| The Internet has come a long way in the little | | | | video. |
| over a decade it's been part of daily life. Not only | | | | But all is not lost for former Web designers. Like |
| do some 25% of the world's population now have | | | | a phoenix, the occupation has risen from the |
| 'net access [Internet World Stats, June 2009], but | | | | ashes, transforming itself into the Internet |
| it's easier than ever for those users to contribute | | | | professional. |
| to the Web rather than just passively consuming | | | | Internet pros have a deep understanding on the |
| its content. | | | | Internet environment and generally specialize in |
| Only recently the field of Web design emerged as | | | | one or more of the following areas: |
| a hot new profession. Every business wanted a | | | | - Understanding and refining the client needs |
| presence on the Web, and in the days of the | | | | - Selecting, modifying or creating the most |
| dotcom bubble investors were lining up to throw | | | | appropriate technologies to build the site |
| money at Web startups. Someone had to build | | | | - Planning the architecture and creating the |
| those sites, and that someone was the Web | | | | infrastructure to form the client's site |
| designer. | | | | - Implementing the decisions to build a platform |
| The profession lost its sparkle after the 2000 | | | | that the client can maintain |
| crash left too many Web designers chasing too | | | | - Designing site-wide usability aspects that enable |
| few jobs. But the technology that's arrived since | | | | users to easily find what they are looking for, |
| has virtually killed Web design. That technology | | | | avoiding loss of traffic through frustration |
| includes blogs, social networks, cell phones and | | | | There are a number of niche areas offering the |
| everything else that allows anyone to establish a | | | | Internet pro gainful employment, including: |
| fancy Web presence with just a few clicks and | | | | - eCommerce - building the infrastructure of online |
| update it just by typing in a box. | | | | shopping including product location, selection and |
| These days there's scarcely a high school student | | | | payment processing |
| who doesn't have their own blog or Facebook | | | | - e-learning - a huge and growing application of the |
| page complete with flashy design, audio & | | | | 'net. |