Over and again, we go around success focusing on the wrong things. We make feeble steps towards success rather than the breakthrough we were hoping for.
Our thirst for success blurs our vision. It blinds us. And the only thing we seem to see is shortcuts, which never pans out well for any of us. We end up becoming handicapped.
Then we go looking for someone to point us in the right direction when we can longer move forward. Point us to the right tools, tips, and the right energy we need to apply.
Are You a Web Designer? Have you always wondered what you need to do right to get yourself up on the success bar? Worry no more.
This write-up is a walking stick meant to ease your walk towards the light. Hold unto it with all your might, and it will see you through the rut you are stuck in.
Hone Your Passion
First, let me begin by defining passion. The dictionary defines it as any compelling emotion or feeling. It is a desire. What excites you about web design?
According to Network Solutions, the guys who first hosted Facebook, web design is “…a process of conceptualizing, planning, and building a collection of electronic files that determine the layout, colors, text styles, structure, graphics, images, and use of interactive features that deliver pages to your site visitors.”
That definition isn’t exciting. Lest we forget, web design requires some coding knowledge as well. All the same, you need to determine what excites you about web design.
In other words, why do you want to become a successful web designer? Is it to:
- Make a difference in the world?
- Build projects for others and make money?
- Or build your own projects?
The “why” gets you through the hard times when you are running on fumes. It acts as a pillar for your success since it holds you down.
Plan Ahead
Planning is the backbone of each task we undertake. You cannot dive into anything without having a plan to see you through to the end. As a designer aiming to have a successful career, you need to plan out your business. Why plan?
Planning helps you tackle what needs to be tackled at the right moment. Doing this saves time and inspires you as you have everything planned upfront.
Planning also helps you get a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how to do it. Thus, you are able to put the client’s needs into perspective.
Get in the habit of planning before embarking on any project. Use planning software if you need to. I know how hectic and boring planning is, but its pros outweighs the cons.
Stay Updated
Many a times you learn a new language/tool and get too comfortable with it for a long time. We forget to check for new plugins or added features. This is wrong.
Web design is a skill that begs you to keep walking if you want to get anywhere. You can’t stand still and hope clients to put up with you. Your peers will overtake you and steal the few clients you still have under your wing.
Slice a piece of your day or week, since technology morphs almost daily, and learn what is new. Be on the lookout for practices that are fading away and keep tabs on the latest trends.
Always look for new tools and plugins in the market. Try them and add the ones you love to your arsenal.
Dedicate yourself to learning new things in your field and avoid being stale. Staleness only promises a dim future for your career. The best way to go about this is by subscribing to web design blogs.
Make sure to update your design/portfolio blog after you create a blog.
Check out our 34 top blogs for learning web and graphics design article.
Contribute to Open Source Projects
Contributing to open source projects shows that you are:
- Passionate
- A team player
- Skillful
Contributing to open-source projects helps you to build experience and exposure too. You solve challenges and grow from these challenges.
Last but not least, contributing leaves your mark in the development community. They will recognize you as a fellow web developer. This is going to boost your credibility.
Keep an Updated Portfolio
Portfolios showcase your design talents and skills to prospective clients.
Update your portfolio on regular intervals highlighting your latest projects/skills. Unlike other forms of design, web design changes every so often. So, what was relevant 5 years ago, is not exactly what is trending today.
Create a portfolio that shows your skills in all areas where you shine. Let clients know that you are fresh and up to date.
Conclusion
People think that web design is easy, but nothing could be further from the truth. Web design is a field that requires your determination and patience to succeed.
You can’t wake up one day and expect to be a force to reckon with. First, you need to grow. Additionally, learn organizational skills and effective communication skills. Put the above skills into use and they will go a long in shaping your career.
Be persistent and consistent even when things don’t turn out as you hoped. Storms in our careers help to shape us. And it’s from these storms that our success blossoms. So, don’t give up at any point.
