Web design that wows: Tips for hiring the right web designer

In the digital age, having an effective web presence is essential for any business to thrive. As a recruiter, it’s your job to find the best talent to create and maintain these digital assets. One of the most important roles in this process is that of a web designer. In this blog, we’ll explore the role and responsibilities of a web designer, the skills and qualifications they should possess, how they can add value to any organization and why hiring a web designer is essential for any business looking to succeed in the digital marketplace.

Who is a Web Designer?

Web designers are IT professionals who are responsible for designing the layout and interface of websites. They take on the duty of visual design for websites and other digital assets. They work closely with other members of a team, such as developers and content creators, to ensure that the final result is according to the needs of the company and is optimized for their specific audience.

Web designers have a range of skills, including graphic design, user experience design, and front-end development. They are proficient in using design tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and are skilled in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

“The most important thing that we entrepreneurs have is our human capital. If we exhaust it, we make bad decisions.” — Arianna Huffington

Responsibilities of a Web Designer

Designing and Prototyping

The primary responsibility you should keep in mind when looking to hire a web designer is to create the visual design of a website. This involves creating wireframes and prototypes, which are used to test and refine the design before it is finalized. Web designers must have a deep understanding of user experience design, and be able to create designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.

Creating Visual Assets

Web designers are also responsible for creating visual assets such as icons, logos, and images. These assets must be optimized for the web, and must be created in a way that is consistent with the overall design of the website.

Collaborating with Developers

Web designers must work closely with developers to ensure that the design is implemented correctly. They must have a good understanding of front-end development, and be able to communicate effectively with developers to ensure that the final product is both visually appealing and functional. Therefore, when hiring web designers their ability to collaborate becomes an asset for the company as well.

Staying up-to-date with Design Trends

Web design trends are constantly evolving, and web designers must stay up-to-date with these trends to ensure that their designs are fresh and modern. This involves attending conferences, reading design blogs, and staying abreast of the latest design tools and technologies.

Ensuring Cross-Browser Compatibility

Web designers must ensure that their designs work on a variety of different browsers and devices. This involves testing the design on different devices, and using responsive design techniques to ensure that the design looks good on all devices. They should be able to access and interpret user analytics from each device to further optimize the user experience and design for the website.

Skills to look for when hiring Web Designers

Graphic Design

Web designers must have strong graphic design skills. They must be proficient in using design software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and must be able to create visually appealing designs that are optimized for the web. This skill can be practically demonstrated or displayed through their portfolio of design work. The candidate should be able to demonstrate their ability to create appropriate and appealing designs that are in line with the company brand image, values, etc.

User Experience Design

User experience (UX) is a critical aspect of web design. Web designers must be able to create designs that are easy to use and navigate, and that provide a positive user experience. They must understand user behavior and be able to create designs that meet user needs. Look for candidates who have experience with user research, wireframing, and prototyping, and who can demonstrate their ability to create designs that are optimized for UX.

Front-end Development

Web designers must have a good understanding of front-end development. They must be able to create designs that are implemented correctly and function as intended. Accordingly, we should hire web designers who have experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and who understand how these languages work together to create responsive, functional designs.

Communication and Collaboration

Web designers must be able to communicate effectively with other members of a team, including developers and content creators. They must be able to explain their designs and provide feedback on other aspects of the project. This reduces friction and streamlines the entire process of web design. So we should look for candidates who have experience working in a collaborative environment and who can demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively with others.

Time Management and Organization

Web design projects often have tight deadlines, and web designers must be able to manage their time effectively and stay organized. Candidates who have experience working on multiple projects simultaneously and can demonstrate their ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines are an ideal pick for this role.

Qualifications to look for when hiring Web Designers

Bachelor’s Degree in Web Design or Graphic Design

A bachelor’s degree in web design or graphic design is a common qualification for candidates applying for this position. This degree provides candidates with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the field. Thus candidates who have a degree from an accredited institution and who have a strong academic record are preferred to candidates who do not.

Certifications in Web Design or Graphic Design

Certifications in web design or graphic design can demonstrate a candidate’s proficiency in the field of web design. Candidates in possession of certifications from reputable organizations such as Adobe or the International Association of Web Design Professionals can demonstrate the range of their skill without the need of doing so practically.

Professional Experience

Professional experience is an essential qualification to look for when hiring web designers. Therefore we should try and look for web designers who have experience working in web design roles, and who can demonstrate their ability to create effective designs and work collaboratively in a professional environment.

Portfolio of Work

A portfolio of work is one of the most important qualifications for web designers. Ideally, candidates should have a strong portfolio that showcases their design skills and experience. The portfolio should include a variety of projects, such as websites, mobile apps, and other digital assets.

The Benefits of hiring Web Designers

Enhance Brand Image

A web designer can help enhance your brand's image by creating a robust, easy to navigate, professional-looking website. The design of your website is often the first impression that potential customers have of your business. This is because users interact with a web designer's work the very second that they enter a website. Also, in a survey it was revealed that 38% of consumers will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive. A well-designed website can help you retain consumers on your page and create a positive perception of your brand. A web designer can ensure that your website is consistent with your brand's visual identity, including the use of color schemes, typography, and imagery.

Increase Website Traffic

A web designer can help increase website traffic by creating a website that is optimized for search engines. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Hiring a web designer can ensure that your website is structured correctly and includes relevant keywords and metadata. This can help improve your website's ranking in SERPs and drive more traffic to your site.

Improve User Experience

A web designer can help improve the user experience (UX) of your website by creating a website that is easy to navigate and use. A well-designed website should be intuitive and easy to use, with clear navigation and a logical structure. A web designer can also ensure that your website is optimized for different devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. By providing the means for your company to utilize different devices, hiring a web designer lets the company branch out its services and creates the opportunity for new services and collection of consumer data for optimization of the company algorithm.

Increase Conversions

A web designer can help increase conversions by creating a website that is designed to convert visitors into customers. A well-designed website should include clear calls-to-action, such as "Buy Now" or "Sign Up," that encourage visitors to take action. A web designer can also ensure that your website's design and content are optimized for conversion, including the use of persuasive copywriting and compelling visuals. On top of this, when you are hiring web designers you should identify candidates who communicate that they are focussed on ensuring that the internet traffic they convert should be retained by the company as well. This is again done by analyzing trends and user behavior analytics to see how consumer retention can be increased, but by having a candidate who is determined and knowledgeable in doing so, we can ensure that the company gains the most from its hire.

Keeping up with Industry Trends

The digital marketplace is constantly evolving, with new technologies and design trends emerging all the time. A web designer can help keep your business up to date with the latest design trends and best practices. This can help ensure that your website is competitive and does not lag behind the competition. An exceptional recruit could also help you stand out from the competition.

Save Time and Money

Hiring a web designer can actually save your business time and money in the long run. A web designer can ensure that your website is designed correctly the first time, reducing the need for expensive and time-consuming redesigns later on. Additionally, a web designer can help streamline your website's design and functionality, reducing the time it takes to maintain and update your site, and thus making sure that the web page stays functional and productive.

Focus on Your Business

By investing in a web designer, you can ensure that your business has a strong online presence that engages customers and drives business growth. Therefore this frees up resources to focus on your business's core competencies. A normal organization is run on everyone focussing on their responsibilities, including managing employees, marketing your business, and overseeing finances. By hiring a web designer, you can delegate the task of designing and maintaining your website to a qualified professional, allowing you to allocate the resources caught up in doing so up to this point towards other endeavors.

We can help you source and assess Web Designers with ease!

We at HireQuotient understand the importance and need for effective candidate sourcing. With access to over 600 million candidate profiles across the globe and a concise pre-screening procedure, HireQuotient can help you finish your candidate sourcing in days rather than weeks with the use of automation. Utilize our job description builder to quickly create the ideal job description when you decide to hire a web designer and access and communicate with HireQuotient’s vast pool of candidates via our targeted mass outreach procedures. This has saved over 70,000 hours for recruiters and with our pre screening you can sort out candidates and find the ideal candidate in under 5 minutes!

HireQuotient also provides an entire plethora of skill assessments that you can employ in gauging the skill of your employees. Our repository is constantly updated with the latest industry relevant tests and assessments pertaining to all non-tech related positions. The questions are created by dedicated subject matter experts in the relevant industries and are categorized based on the difficulty levels so that you can effectively assess the candidate you choose to hire.

All of this is available in a few clicks of your mouse, so check out the company website to book a demo or get on a call with our experts here at HireQuotient to learn how we can help you hire web designers for your company.