Website designing for the tech savvy youth

There are uncountable websites on the internet designed for clients across the world. Website designers create sites to serve interests of either individuals or organisations.

Mark Mubeezi, an information technology specialist with Akili systems based in Kampala, defines website designing as a way of putting up a customer’s requirements into technology, precisely creating a system (site) to accommodate a client’s needs. “It is a career,” Mubeezi says.

But in order to become a website designer, Mubeezi notes that one has to study courses such as information technology or computer science.

“Within these courses, you will be taught concepts on website designing including structure, graphics, styles, among other aspects,” he says.

If one is not able to study these courses in university, they can then opt to take up courses affiliated with website designing at different learning institutes.

Is there money?
Once one has attained qualifications in website designing, Stephen Musinguzi, a software engineer and developer with SM Corp. Ltd, says they can apply for a job in any organisations or start their own company.

“Like any other business, the beginning is not always easy, especially when you are self-employed. Some individuals do not see the importance of websites, even as a marketing tool. So, sometimes, it takes a lot of persuasion to change the minds of such people or organisations,” Musinguzi says.

Website services are offered to notable organisations such as banks, schools, and ministries, among others. Musinguzi says charges for creating websites for clients depend on a number of things, including functionality, the number of pages the site has, among other things.

But Ethan Musolini, a motivational speaker, says money is not everything. “When you do what you are passionate about, then you are bound to excel.

Why? You will do it with all your heart. It is what you will literally be eating and breathing. The challenge with just following the money is that usually when you face obstacles, you are tempted to throw in the towel quickly and yet that is not how life works. If you are going to be doing something for 40 or more hours per week, it had better be something one loves.”

Are they important?
Palu Batayobu, director at Pimba systems, an information technology company, says there are different types of websites and these serve different purposes for clients.

“For example, entertainment websites help readers know what is happening on the social scene while news websites update readers on current affairs,” Batayobu says, adding, “Different websites serve specific purposes.” For those interested in taking up web designing as a career, Batayobu says they should bear in mind that some of these sites take a lot of time to design.

“Some of these sites take weeks or months to create, therefore, one has to exercise a lot of patience on the job,” he says. Also, Batayobu says sometimes the earnings do not come immediately.

“For example, there are clients who first want to see results before making payment. And remember, some of these sites take a lot of time to get designed. So, imagine being paid after two months?” he says.

Despite these challenges, Batayobu says website designing is a profession like any other which has setbacks. But in order to thrive in this profession, Batayobu advises website designers to know a number of programming languages so as to fit within their client’s needs.

Internet and the world
The world today is made up of people interconnected by the internet. Remember people have different needs. Others want to enjoy the internet with games, movies, pictures and videos among others.

Others want to study online, or do research, some want to simply connect and communicate with the world, yet others want to promote their agendas, products and organisations.

The question then is how you can fit in all this and develop or acquire skills that can help bridge, enhance wor better all these functions people attach to the internet. So, it is time we realised these gaps, opportunities and to think about how we can address them while earning from them.

Some of the common types of websites
• Blogs which may for instance be managed by an individual documenting their theme of interest such as fashion.
• Business directory websites often have vital details including phone numbers and addresses of businesses.
• News websites which exclusively run current affairs such as news and features.
• Entertainment or gossip websites which may be on renowned famous celebrities such as musicians.
• Photo gallery websites which may include an archive of photos on themes such as fashion, weddings, among other themes.
• E-commerce websites are online shops that enable people to order for goods and services and make the payment right using the internet.