In this article, we look at the key characteristics of great website designers that make them stand out from the rest. We look at skills relating to his/her ability to understand end user needs, communication, creativity and teamwork.
Today’s competitive nature of the website design industry does not only require technical skills to be successful, but also soft skills. Technical skills (HTML/HTML5/CSS/JavaScript/Adobe Illustrator etc.) will surely take you far, but one's ability to connect with the client, end users and team members is what will make any web designer stand out from the rest.
The unique ability to understand client needs, to interpret them accurately and translate them into a design that end users can relate to, is what website design is all about. Therefore having the soft skills to manage this aspect of any project is as important as being able to produce a dynamic webpage.
The rest of this article will discuss some of the fundamental traits that make great website designers best at what they do, which concurrently lead to customer satisfaction and retention.
Understanding end user needs and requirements
Many website designers make the mistake of thinking that if they like their design, then they have done a good enough job. A great web designer knows the difference between designing for him/herself and designing according to the needs of end user.
He or she inherently understands the requirements and preferences of the end user and strives to meet them. This is a fundamental business principle (ie. give the customer what he needs) that is not an exception to people in the creative industry.
Effective communication
The success of any project starts and ends with effective communication, spoken or otherwise. One’s ability to listen attentively, ask important questions and clearly state what he/she is thinking is a key character trait of great website designers.
Be it color, texture, structure, navigation or look and feel, a great web designer is able to communicate clearly to the client what works and what doesn’t. He or she is able to bridge the communication gap with the client by using storyboards, wireframes and prototypes that visually articulates his intentions.
Creative flair
An all-important trait for great designers is creativity. According to Leo Burnett “curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people”. The keyword here is curiosity.
The web designer must be curious enough about the client’s project, leading him or her not just to meet the requirements, but also to provide solutions in an original and unexpected ways, while being relevant and useful.
In other words, a creative flair (derived from curiosity) will allow great website designers produce an end product that goes beyond expectations, ultimately delivering something innovative and valuable.
While some people are naturally gifted with creativity in different fields, there are various ways and techniques (which is beyond the scope of this topic) that can help anybody stimulate and develop their creative side.
Team player
Characteristics such as good etiquettes, cheerfulness, positivity, compassion, empathy and responsiveness is what everybody looks for in a team member. Great website designers collaborate well with others. Web design work involves teamwork so one should understand when to lead, follow, listen, observe, talk and monitor the process.
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