Brooke Gomes

Professor Gustafson
ART1150-004
September 24, 2014

Career Research

1. What is the title of the position or occupation that you chose to research?

I am interested in Web Design as a career but specifically the role of Web Content Producer.

2. What goods or services does a person employed in that job create or provide?

Web content producers are similar to Digital Media Producers in the way they perform a range
of duties that oversee the content from the conceptualize stage to the finished product or
design. (Digital Media Producer: Job Description and Requirements, n.d.)

There are online producers that work strictly with text, audio, or animation but I am interested
in the integration of all aspects of content including graphics and layout.

3. What technical skills (competencies) are needed to do the job?

Technical and creative writing, HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, AJAX, and many other web design
platforms and languages are necessary in order to stay competitive in this field.

4. What personality traits, talents, or aptitudes are needed?

Artistic aptitude and good design sense that can be applied to digital media creation are crucial
to a successful career in Web Design.

5. Are good people skills and communication skills a requirement? Explain

Excellent communication and people skills are the most important requirement in the field of
Web Design in order to create content that effectively delivers a message to the viewer.

6. What type of training is required?

Current, ongoing training in web programming tools and certifications such as Certified Internet
Web Professional (CIW) program, Association of Web Professionals (WOW) Web Professional
certification, and the Associate Webmaster Professional (AWP) and Certified Webmaster
Professional (CWP). (Web Designer Training, n.d.) Certifications are not required but strongly
recommended.

7. What level of education is required? Recommended?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not specific occupation information for web designers, but
similar occupations such as Graphic Designers are expected to possess a Bachelors Degree.
(Occupational Outlook Handbook - Graphic Designers, 2014) Web Programmers may enter the
field with an Associates Degree. (Occupational Outlook Handbook - Web Developers, 2014 )

8. Is previous experience required? Explain

Work experience is not as important as education to enter into the field. Keeping a portfolio of
your best work will show employers your creative strengths.

9. Where are the jobs? Where are there no jobs?

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook(cited above), many Graphic Design Jobs
are concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York
City, and Minneapolis. BLS lists the highest number of Web Developer jobs in Seattle, San
Francisco, Portland, OR, Washington D.C., and Boston.

10. What does the job market look like in Utah?

Current openings found on Indeed.com include a variety of positions such as Graphic Designer,
User Experience and Interface designers, and Web Developers. There are quite a few listings
but many of them are senior level positions with 2-5 years of experience required. (Indeed ,
2014)

11. Are there more job opportunities in other states or cities? Explain

There are far more opportunities in regions with an established tech sector. Utah is emerging
as a player on the technological field, so there may be many more opportunities in the future.

12. Describe the work environment

Work environments can vary greatly for Web Designers. Those employed by smaller design
companies can expect a casual and creative atmosphere while those working in the web design

department of a large corporation will experience a more traditional corporate workplace.

Many Web Designers work from home and enjoy the flexibility and liberty of creating their own
space and schedule. (What does a Web Designer Do?, n.d.)

13. What are the salaries, starting or otherwise.

Official government data is not available for this field, but glassdoor.com compiled an average
of Web Design salaries based on their data that indicates an average of $51,125 in the Salt Lake
City area. (Web Designer Salaries, n.d.)

14. Is a strong portfolio an important consideration for obtaining a job in this

occupation?

A strong portfolio is the best way to communicate ones creative abilities to prospective
employers. This will let them know the quality of work they can expect.

15. What did you learn that was interesting or surprising about the occupation?

I have been extensively researching Web Design as a career for quite a while but I hadnt yet
realized that many Web Designers go on to become User Experience and Interface Designers.
These positions require expertise that can only be gained by experience, so I see a new possibly
career pathway opening for me in the future.

Bibliography
(2014, September 24). Retrieved from Indeed :
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=web+designer&l=Utah&sort=date
Digital Media Producer: Job Description and Requirements. (n.d.). Retrieved from Education Portal:
http://educationportal.com/articles/Digital_Media_Producer_Job_Description_and_Requirements.html
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Graphic Designers. (2014, January 8). Retrieved from Bureau of Labor
Statistics : http://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Web Developers. (2014 , January 8). Retrieved from Bureau of Labor
Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm
Web Designer Salaries. (n.d.). Retrieved from glassdoor: http://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/webdesigner-salary-SRCH_KO0,12.htm
Web Designer Training. (n.d.). Retrieved from Computer Training Schools :
http://www.computertrainingschools.com/career-training/web-designer/
What does a Web Designer Do? (n.d.). Retrieved from Sokanu: https://www.sokanu.com/careers/webdesigner/