business on Squarespace and the tools, resources, and tactics that will kickstart your career in 2024.
1. Foundations to website building
Thanks to innovative design and engineering, you can build a beautiful website without being—or hiring—a front-end developer. Squarespace templates offer intuitive tools so that anyone can create customized, user-friendly websites, sometimes in a matter of hours. That means launching a web design career is possible, even if you don’t have years of website-building experience. As you grow your skills, the sky's the limit to what you can build with Squarespace.
Templates to create beautiful sites without coding
For those new to the platform, everything begins with selecting a template. Squarespace has over a hundred to choose from, each designed for a specific purpose.
The templating paradigm is flexible, meaning that every template supports a range of options for functionality and styling so that, no matter what template you start with, you can achieve your design goals. Code blocks empower even more expressive designs with custom code. Whether you’re new to web design or a seasoned professional, templates accelerate the design process and ensure your sites are highly functional.
Squarespace’s drag-and-drop content editor Fluid Engine dramatically expands how much you can customize templates and other site features without formal coding skills.
Learn more about Squarespace templates and Fluid Engine.
Building blocks to create a custom website
No matter what template you start with, you’ll use Squarespace’s blocks or sections to customize your website. These blocks seamlessly integrate text, images, buttons, forms, and other content or functions into your web pages. There is a wide range of page-ready blocks you can use on your clients’ sites, but you’re not stuck with what’s there. You can style and customize blocks, and create new ones from scratch, to perfectly fit any site’s particular use case or aesthetic.
When you add a block, you’re adding HTML without having to write the code yourself. Once you’re familiar with the basics of blocks, you can move them around a page to create columns and side panels, allowing for a fluid design experience.
For instance, if you’re promoting or reviewing a product, you can add an Amazon block to reduce the need for any third-party code or links. With map blocks, you can embed Google Maps with a pin on your location. If you promote charitable organizations, donation blocks will let clients donate through Stripe or Paypal. All of this can be done by simply clicking and dragging blocks.
2. Stocking your web design toolkit
Great web designers don’t simply deliver great-looking, highly functional websites to their clients. They set them up for success by thoughtfully anticipating their needs and introducing them to the right tools and strategies to help them grow their businesses.
From reliable domain hosting to efficient online schedule management tools and insightful site analytics, mastering these essentials is key to creating a seamless and successful web design journey for both you and your clients. The following are just a few of the must-have tools that will elevate your offering in 2024.
Domain hosting
A great website needs a great domain. With Squarespace, you can create and manage domains in one place. When you or a client purchases a new annual subscription, you can register a domain for free for the first year. The price will vary after that or for additional domains.
This guide covers the differences between web and domain hosting. In it, you’ll find resources for registering a Squarespace domain, transferring a domain to Squarespace, and connecting a domain from a different provider.
Pro tip: If you sign up for an annual billing plan, you may also be eligible for one free custom domain for your first year.
Acuity Scheduling
Acuity Scheduling is an integrated online booking tool that makes you accessible to your clients and leads.
The tool syncs with your calendar, so your clients know when you’re available. If their schedule changes and the slot they chose no longer works, they can see your schedule and choose another slot. Of course, you can integrate Acuity Scheduling into your clients’ sites as well. If your client has a team, every member can have their own calendar.
You can set up Acuity Scheduling to send on-brand, automatic reminders through email and text. You can even integrate with a payment processor to simplify collecting payments.
This guide will help you get started with Acuity Scheduling.
Site analytics
Squarespace Analytics gives you an in-depth view of how visitors and clients interact with your site. It shows how many people are visiting the site and gives you visibility into how they’re getting there. This helps you optimize your marketing efforts, which you can also manage through the Squarespace platform.
This guide covers different marketing tools and techniques, including SEO, collecting leads, email and social campaigns, and ads. These can help you reach clients and you can see whether or not parts of your site would benefit from a redesign. Introducing your clients to these tools, and showing them the basics, can be another great way to add value as a web professional.
The Squarespace platform extends award-winning design into everyday business. As a website designer, all of the thoughtfully designed, intuitive tools Squarespace offers are concrete benefits that you can deliver to your clients. For you and your clients, this streamlines administrative tasks and frees attention for more meaningful endeavors. Imagine what you and your clients can accomplish when you can focus on your strengths without getting bogged down in the nitty gritty of coding language and development costs. For a comprehensive list of other items to add to your web design toolkit, read our guide to the essentials.
3. Understanding web design basics
Building a strong foundation in web design begins with mastering the fundamentals of a website: the layout, architecture, and aesthetics. Understanding these basics not only shapes your approach to design but also establishes skills you can refine and expand.
Web design strategy
Design is about more than aesthetics. Strategic design helps you identify problems, define success, and show your client the creative solutions for their business. It’s crucial to remember that clients may be so focused on the brick-and-mortar realities of their business that they don’t fully grasp how the structure of their site can impact sales. Strategic thinking about how to elegantly accomplish a client’s business goals with smart design is what separates an attractive website from a best-in-class, professionally designed one.
Website layout
Compelling website layouts offer a dynamic interplay of elements influenced by thoughtful web design strategy. As consumer expectations shift, staying adept at creating layouts that align with clients’ strategic objectives becomes paramount.
A well-crafted layout is a powerful catalyst for driving conversions and fostering user engagement. Thoughtfully organized content, strategically placed calls-to-action, and intuitive navigation pathways collectively contribute to a user-friendly experience that encourages visitors to explore, interact, and ultimately convert. In an era where online success hinges on user interaction and customer satisfaction, the ability to craft layouts that seamlessly guide visitors toward desired actions is an important skill for web designers optimizing the impact of a website.
Website aesthetics
Purpose affects every aspect of design. The goals of your client’s site will dictate your design choices, including the volume and structure of your content.
Staying abreast of annual trends is crucial for a new web designer, as it empowers you to remain relevant and competitive. Trends in design, technology, and user experience evolve rapidly, influencing consumer expectations. Being aware of these trends helps you create modern and visually appealing websites, enhancing their marketability and meeting customer preferences and industry standards. In addition to reading up on 2024’s most prominent web design trends, seek inspiration from other websites and creative industries.
4. More resources to get you started
Getting started in web design can be overwhelming, but the right resources can make the journey smoother. The following articles provide extra guidance to help you navigate the initial steps and build a solid foundation as a web designer:
For more resources on becoming a web designer, join Squarespace Circle. Circle members are web professionals who enjoy exclusive programs including guides, live webinars, a community forum, discounts, and more.
**This post was originally published February 14, 2022. It has since been updated.Want more?
Check out Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for professional designers. Along with exclusive content, discounts, and other perks, Circle brings professionals together from all across the globe to exchange advice while connecting with new clients and collaborators.
