What Does an HTML Designer Do?

A hypertext markup language (HTML) designer, also called a web designer, is typically hired to construct and maintain a basic website. HTML is the authoring language that browsers interpret to render web pages over the Internet. Many different types of programming languages are used to design contemporary websites, but HTML code components are the core building blocks. Because HTML is so basic, an employer who is looking for a Web designer with this specific level of knowledge likely has very simple needs or has improperly categorized the position.

The Internet has progressed to the point where complex websites employ a variety of programming languages to render sophisticated websites. A typical web designer who is at the forefront of the field is expected to know a range of languages and software programs, beyond basic HTML. If a job announcement only requires proficiency with HTML, it is likely that the employer's website is either a simple display of text and images or uses a graphical interface program that allows people with basic web design skills to create and maintain a website.

In either case, an HTML designer uses the code elements to place text and images on a web page in a way that is esthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. Often, a company will expect the HTML designer to create the site and update it at regular intervals. Site creation involves interface design, where the designer structure the website so visitors can easily find information in an intuitive fashion. It may also involve collecting information, like photographs, from other sources or creating the new information from scratch.

The HTML designer is also responsible for optimizing the content that will be placed on the website for the Internet, including converting file formats and re-sizing photos, for example. This task requires proficiency with programs that allow creative professionals to manipulate media files. A company might need an HTML designer to work with a large number of these types of files, even though the website design is basic.

In some instances, companies use an Internet-based web design program that allows people with no knowledge of HTML to manage a website. This type of interface is graphical. The user works in the browser-rendered environment, while the program generates the HTML code behind the scenes. A company that hires an HTML designer under these circumstances will likely only need HTML experience so the designer knows enough to tweak the code that the program generates to obtain customized results.