Web Designers & Developers

Job Titles: Internet Site Designer, Web Designer, Web Manager, Web Site Developer, Webmaster, E-Business or E-Commerce Web Site Developer

What’s It Like?

Web designers work in many different environments from small businesses to large government institutions. One aspect of web design involves designing web sites for businesses to advertise their product and services on the web. It involves both graphic design capabilities and technical web programming skills.

There are many different options for web designers from owning their own business to contract work to working in the IT or advertising department of a large company.

Web Designers may:

Consult with clients to develop and document web site requirements
Prepare mock-ups and storyboards
Select and organize information to include in the web site
Design the appearance, layout and flow of the web site
Create content using graphics, animation and other software
Plan, design, write, modify, integrate and test web-site related code
Conduct tests and perform security and quality controls
Supervise teams developing web site graphics and content

Money & Benefits

Wages

Designation	Hourly Rate
Entry Level	$12.00 - $18.00
Experienced (+5 years)	$18.00 - $24.00
Management (Senior)	$25.00 - $35.00

Benefits

Benefits are unique to each company. Larger businesses and government have employee benefit packages including health care.

Why We're Betting On This

There are an estimated 279 web designers working in the central Vancouver Island region(B.C. Stats)
B.C. Stats projected annual growth rate for web designers is 5.6% from 2005-2009
According to T3’s current local labour market research there has been an increase of over ten positions in the past three months
There is an estimated number of fifteen companies in the central Vancouver Island region that specialize in web design
Web designers are also employed in many larger businesses and government institutions

Interested? Where To Start

Educational Requirements

There are various training programs available that offer diplomas in specialized fields of the computer industry. Most public and private post secondary institutions offer information technology certificate and diploma programs. In most of these programs, students are trained in both design and technical skills using one or more web development software programs. Knowledge of basic design principles, as they apply to the web is also taught.

Educational Institututions

Malaspina University-College, Nanaimo

Malaspina University-College offers a two year diploma in Information Technology and Applied Systems (ITAS), an eight month long online Internet Production (iPro) program, and the new two-year iPro diploma program (formerly Digital Media Technologies).
iPRO - www.mala.ca/calendar/Technology/ipro.asp

Sprott-Shaw Community College

Sprott-Shaw offers a year-long program in Digital Media Arts
Digital Media Arts - www.sprottshaw.com/programs/digital-art-animation.html

Success Stories

Interviewed & Documented

PROOF of the abundance of Jobs in the Web Designers & Developers Industry