Is it their mad flash skills? Their perfect code? Their flawless css?
Their stringent application of Wc3 compliance? Their perfect balance of composition and color? Their endless web design awards? Maybe. Maybe not.

While there are many successful working and freelance web designers, there are, of course, hundreds of thousands more that never make a significant living doing what they love to do. There are a number of  reasons why web designers don’t make it, but I’m only addressing one, which I believe is the defining point that separates the best from the mediocre.

So what makes a great designer GREAT? I mean the kind of designer that gets people talking, that pulls in design jobs without even trying because they are so damn good that EVERYONE wants their website created by them, AND their clients don’t even mind spending a small fortune to get it done.

First of all, you should know that this designer is a rare breed and may not be who you think it is. It’s not the guy who has all his code in perfect rows or knows all the coolest color pallets, or the guy who can make the most complex and high tech flash elements, or even the guy who always creates Wc3 compliant websites. Of course, these points help and should be worked towards as part of an overall skill set, but this is not it.

The truth is that the same principles apply to being the best in this industry as in any other industry; hard work, practice, always working to be better, staying on top of all the latest technologies, trying stuff out for yourself, experimenting, learning from someone better and more successful, patience, diligence, and let’s not forget, a passion for what you do. If these ingredients are in place AND the designer has the raw skill and aptitude, then you get a truly GREAT designer.

But the single most defining feature (I think) is a passion to be the best. This will manifest itself in many ways, and when it is truly present, it is unmistakable. Here you will find the designer that ALWAYS strives to be better. Who is like a sponge, always thirsty for inspiration and knowledge. They will make it a point to learn the ins and outs of their craft, and will take the time to understand what exactly a website has to do with the subject of marketing. They understand that a website is a tool designed to generate leads, sales, PR, interest in a product or service, information of interest, or some combination of all of these. They do concern themselves with trivial subjects like how to actually build a website that can rank high in the search engines. They do analyze the statistics of their clients websites from time to time just to see if they designed a website that is doing what they wanted it to do in the first place. If it’s not, they work to correct and improve their technique. Most of all they genuinely have a sense of pride in the work they do. They give every project 100% and they NEVER skimp on the details (because they know in their heart that the details are what matter most).

They are these things because that is what it takes to be a great designer in today’s web design.

©2008 Siouxie Boshoff. All Rights Reserved.