Web Design Training for Veterans

Discover the wealth of opportunities available for veterans and their families interested in pursuing a career in web design. With a range of educational resources, comprehensive bootcamp courses, and potential salary benefits, web design is a viable career choice for veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

These Noble Desktop bootcamps and certificate programs have been approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons using the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (Chapter 31), and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35).

Noble Desktop Web Design Training Courses Approved by the VA:

• Web Design Certificate 
• Video Editing & Motion Graphics Certificate 
• Graphic Design Certificate 
• UI Design Certificate 
• Digital Design Certificate 
• UX & UI Design Certificate

Key Insights

• Veterans are supported through educational programs such as the GI Bill, the Forever GI Bill, and the VET TEC program, which can fund their web design education.
• Web design is a diverse field offering numerous career options, including roles as programmers, developers, and user experience designers.
• Bootcamp courses offer a shorter, more affordable pathway to a web design career compared to traditional four-year degrees.
• Noble Desktop provides comprehensive training in web design, with courses available both online and in-person.
• Learning web design opens up opportunities in freelancing, working for a company, or even starting your own business.
• Web design is an ever-evolving field. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies can increase your value in the tech industry.

If you’re a veteran or military family member looking for a fresh start, learning web design could be your ticket to a creative, flexible, and rewarding career. This is the perfect way to transition back into civilian life while embracing an exciting new job. Plus, this career allows you to express your creativity, offers solid earning potential, and provides long-term stability. Whether you’re new to design or have some experience under your belt, you will get all the support you need to succeed in these programs. If you are eligible, now is the time to take full advantage of these benefits and kickstart a career in web design.

For instance, you could begin with Noble Desktop, which offers several programs approved for the training of veterans and other eligible persons and designed to support you every step of the way. With access to Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (Chapter 31), and Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits, you can gain hands-on experience in web design that will help you land a job in no time. By enrolling in a program, you are not only learning technical skills but investing in a future as a civilian that is engaging, ever-changing, exciting, and dynamic.

What is Web Design?

Web design consists of all the steps involved in planning, creating, and maintaining websites. This field extends beyond the visual aspects, also considering the operational parts of a website such as navigation, loading time, and functionality. Web design is used by virtually every type of business out there, especially since ecommerce platforms have grown into such a popular shopping method. A solid website can help companies attract customers, build their brand, and stay ahead of the curve, which is why Web Designers are always in demand. Web design is a great field if you want to explore the tech field in-depth while still maintaining a creative edge with all your projects.

As a Web Designer, you will likely work on all kinds of challenging yet rewarding projects. For instance, if you’re working with a business to design their ecommerce platform, you might design the product pages, create a smooth check-out experience, and make sure the products are easy to find. If you work for a tech company, you may build landing pages with a brand-specific design. Those who work for the military can also use their web design skills. For instance, web design experts may create websites that help veterans access resources. No matter your focus, the field of web design always brings something new. 

A lot has changed in the industry since the internet first came to prominence. In the early days, websites were incredibly simplistic. They were mostly text-based and had very few design elements, if any. As the internet grew and more people started using the internet, websites started to shift. They became more functional and added more visual aspects. This combination made it easier for the user to navigate the site and enjoy the experience. In the future, it’s unclear what the future of web design may look like. With innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), websites could become even more intuitive and interactive. The field is always changing which makes it incredibly exciting and engaging.

What Can You Do with Web Design Skills?

If you are a veteran with web design skills, you are opening doors to a ton of exciting career opportunities. For starters, you could work as a freelancer and design websites for small businesses, nonprofits, or even large corporations. Companies of all sizes hire web design experts to build and maintain their online presence. You could work as a designer as well for tech companies, marketing agencies, and startups. Another route is working in ecommerce, which is where you will help brands optimize their online stores. Whether you want to work with a team, go solo, or explore numerous industries, there’s something for you out there in the web design world.

However, there are reasons to learn web design beyond the professional reasons. While it’s true that learning web design can be a great move to help you work from anywhere, you can also use it as a creative outlet. If you have always wanted to create a blog or website for a hobby or side hustle, this skill gives you the ability to do so. Plus, as a veteran, learning web design could be a fulfilling way to give back to your community by helping create websites for veterans affairs and organizations. It’s also a great way to blend your creativity with your passion for making a difference. Mastering web design means you’ll have marketable skills that are always going to be needed.

What Will I Learn in a Web Design Class?

Web design requires learning the tools and skills to build functional, visually striking websites. To do this, you can expect to learn a few specific skills. No two web design classes are ever the same due to the difference in length, depth, focus, and provider but you can typically expect to learn all or a combination of the skills listed below.

Programming Languages

Learning programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is a big part of web design. These are the building blocks for creating a website. Specifically, HTML is like the backbone that holds the rest of the website together. CSS, on the other hand, is what makes the website look nice with colors, fonts, and layouts. Lastly, JavaScript adds interactivity and makes it function like a website should with clickable buttons, scrolling features, and animations. Some veterans may already have experience with coding but if you don’t, there is no need to worry. If you have experience with troubleshooting or following specific rules, you can apply those skills to the learning process to make it less challenging.

UI and UX Design

For an all-around successful website, you’ll want to learn user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. This is all about making the website look good and feel good for users. Specifically, UX design is to make sure the website is easy to navigate and enjoyable. In other words, the user can find things with ease, and the website functions as expected. UI design refers to the visual elements you see on a website, including everything from buttons and layouts to colors and typography. Veterans often excel at strategic thinking which is necessary when devising a website that adheres to UX/UI design principles.

Wireframing and Prototyping

Before you start building a website, you need a wireframe and a prototype. The first step is to develop a rough draft or blueprint of a site that displays where everything will go -- otherwise known as a wireframe. Once you have that, you’ll develop a prototype. This takes things a step further by showing how it will actually work. Functional aspects are added to the prototype that make it more interactive and give you a better sense of what you want the final product to look and feel like. If you’ve ever been in a job where planning ahead was essential (such as military logistics and planning) then you will understand the importance of wireframing and prototyping.

Content Management Systems

With Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress and Squarespace, you can build and maintain websites with additional ease. With these, you don’t have to code everything from scratch but can still customize your website as much as you want. Learning how to work with these tools is useful because they are used by all kinds of companies both big and small. If you’ve worked with a system or platform similar to this that requires hands-on use and management, you may find CMS rather easy to pick up.

Essential Graphic Design Skills

Although web design is considered a more technical skill, it may benefit you to learn some basic graphic design. Some web design courses incorporate graphic design skills like typography, color theory, layout principles, and other techniques to make your website visually appealing and on-brand. Basically, learning these skills can make your website look professional, concise, and clean. If you have an eye for detail and understand how to appeal to different groups of people, like many veterans do, learning graphic design skills will come easily.

Search Engine Optimization Basics

Your website can look incredible; however, it won’t matter if nobody can find it. That’s why some web design classes teach search engine optimization (SEO). This technique helps your site show up in search engines like Google so people can find what you’ve created. You’ll learn things like using keywords and making sure your website loads quickly. In addition, you’ll learn how to optimize images and use internal linking. As a veteran, you may already be used to following guidelines and procedures to optimize certain processes, whether that’s for reports or missions. As a result, SEO may be easier than you think.

Support for Veterans

If you’re a veteran ready to take the next step but feeling unsure of where to start, don’t worry -- you aren’t alone and there are options available to suit all your needs. Thanks to a range of educational benefits and resources afforded to you through the 1944 GI Bill, your next career could be just a few courses away. This bill offers veterans everything from college tuition to vocational training, certifications, online courses, and entrepreneurial endeavors. It’s all about helping veterans and their families smoothly transition into the next chapter of life.

You may have concerns swirling around your mind regarding the availability of benefits; if so, the Forever GI Bill has your back. This bill ensures you are covered no matter when you were discharged from service. This provision states that if you served at least 90 days of active duty since September 10, 2001, were honorably discharged, or received a service-related disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this program. It’s all about giving veterans the education and training they need and deserve to succeed in the next phase of their lives.

The best part of both the GI Bill and the Forever GI Bill is that they cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing for those who opt for full-time enrollment. If you have considered taking a course, Noble Desktop offers some incredible programs that are approved for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Plus, you might be eligible for additional benefits, so it’s worthwhile to contact the VA to confirm your status and explore all possible options. As a veteran, you have earned these benefits and now it’s time to put them to work for you. 

Why Learn Web Design?

As a veteran figuring out your next career move, you may wonder whether web design is the right fit. In truth, it could be game-changing in terms of financial gains and job stability. It’s a fast-growing field which means there’s always something new to learn. In addition, there’s the chance for career growth, the work is varied, and there are tons of options. Whether you’re thinking about freelancing or finding in-office work, there’s something out there for you.

Job Availability

Web design is a skill seen across almost every industry. Even more than that, nearly every company needs a website so web design experts are inevitably needed. From tech companies and healthcare providers to startups and nonprofits, businesses of all sizes need skilled web design experts to create functional, user-friendly websites. As a veteran, you’re able to bring a fresh perspective that everyday civilians may not have. You understand how to communicate effectively with a diverse range of audiences and can apply that to your role in the digital world. Plus, Web Designers have lots of options for working, from in-house and remote to freelance and contract work. So no matter what kind of work environment you prefer, you can find something to suit your needs.

Employability

Obtaining web design skills is also a highly employable skill, even if your role is not specific to web design itself. Almost every business needs a website that’s functional and appealing, whether it’s a landing page or an ecommerce site. Digital Marketers may need essential web design skills for their career just as much as a Graphic Designer. The skills you learn in web design are often transferable which makes you that much more employable. As a veteran, this is important as it gives you the freedom and agency to choose your own path and explore your options once you’re back state-side.

Salary Expectations

You can also make great money as a Web Designer which makes the time and effort spent learning that much more rewarding. Starting out, you may work as a junior designer and build your skills to rise in the ranks. You could also become a freelance professional, taking on numerous projects at once and making money the way you want. Indeed shares that the average Web Designer in the United States earns an average of $53,000. However, some reported salaries are as high as $97,000. Plus, it depends on location. For instance, Los Angeles-based Web Designers earn an average of $70,000 whereas those in New York City earn closer to $65,000.

Flexible Work-Life Balance

One of the best reasons people choose web design for their career is that it offers a healthy work-life balance. You have numerous options when applying for web design positions, such as in-house or remote. Many web design positions are available remotely which means you can work from anywhere. In addition, you could freelance or find a role at an agency as a full-time or part-time employee. Plus, web design professionals typically don’t work overtime which means you have downtime that you can spend how you like. This flexibility is especially valuable when transitioning back into civilian life as it gives you time to focus on family, friends, hobbies, and other personal goals.

Both a Technical and Creative Field

If you like working with technical tools but also feel that you have a creative streak, web design is a great blend of the two. On any given project, you will design a visually appealing website while also using tools like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Figma to bring your designs to the real world. This combination keeps your job interesting because you will always have a project going on and will continually learn new skills to develop your web design abilities even further. Whether you’re mainly focused on the visual side of things or super interested in the back end of a website, you can find a fulfilling career that gives you the best of both worlds and is mentally stimulating.

Why Choose a Web Design Bootcamp or Certificate?

As a veteran transitioning into civilian life, choosing a web design bootcamp or certificate program is a smart move to launching a new career. These programs are designed to get you up to speed fast and give you the hands-on, practical experience that employers are looking for. With web design being essential in today’s world, you will learn everything from building websites to crafting a user-friendly interface. Plus, many programs will offer job assistance, resume assistance, portfolio development, and mentoring. If you want a sustainable career in web design without spending excessive amounts of time and money, consider a bootcamp or certificate.

Hands-On, Practical Experience

Web design bootcamps and certificate programs pride themselves on their interactive learning processes. They offer hands-on projects that are rooted in real-world workplace situations and give students direct access to the materials and tools they will use in the workplace. Likewise, students will use programming languages that enable them to build websites from scratch so they are part of every step of the web design process. For veterans, this direct, action-based learning aligns well with your previous experience so you can see the results of your work as you continue to learn.

Career-Readiness in Less Time

One of the best things about a web design bootcamp or certificate program is that it is designed to make you career-ready in just a few months rather than several years. These programs cut through the fluff and extracurricular information so that you can transition smoothly into a new career. In a bootcamp or certificate course, you will quickly acquire the technical and creative skills that you need for the workforce, making the shift to a new career path feel natural and efficient.

Job Assistance and Other Benefits

Many web design bootcamps and certificate programs offer job assistance in addition to a comprehensive education. This can include resume help, interview preparation, and connecting you with other web design professionals through networking events and opportunities. As a veteran, you will also receive additional benefits that make your transition easier. Whether it’s leveraging your GI BILL benefits or getting access to veteran-friendly job networks, these programs ensure you are not left alone to figure it out solo. These programs help you get the skills you need to move forward and start a new career.

Learn Web Design at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a leading training center that offers courses in web design and related subjects. These certificate courses are all approved for veterans and other eligible individuals using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program, and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefits. In addition to this exceptional opportunity, Noble Desktop offers additional benefits such as payment plans and one-on-one mentoring outside of the classroom. Moreover, they give you the opportunity to retake the course at no additional cost within a year. They also offer supplemental learning resources, portfolio assistance, and a verified digital certificate of completion. If you are a veteran looking to dive into web design, this is a great place to get started.

If you want to start your web design career once you end your time in the service, consider the Web Design Certificate from Noble Desktop that spans 162 hours and dives deep into essential tools like WordPress, Figma, Visual Studio Code, and Git. You will also master essential coding languages like HTML, which serves as the backbone of every webpage, and CSS, the language that makes the website look visually appealing. Additionally, you will use JavaScript which makes the website interactive, providing a more dynamic interface experience for the user. By the end of the course, you will have the skills needed to succeed in the field and a well-developed portfolio to show for it. This is a great way to lay the foundation for a fulfilling and meaningful web design career.

In just 120 hours, you will learn essential skills to create stunning, functional, and well-organized websites in the UI Design Certificate program. You’ll be able to create websites for desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile through projects where you use Figma for prototyping. You will also learn how to create graphics, icons, logos, and other branding elements that help you connect at a deeper level with the user. If you want to elevate your web design skills to create a website that is on-brand and attractive, this is the right course for you.

If you prefer an all-encompassing approach to learning about the user’s needs, consider the UX and UI Design Certificate. This program lasts 144 hours and covers both UX and UI design concepts, such as how to conduct user research or build clickable prototypes using Figma. You will also write case studies for UX projects and present your findings about recent research, design recommendations, and project requirements. The projects are realistic and hands-on, meaning you’ll leave with a thorough understanding of both the user’s needs and the visual elements that keep them returning to your website, platform, or product.

The 138-hour Digital Design Certificate gives you the experience to master some of the most industry-standard tools in digital design including Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. You’ll learn how to retouch photos, create layouts for websites, and design vector graphics for social media. These are varied and diverse skills that allow your portfolio to stand out apart from all the rest. This course also dives into UI and UX design, giving you a well-rounded range of digital design skills for your future career.

The Graphic Design Certificate spans 84 hours and provides an overview of the graphic design field’s core principles. You’ll practice using Adobe applications like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator to make stunning imagery, create intricate vector graphics, and design sleek layouts. Graphic design is a unique field because it’s intended for both print and digital media, so you will learn everything from social media content creation to designing business cards and flyers. This course gives you a creative edge but also refines your skills through discussions and practices with design principles, color theory, and typography. If you’re ready to explore graphic design, this is the place to start. 

Noble Desktop’s 120-hour Digital Marketing Certificate program is all about the art of mastering online marketing while sharpening adjacent skills like those in social media, graphic design, web design, and analytics. This course takes you through projects rooted in social media content creation or SEO techniques. Moreover, you will also practice using WordPress and Google Analytics, giving you an all-encompassing digital marketing education fit for the job search. You’ll be able to drive traffic to your business websites, boost ROI, and improve future campaigns after completing this course.