Navigating the world of web design certificates and certifications can be overwhelming. Gain insights into the specifics of these programs and how they can impact your career in web design, with a focus on the Adobe Dreamweaver program.
Key Insights
- Dreamweaver is a web design tool, often used by those already in the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, which has two design options: live view for novices and code editor for those proficient in HTML.
- Web Designers, who may specialize in areas such as Front End or Back End Development, UX Design, or Application Design, are needed in almost every industry. In fact, web design ranked sixth in US News' Best Technology Jobs of 2022.
- A "certificate" indicates completion of a specific class or program, whereas a "certification" is a standardized credential earned by passing an exam or meeting certain industry standards.
- While not always required, certificates and certifications can be advantageous for Web Designers as they demonstrate a certain level of proficiency and mastery of specific skills.
- Web design certificate programs are available through various schools, including Noble Desktop, which offers a curriculum in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress.
- Web Designers can expect a range of salaries based on their specialty and level of expertise, but the demonstration of proficiency through certifications or certificates may enhance earning potential.
You might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available if you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in Dreamweaver or another web design program. You might also have a lot of questions, such as whether or not a certificate is worth your time and what exactly the difference is between a certificate and a certification. This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward certification in web design. Keep reading to find out more.
What is Dreamweaver?
Dreamweaver is a downloadable Adobe software program used for designing websites and webpages. It works with either Windows or Mac. Using Dreamweaver, designers can create their own websites from scratch or use the provided starter template pages. The program integrates with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, making importing content from any Adobe app easy.
With Dreamweaver, there are two different ways to design. Users without any knowledge of HTML can use live view, where Dreamweaver generates the required code and displays the content as it will look in a web browser. Users who know HTML can type their code into the program’s code editor. These users will also be able to take advantage of Dreamweaver’s more advanced design options.
This application was created in 1997 and became a popular web design tool. However, in recent years, Dreamweaver has decreased in popularity, with many designers opting for programs such as Visual Studio Code or WordPress instead. It is still used by some Web Designers, though the overall percentage of websites created with Dreamweaver is estimated to be small. Dreamweaver is most popular among people who already have Adobe Creative Cloud or want to stay within the Adobe ecosystem.
Read more about what Dreamweaver is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Dreamweaver?
Web Designers create and maintain websites. In some cases, one person is responsible for an entire website, while in other cases, several team members may work on the job. Knowing how to use Dreamweaver or another web design program can help a designer get started in the field of web design. Web Designers are needed in almost every industry since the majority of businesses and organizations now have websites. US News ranked web design number six in its list of Best Technology Jobs of 2022.
There are many different specialties within the field of web design. Front End Developers specialize in creating the part of the website that users see and interact with, such as the overall layout and individual features like logos or links. Back End Developers work on things that the user does not interact with but are essential to the website's function, like creating and maintaining the database. User experience (UX) design is another job related to web design. A UX Designer ensures that website users have the best experience possible. This includes ensuring that a website is intuitive and easy to use and that the experience is enjoyable for the user.
People with web design knowledge can also work in many other jobs. For example, some Web Designers end up as Application Designers, who develop applications for specific devices such as computers or mobile phones. Information Architects help make information on a website easier to find and understand. Visual Designers are responsible for the aesthetics of a website and work on things such as making sure it engages users. Overall, there are many ways to utilize knowledge of web design.
Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?
While a “certificate” and a “certification” may sound the same, the two are very different. Certificates are given to students to show that they have completed a particular class or program of study. Every school has unique certificate programs, so a certificate from one school generally doesn’t mean exactly the same as a certificate from another school. For example, Noble Desktop offers a Web Design Certificate. To earn it, students must complete Noble’s web design curriculum, which is not the same as the curriculum for a web design certificate at another school.
On the other hand, certifications are standardized credentials that mean the same thing no matter what school they attend. To earn certification, students must sit for an exam or meet specific industry standards. A third party usually administers exams. An example of a certification is an Adobe Certified Professional certification in Photoshop. To get this certification, students have to pass a standardized 50-minute exam on Photoshop.
Top Certifications & Certificates for Dreamweaver
Certificates in web design are available at a number of different schools, including Udemy, Coursera, and Frontend Masters. Students who want a certificate can focus on specific web design types or a more general focus. Noble Desktop has a Web Design Certificate program in which students learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress. For students who are more interested in UI design, it offers a UI Design Certificate, and for those who want to learn front end development, there is a Front-End Web Development Certificate.
Noble and some other schools can also help students prepare for certification exams. For instance, students who want to get certified in an Adobe app like Illustrator or Photoshop can take a Noble class to become proficient in that app and learn about what will be on the exam. Microsoft certifications are also popular. At NYC Career Centers, teachers help students prepare for certification in various Microsoft programs, including Excel and Word.
Should I Get Certified in Dreamweaver?
In general, Web Designers don’t need to be certified to work in this field. They need knowledge of web design, but many clients or employers don’t require specific web design certifications. People become designers in many ways; some learn design as part of a college degree, some take shorter courses, and others teach themselves. Overall, Web Designers who can prove their skills will likely find work either with or without a certificate or certification.
However, certificates and certifications, while not usually required, can be an asset to Web Designers. This is because these qualifications show that the designer has a certain level of proficiency, which can be attractive to a client or employer. Certification, in particular, can be valuable because it involves passing a standardized exam. A certification proves that the designer has mastered a specific skill. In addition, certificates and certifications can be a way for designers to refresh their skills or learn new ones, which can also help them advance in their careers.
Learn Dreamweaver with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop teaches hands-on web design courses in a variety of formats, with something to fit every type of schedule and learning style. Every class is small and led by expert instructors. Noble also offers a free retake for all of its courses. With the free retake, students can retake a course once within a year without paying for it again. This can be an excellent way to gain additional web design skills.
One popular type of class at Noble Desktop is a web design bootcamp. Bootcamps are intensive programs that teach skills quickly and focus on preparing graduates to use those skills in the workplace. In 2020, tech company HackerRank surveyed 116,000 developers from 162 countries about coding bootcamps and found that about a third of hiring managers hired developers who gained their skills from a bootcamp. Noble Desktop teaches many bootcamps related to web design, including Visual Design Portfolio Bootcamp.
Students looking for a more in-depth web design course can enroll in Noble’s Web Design Certificate. This comprehensive program takes six weeks full-time or five months part-time and teaches students to build websites using WordPress. Students in the certificate program will also learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript coding languages and Figma for webpage layouts.
Key Insights
Certificates and certifications show that designers have mastered certain skills and can be an asset in web design.
- A certificate shows that you have completed a particular class or program of study.
- Certification is earned by passing a standardized exam.
- If you want to be a Web Designer, you don’t have to get a certificate or certification, but it can help your career.
If you are interested in pursuing a certificate program, there are a number of different web design-related programs offered through Noble Desktop.