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how to do
You've been in the graphic design field and discovered something ¨C you don't really like it. Or, maybe you're in the situation where you're a year away from graduating with a degree in graphic degree, but you realize this isn't for you. Or, you'd just like a change. So what's the best way of making the transition from graphic to web designer?
While there are definite similarities between the fields, and in some programs courses overlap, the first thing to remember is that you're dealing with two very different mediums. Graphic design still generally means working in the area of print, while web design is exactly what it says ¨C designing on computers for the World Wide Web.
That said; let's look at ways to make a smooth transition. One thing to consider from the outset is whether you want to be a generalist or a specialist within the field. Darren Pearson, Computer Technology Instructor with Saint Paul College in Minnesota notes that, "It is possible for someone to do ˇ®pure design' using just Dreamweaver, Flash, and Photoshop and make a living, especially if they have a lot of outstanding examples in their portfolio." Pearson believes the best place for someone seeking employment as a web designer while focusing on the design element is with medium to large companies where large projects are delegated to a team.
In a team environment there are more distinct areas with certain individuals handling specific areas of a project. For example, when I was employed as a course developer for the Accenture organization, writers were responsible for researching and writing the course content, graphic designers developed the visuals, web designers worked with media and sound elements, and computer programmers handled the programming/eCommerce side of things, interfacing with databases, security, and launching the site on the Internet. Unfortunately, Pearson notes that there has not been a great deal of growth for web design services within large corporations in recent years, and many web designers have moved into freelancing or working for smaller businesses. In this scenario, many companies look for a "jack of all trades" web designer who has enough broad experience in design, programming, and networking that such a person might actually work as both a web designer, web master, and graphic designer for the company.
