Web Design Industry Adaptation Discussions: Navigating Today's Digital Landscape
In the ever-evolving world of web design, the demand for certain skills and attributes has shifted significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's a breakdown of the key competencies that top candidates are expected to possess in 2025.
Software & Technical Skills
Proficiency with modern design and prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Procreate, including their AI-enhanced features, is essential. These tools can help automate repetitive tasks such as generating alt text and analyzing user data.
Extensive knowledge of UX/UI design principles, with a focus on accessibility compliance and sustainability concerns, is also crucial. As user and regulatory demands evolve, designers should be well-versed in these principles to create engaging and inclusive designs.
Strong coding skills in web development languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks are in high demand, as the growth of app and web development continues to accelerate in sectors boosted by the digital shifts brought about by the pandemic.
Understanding cloud computing platforms is another key skill, as remote work has accelerated companies’ adoption of cloud technologies to support flexible IT infrastructure and scale as needed.
Familiarity with AI and data analytics tools, as well as emerging tech like blockchain, indicates a broader tech ecosystem awareness alongside core web design skills.
Art & Creative Skills
While AI can assist in certain aspects of web design, human judgment remains critical in areas like creative direction, user trust, brand perception, and the emotional impact of colors and layouts. Skills in creating visually compelling, sustainable, and accessible designs that meet both user experience goals and diverse audience needs are increasingly valued.
Social & Soft Skills
Collaboration and communication skills are essential, especially as teams navigate hybrid or fully remote work environments. Strategic thinking about how AI tools add real user value, rather than adopting new tech just for trendiness, is crucial for successful teams. Adaptability and continuous learning to keep pace with rapid changes in technology, user behavior, and ecommerce trends shaped by the pandemic are also highly valued.
Other Valuable Skills
Experience in illustration, animation, and video editing can be useful for designers. Graphic Design graduates should have experience in logo and branding design, content creation, animation, and apparel design.
Large companies are currently hiring for in-house design departments, and entry-level job applicants should share their personality but keep it professional during interviews. Candidates will be judged based on their ability to talk about the work, define the client goal, and explain how they arrived at solutions.
Personal skills such as improvisation, setting boundaries, communication, design process and iteration, mockups/wireframing and prototyping, problem solving, critical thinking, and curiosity are also valued by employers.
UX/Web Design graduates should have a portfolio with 5-8 web design projects, examples of flow app or mobile design, flow logos, branding application apparel, and marketing applications. The ability to be happy with the work, and for it to reflect what they said, is important.
Applicants should be active seekers of answers and take workplace and file security seriously. There are many remote work opportunities in the web design field due to the pandemic, and candidates should brush up on the company mission before their interview and think about how they might embody that mission.
Chelsea Winkel, a web technologist with over 10 years of experience in UX Design and Consulting, emphasizes the importance of these skills and attributes in the current job market.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, individuals aiming for careers in graphic design should focus on mastering a variety of skills, including proficient use of modern design tools, understanding UX/UI principles, strong coding skills, and an awareness of AI, data analytics, and emerging technologies like blockchain.
- Successful graphic design candidates in 2025 should also demonstrate social and soft skills, such as collaboration, communication, adaptability, strategic thinking, and a professional yet personable demeanor, as these qualities are highly valued in today's evolving job market.
