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Occupation
Overview
The
World Wide Web (WWW) has seen a dramatic growth
in its short existence. It has caught on more
quickly than any other innovation this century.
In the early 1990's, web browsers like Netscape
Navigator and Internet Explorer didn't even
exist. At the close of 2001…
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More than 160 million adults (60% of the
U.S. population) are accessing the Internet
(NielsenNetRatings, August 2001).
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Of those not using the Internet, 44% say
they will be using it within the coming
year (UCLA, November 20, 2001)
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Almost 50% of the Americans that used the
Internet this year purchased something online
(UCLA, November 29, 2001).
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In September of 2001 $4 billion was spent
online (Jupiter Media Matrix, September
2001).
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By 2006 it is estimated that over 35% of
all business-to-business spending will occur
online (Jupiter Media Matrix, September
2001).
Today,
nearly every company and organization, and
even some individuals, have established a
web presence. This allows them to reach a
wide audience in a cost-effective manner to
provide information, collect information,
or sell goods.
Web
Designers focus on designing attractive and
useful web pages, and creating the navigational
path that allows users to move around within
the site. The ability to implement web pages
is no longer reserved just for full-time Web
Designers or Programmers. Instead, many people
will implement or update a web page as a part
of their "normal" job. This is due
to the fact that many people are interested
in web design and today's tools make it easier
for people to do this without extensive training.
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Future
Growth Opportunities
Opportunities
for Advancement:
Web
Project Manager, Internet Consultant, Internet/Intranet
Architect, and Manager of Internet Services.
Skills
Transferable to:
Computer
Programmer, Quality Assurance Engineer, Technical
Support Engineer, and Technical Writer.
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Job
Descriptions
Web
Designers perform a variety of tasks including
determining what information appears on each
page, laying out the components of individual
web pages, designing the way people navigate
through the site, and defining the look of
the site through features like color, typeface,
and layout. In the initial design phase they
might create storyboards to show others their
plan for the site. After they begin implementation
the Web Designers might use several software
packages to implement their design, which
they then test. Web Designers must take into
consideration factors such as security and
download speed in their designs.
Web
Designers might use high-level tools such
as FrontPage or DreamWeaver to implement their
sites, or they might use languages such as
Java, HTML, DHTML and/or XML. Individuals
that implement a site based on another person's
design are known as Web Programmers, Java
Programmers, Web Engineers. Using web development
tools like Java and HTML, they implement websites.
Web
Page Designers work with others, including
marketing people who define the content of
the website, and Graphic Designers who are
sometimes responsible for graphic images appearing
at the site.
The
complexity of websites varies considerably,
resulting in a range of job opportunities
for individuals with varying levels of education
and experience. New Web Designers might focus
on developing websites for small companies
and individuals who are interested primarily
in the display of information. More experienced
Web Designers, typically those with more programming
experience, are more likely to develop websites
for larger companies that will include some
or all of the following functionality:
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the display of information (e.g., product
descriptions, support FAQ, company organization
details, and job opening information)
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the collection of information (e.g., customer
feedback, surveys, and loan applications)
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the analysis of information (e.g., mortgage
calculators, real estate locators, and stock
selectors)
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the purchase of products (e.g., books, CDs,
and software)
Entry
Level: $7 - 27 / hour ($15 / hour average)
Experienced,
New to Job: $7 - 55 / hour ($34 / hour average)
Experienced
in Job: $9 - 76 / hour ($45 / hour average)
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