All great designers are constantly improving their skills. There has never been a successful designer, or anyone of another profession for that matter, that has stopped at a certain point and said, "Good enough". Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to always be learning new things, and to always be improving.
In this post we're looking into 20 different ways a web designer can improve their skills at any time. They involve everything from learning new abilities, to changing focus, and to revamping one's mindset when it comes to design. Check out these 20 methods for improving as a web designer, and feel free to add your own techniques in the comments section!
20 Great Improvement Methods
1. Study UI Design Patterns
Check out websites like UI-Patterns.com to explore the best user interface patterns for the web. They come in nearly every category, and can provide great new ideas to get you out of your own interface rut. Do you tend to give your clients the same layout over and over? Do you use the same navigation look, or use the same format with forms? Check out the user interfaces of other websites with collections like these to gain inspiration and learn new habits.
User Interface Pattern Websites:
- UI-Patterns.com
- Quince
- Pattern Tap
- CSS Bake
- 10 UI Design Patterns You Should Be Paying Attention To
- Yahoo! Design Pattern Library
- Welie
- Patternry
2. Pay Attention to Detail
Look at the detail in everyday objects, and actively look at detail in other web designs. Practice adding more of this detail into your own designs. A great designer looks at texture, shadows, indents, shapes, cutouts, and much more. Don't get lazy! Look at and add every little detail into a web design from your source of inspiration.
3. SEO Techniques
Many clients love a designer that offers SEO services. Whether you'd like to do this or not, though, learn more about how to create and code websites that are SEO friendly. By adding it to your resume, you're helping your client's websites more, and therefore helping yourself more. The more successful your client's website, the more referrals you'll be able to get!
4. Learn Web Design Trends
Trends are never something a web designer should solely rely on, but learning new trends is a great way to keep up with technology, and to keep you as a designer out of a rut. Of course, on another note, you'll never know when a client will see a technique they like on another website and want a similar look.
Do yourself a favor by keeping your designs modern, and by keeping your skills sharp by studying trending techniques.
5. Know Typography Well
Keep in mind that what will be viewed most on any website you design will be the text. Know how to design this text well. Having a good understanding of typography involves math, a good vocabulary of fonts, and more advanced technologies such as SIFR and Cufon. Learn about these things and learn how to use them.
Learn about baseline rhythm, readability issues for different fonts, text sizes and their effects, and more. There are plenty of useful tools/articles, such as the Baseline Rhythm Calculator, Better CSS Font Stacks, Typechart, and Typetester.
6. Practice With Color
Have you ever grabbed a palette off of ColourLovers, looked at it for awhile, and then realized you had no idea what to do with it? If so, you may have some trouble understanding how one should use color. Learn about color theory and the psychology behind color to know what to do with a palette, and to learn how to create your own palettes better.
Image credit: Dey
7. Know JavaScript
Many web designers make the choice of whether to learn additional web development languages or not, but JavaScript is quickly becoming one of those languages that belongs more with the web designer than the developer. It is grouping itself with HTML and CSS in terms of when it should be used. As a web designer, know the basics of JavaScript, and learn about at least one JavaScript library to work with.
For a great start, check out The Bits of JavaScript that Every Designer Needs to Know, right here on onextrapixel.
8. Become a Better Communicator
It doesn't just take the ability to make great websites in order to be a great web designer. Being a web designer involves knowing how to solve client problems as well. Client problems can be solved faster, more efficiently, and better with overall better communication skills. No communication is fine for personal projects because you already know what you need and want out of the project. With clients, it's different.
Being able to call a client with confidence and win over projects is a must for a web design business to survive. It is also important throughout the design process for getting the project done right the first time. Better communication means better final projects, and better final projects means more repeat business, happier clients, and more referrals!
9. Do Some Tutorials
I used to not be a big fan of tutorials, as I felt they took a long time, and I just felt as though I was copying someone else's work, step for step. However, I soon realized that by doing a few, I began picking up techniques and best practices, and I also began using tools in some of my favorite software with more confidence.
There are a lot of tutorials out there, from coding to design, and some are for small effects or an entire project. Whatever sort of tutorial it is, it can be a great way to learn something new. Sometimes going through something with someone else can help one to pick things up better than reading a book on design theory or programming syntax.
Image credit: Jakob Montrasio
10. Learn from Your Mistakes
Making mistakes and learning from them is the absolute best way to learn. Think about your past web design years — were they perfect? Of course not. Take some time to reflect on some moments where you made mistakes, and then know and recognize the lessons learned. Literally take out a piece of paper and start writing them down.
Some lessons may be client related. Maybe you were not good about calling clients back or too nervous about client phone calls and meetings in the beginning. Where are you now? What were the negative consequences in terms of the project? How can you improve in that area today? Other mistakes may be skill-related. Perhaps you made a design, thought it was fantastic, but then got some negative feedback on it. How do you take the criticism? What were others saying was the biggest problem?
In a very skill oriented field like web design, mistakes are going to be made. The biggest mistake of all is not to learn from the previous ones.
11. Get Technical
Design is a lot of math. Learn more about the technical sides of design, rather than being in the habit of placing things wherever you please. If you've ever had the feeling that something was just 'not right' in your design, it was likely your subconscious telling you something was off-kilter.
Great things to look into are hierarchy, the Golden Ratio/Divine Proportion, Sine Wave Design, etc. Take a look at Smashing Magazine's excellent post on applying geometry and other forms of math in website design: Applying Mathematics To Web Design.
12. Use a Sketchbook
Get in the habit of brainstorming your ideas on paper first. A good sketchbook is a decent investment for any web designer. Illustrate backgrounds, wireframes, or write down and organize ideas in writing. However you use it, use it for developing your skills and brainstorming effectively for the best final results.
Image credit: elbragon
13. Go Outside and Get Some Air
In other words, get your brain going again. Sometimes the best web designs are formed from true, clean, inspiration. Get off of your computer and take a break. Don't go to the TV, or even to a book. Always take some time out every day to let your mind wander aimlessly to keep stress low and improve your natural design ability.
14. Collaborate with Others
Discuss your projects, designs, clients, and best practices with other web designers. Discuss them with graphic designers and web programmers as well. Discuss them even with family and friends. Get opinions, see what others think of your work, and be motivated through that socialization.
Not only will you likely learn specific techniques from those in the same or similar professions, but you'll also be able to reflect on the reactions from those that aren't experienced in design. These people would be similar in thought to your own clients, so take their advice and examine their opinions well.
15. Whitespace: Take More Out
This is not a movement to get every web designer into a minimalistic look. Rather, it is a movement to get every designer to see the fundamentals of great design. Do you over clutter your designs? Try to take everything out of your designs that is unessential. What is left?
By focusing on what is needed, we can prioritize the elements that make up our web designs, and organize them better overall.
16. Re-learn the Basics
Do you think you know the basics of everything that involves web design? Look them up again, and you may be surprised what your seemingly experienced mind has missed. Google things like:
- "Essential CSS techniques"
- "Basics of web usability"
- "Design principles"
- "Color theory basics"
- "Design theory"
17. Know the Grid
Know what a web design grid is, how to use one, and get experience working with a popular grid framework, such as the 960.gs System. There are plenty of articles on how to use a grid, including Grid-Based Layout, 5 Simple Steps to Designing Grid Systems, Grid-Based Design 101, and Grid-Based Design: Six Creative Column Techniques.
18. Buy a New Book
Buy a new book or resource concerning something you don't have much experience in. Always be learning as a web designer, and always be expanding your knowledge. If you feel like you're in a design rut, there's nothing like learning something completely new to find inspiration. You'll immediately want to try out the new things you're exploring, and then you can add those skills to your already vast set of experiences.
Image credit: dareppi
Buy a new book that will teach you a new language, teach you how to do something specifically (like creating an iPad app), or a book that focuses very specifically on your own specialty. Learn anything that tickles your fancy - as long as it's new and intriguing.
19. Attend Conferences and Events
Many web designers overlook the importance of attending web design conferences and events. They are a great place to network and to learn new things. Sometimes, the cost of the conferences is what gets many designers: they all have registration fees, and for many, the cost of traveling is an issue as well.
To combat these fallbacks, understand that the registration fee is relatively cheap for what you'll be getting out of it, and it is one of the most important investments a web designer can make in their field. Also, always be checking for events that are closer to your area to avoid traveling costs.
20. Convert Your Own Designs
If you don't already, begin converting many of your own designs from PSD to HTML and CSS. Many web designers choose not to do this on their own because it's time consuming and can be boring if it's just not something one likes to do. However, could you be one of those designers that doesn't do it because they don't know how? Do you know the techniques necessaray to convert your own designs in the first place?
Converting your own designs can alter the way you design altogether. You may find some usability errors you've been designing around, or you may begin designing with the developer in mind more. By coding your own designs, you can see and fully understand how your designs are functioning in the back-end - how easy it is for them to implement SEO techniques, their load time, etc.
Conclusion
Any designer can benefit from improving their skills, and the best designers know that improving a little bit every day is the key to success in this industry. As anyone can see, a web designer can improve in a variety of areas, from design to coding, and from business to networking. It doesn't have to all be about design specifically; what's important is that you, as a web designer, are growing professionally in any way for the future.
How do you improve as a designer? What do you do to learn new things and keep up-to-date on the latest trends, and how do you improve as a professional?
Wow! This is a very well-made guide! Thanks for the links. These will come in handy, gonna bookmark them. :D God Bless
I especially like methods 8 through 10. Oh, what? Hey, wait a minute :) Or was it an extra test to train our observational skills?
Bookmarked! Excellent source here, I feel like every one of us get into a rut from time to time, and it's always great to go back to the basics, and also learn new skills. Keep up the good work Kayla!
Love it! "Take some air" is a great method to get inspired.
Or to not get crazy...
Nice article
FYI Section "17. Know the Grid" the link to 960 Grid System is linked correctly but spelled wrong. it says 960.cs instead of 960.gs
Thanks for pointing that out Greg, yes it is supposed to be 'gs'! Hopefully we'll get that fixed asap.
Hi Greg,
Thank you for pointing that out. We have made the amendment. Sorry for any confusion and inconviences caused.
"3. SEO Techniques" - in my opinion this is one of the most underestimated skills among webdesigners.
Great Job!
Great Adive, I agree with most of it! :D
Am I really the only who finds it odd that methods 8, 9 an 10 are missing? Some great tips though, especially 16. Re-learn the basics. The stuff you think you know in and out, usually have some secrets you've always overlooked.
Great article! Paying attention to the details is my favorite point.
Learning new things is important, otherwise we'll end up without any clients and using outdated methods, such as all of those "IT professionals" who claim using tables in HTML for layouts is on the up and up ;)
Very familiar with the type.
Nice and really comprehensive methods shared! I'm really curious and excited about the missing portions 8-10 and hope to see them soon to complete this great article.
Great article. I would say learning development (XHTML + CSS) is great start that helped me, years later I am glad I picked it up. Even a basic understanding of SEO can go a long way as well.
It was really awesome post! Thanks a lot for sharing.
Written in guide 11 (Get Technical) - Design is a lot of math. That's another learning for me. And I also see that guides 8-10 are missing.
Excellent article, thanks.
(Quince link miss)
Great article, I can feel my skills improving already!
Great tips. Some of them are easier to put in practice than others. There's many points in your list I should pay more attention to, and things I've meant to do but haven't yet. Thanks for the links as well, I'll check them later. I feel a bit cheated to get 17 tips when I paid for 20, but honestly I didn't even notice it until I read through the comments. Still a great article, thanks!
One of the most useful articles I've read in a while. Good stuff Knight.
great read!
Sorry for the 3 missing methods. We just got it fixed.
Love it. It's very useful for everyone. Thanks a lot, Kayla!
Thanks, this very useful. Btw., a UI Pattern Website you are linking to, UI Pattern Factory, is now Patternry, and the URL has changed.
Hi Simon,
Thanks for letting us know. We've got it amended.
Thanks.
Also I'm gonna use all links provided in this article. Thanks.
"Get some air" is the first thing I do when I hit a brick wall. When I come back the answers always stirring me in the face.
true that!
Dear Kayla, great article, thank you!
I only hope you don't mind that I popularize your thoughts for Russian web-auditory in my blog here: http://lentaprowebdesign.blogspot.com/2010/08/20.html
(if you do, I sure will remove it immediately, please feel free to notify me)
I especially like ## 1, 4, 16 and 18.
9 and 17 are my nearest future's targets.
The colors and color spaces are my whole-life-passion :-)
And 14 is my favourite style in my musicmaking yet.
Generally - again - this is very optimistic, really deeply felt and inspiring article.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put all of this information together, and in such a well-presented format. I am also going to bookmark it and research some of the sites that you recommend. I am NOT a web developer, but have been in the past, and am in the position of having to design and keep up with my current company website and blog, the latter of which I have zero experience but am rapidly gaining some!
Really good post!!!, i´ll keep it
Nice! Sometimes I think these sort of articles are just filler and usually full of stuff that is just common sense... but this one had some genuinely useful stuff. Thanks for putting together a nice resource!
thanks, but give me more good books i can buy about webdesign ........
Hey Kayla, these ideas are super - and practical advice too!
I am considering adding to my current skill set and developing my love for design further with a certificate course/training in web design and development from the local IT institute and thanks to you, now I can select the right modules on my own. Going bk to college seems fun now!
Wow, what a great article!
I especially like the comment about white space. We operate here in Shanghai and modern Chinese design is typically very cluttered. This is a bit ironic to me because the Chinese pioneered the use of white space in their ancient art forms. The artists of this period followed a philosophy to only tell the essence of the story, allowing the viewers to fill the empty space with their imaginations thereby making the art more personal. It seems the local designers need to take a cue from their own ancient masters.
Great list. I often decide I have to do 'one thing' to improve whatever I'm working on, and this helps me keep in mind that there's a lot of different skills and knowledge that go into really creating a design that is useful, informative and attractive. Thanks!
Also, I like your ring!
Thanks for the great info, I found it very useful I have bookmarked the page and hope to be back soon
OH mY GODDNESS.. is i found for my skill supgrade learning. Thxs for share this. love it pro
Hi Kayla,
Thanks for sharing this list. Live & Learn!
Good luck!
Hi Kayla,
Thanks for sharing this list. Live & Learn!
Good luck!
Very well said. A lot to learn but the output is worth it. Thanks for the good read.
If the title were "A Method for Upping your Current Web Design Skills in Twenty Steps" it would be more accurate than "Twenty Methods...".
Thnx for the post!
Hi Kayla,
Thanks for sharing this article, I like methods 1 and 7 very much.
Great article, very useful for a person like me!
very useful ~
wow, great list! Much thanx for summing up all these resources
Having recently completed a development course i had been on for about 4 years, and soon will sit the exams.I am always looking for my skills to refined/improved, like most passionate designers.I have various books to get through etc.So much learning, i feel a designer should not delve and get to bagged down with all there is to learn (will drive you crazy) but if you are so determined etc... your road will lead you to go where you want to go... Trial & Error!
Great blog.
really superb .......amazing tips , nowi am feeling more confident on web designs...thanking
this is great! Thanks. Great Article
WOW.. really great article & very helpful. Thanks a lot...
Nice one........... specially the uI pattern one.
Nice for exlpore more.... ^_^ I love design
very nice article!
Best one ever :))
You could have put some websites too for each point. For example for color pattern search you could have put http://kulers.com or if someone wanted user interfaces based on color patterns they could have searched on http://uicart.com
Also for wireframes, you could point some wireframe tools like http://www.balsamiq.com/
ya i like it
great collection. thanks for sharing this.
Great article! Love it..I am looking at refreshing my skills and this really helps!
Thanks a ton!