How do you get started?

Elbow83

Hey all,

so my current company is downsizing, and I might be on the list of those affected... sucks but what can you do?
At the moment, my job has nothing to do with web design whatsoever... but i'd like it to.
i've done a course in Web Design which gave me the foundations to start working on some projects here and there (all i've done so far is freebies for friends and family).
I've been self studying for a while in my spare time to give myself more knowledge of CSS and other standards, and am thinking of going for a more advanced course if i am retrenched (the package isn't bad so i could do it).

that being said, I hate my current job anyway, and want to start a career in Web Design. So my question is this. How does one get started in Web Design? i know with my basic qualification, I've no hope of landing a job straight up when there are so many experienced and talented designers looking at the moment, but how does one get experience when no-one is willing to hire you without experience??

So to those currently employed as designers, self employed or anyone with advice, How did you start off? how did you land your first job?
Also, this is the course I'm looking at doing.
http://www.iact.ie/iopen24/product_i...?products_id=5
any thoughts on it? is it worth the €4k its going to set me back?

thanks in advance everyone

red_ice

personally speaking - i've always done it. Since the day i got a computer i've been designing stuff. It just so happens people liked what i did and they asked me to do stuff for them.. other people saw that and wanted stuff like it etc

Judging from how that site looks... i wouldnt be going to them for tips on how to design a website.

cormee

Was working as a Product Designer so I was using Photoshop & Illustrator on a daily basis anyway. I started messing around with html, then CGI scripts and finally built a few sites. Saw there were more, and better, opportunities in the web so I decided to switch over. This was about 12 years ago so there would have been a lot less competition for jobs back then.

Elbow83

cormee wrote: »

Was working as a Product Designer so I was using Photoshop & Illustrator on a daily basis anyway. I started messing around with html, then CGI scripts and finally built a few sites. Saw there were more, and better, opportunities in the web so I decided to switch over. This was about 12 years ago so there would have been a lot less competition for jobs back then.

yup... there is the problem... so much talented competition out there its hard for a newbie to stand out. how do you get someone to take a chance on you?

red_ice wrote:

Judging from how that site looks... i wouldnt be going to them for tips on how to design a website.

true... its not pretty, but it works... content wise what do you think?
I did graphic design and web level 1 with them and they weren't a bad crowd. some of the content of web 1 was a little dated, hence i'm worried about spending 4k if its not relevant anymore...

sheesh

getting started? good way to build up a portfolio is to do stuff for free.

never do work for free for a business as one of 2 things happen
1.they show no interest and will not give access to info or time to question them on what they want .

2. the will take over the project and you will learn nothing.

if they are not paying you money they normally treat you like they are doing you a favour and in my experience it ends badly.


fortunately there are loads of clubs and societies out there that would love a website and they have no money so really appreciate any work you can do for them.

if you want to do freebies go to clubs esp ones with an older age profile as they might not be up with the technology but know that its important.

cormee

Elbow83 wrote: »

how do you get someone to take a chance on you?

I think you need to stand out from all other applicants at the same level as you.

Specialise in some area - typography, accessibility, usability, html5, etc so when a job does come along that is looking for a designer with skills in your area you'll have an instant advantage. You'll also need to be able to design attractive websites.

Build up your portfolio of sites and make your speciality a big feature of those designs.

Elbow83

thanks sheesh and cormee, thats really good advice!

i have heard some horror stories from people in the industry about how they were treated by clients when they were starting out... luckily so far i've only had family and friends so i can tell them to **** off if they go stupid with their demands!

Shzm

Another option.. design sites around products that can be sold via affiliates. For example design a site around Canon DSLR Cameras, with links to the actual product listed on Amazon.

This way you'll hopefully learn not just design, but marketing/SEO.

You'll also make money via affiliate sales, or you could just sell em on sites like flippa.

sheesh

I'm not too sure if this would work for you or even if its still available but fas used to run courses with work experience I ended up working in one of the better known web companies in dublin so i was pretty happy. they kept me on for 6 months.

naughto

have a look at some plc courses iam doing one at the moment and find it very interesting and it did not come me a thing