THe knowledge of a webdesigner

[Defiant]

Im employed as a webdesigner... but im self-taught.

What skills, etc should i have? I dont mean things just like coding and graphic design, i mean things like SEO, etc.

The bigger the list the more useful it is.


Cheers.
Michael

[ramone_johnny]

Whats your definition of skills?

For me its having knowledge of the internet from both a development and marketing perspective in an effort to generate revenue.

Coding is only a small part of that.

RJ

[Defiant]

By skills i mean areas of webdesign where you need to have knowledge inorder to be successful.

[Defiant]

Howey man!
Someones gotta be on a dinnerbreak somewhere in this world.

[spikeZ]

Good to see you again Michael
It depends if you are going for the Jack of all Trades tag, if so then a bit of everything -
coding
design skills
SEO
customer service (very important)
a certain amount of business and legal knowledge wouldn't go amiss either.

Knowing how to handle clients on a one to one level is always good, what to offer them and how to treat them.

If you are going for the individual roles ie coder OR designer then an understanding and basic appreciation of how the other roles work is advantageous. How many times have designers come up with a design that it totally impractical or unworkable? - plenty!

[Defiant]

Hi.

I think ive got good client skills, we have some rite fools hehe.

Im doing all sorts of roles atmo. Coding, Designing, Print Media, etc. Its fun but i just wish i knew more lol.... and had more money....

So are there any good educational sources on SEO, business and legal topics?

[ewomack]

Does the old web designer/web developer distinction no longer hold? Or today are all deigners developers and all developers designers? If so, that's quite a mixed bag for one person to master:

Design principles (including knowlegde of fonts, spacing, color, graphics, placement, etc.)

Web technology (including infrastructure, web server technology, browsers, plugins, video, audio, streaming video and audio, etc.)

Web programming (which can include ASP, PHP, Cold Fusion, .NET, SEO, Python, XHTML, XML, XSL, JavaScript, etc.)

Web tools (including WYSIWYGs such as Dreamweaver and Front Page, along with a host of others)

I'm sure I left a ton out.

[gecko2gecko2]

You don't need to be doing print if you're a web designer. I hate print, that's why I purposefully don't do it.

I've always been very much a front end web designer but really want to learn more back end skills but it's just having the time.

[rageh]

Does the old web designer/web developer distinction no longer hold? Or today are all deigners developers and all developers designers? If so, that's quite a mixed bag for one person to master:

That is why one should never try to be the "Jack of all Trades". specialize. That is the keyword. One's energy and skills are more utilised by fine-tuning his/her trade focusing on what he or she is already good at and contracting out the other bits.

[HAWK]

So are there any good educational sources on SEO, business and legal topics?

You could check out the forums here...

[Defiant]

I dont choose to do print media. Its just something work has burdened me with.

If i had my choice i wouldnt be doing it hehe.
Recently we hired someone for that sort of stuff so hopefully i wont be touching it.

[HAWK]

I do print as well as web. I like the variety.