When the school sucks and typical 9-5 jobs sucks even more, you might start exploring new ways to make a living and gain freedom. Web design is one of those easy-to-start professions that offers both. With the potential for regular clients who appreciate you and your work, it’s an attractive option. But you might wonder, “Can I become a web designer without coding skills?” The answer is yes, and I’ll explain why and how in this article.
Can you be a Web Designer without coding or design skills?
Yes, you certainly can. I think you may find some uplifting truths in this article that you were not aware of. I hope you find motivation to start. You may be pleasantly surprised to see that your new freelance life path and possible career as a Web Designer, or designer, could begin today!
Ready to learn how building websites could bring you a good income? Then take a look at my starting point for beginner Web Designers.
Making this path a reality is up to you, with some tips and my help. I also wrote about how starting a SaaS for beginners could be similar to building custom WordPress websites.
But first, please be the coolest person on the street and share this article with one of your geeky friends so they can also be surprised.
Moving on.
1. You can become a Web Designer without coding skills
People have asked me before:
“Can I build websites without any ‘education,’ programming, or design skills?”
Of course! We’re in modern times with computers, Internet, and stuff. To start fast, you can go here to see some beginner-friendly courses to learn Web Design and work-from-home skills.
For you to become someone who builds websites, it’s in fact all a matter of a mindset shift. And not a big education. What you need to learn to build websites is free and openly available online.
If anyone else attempts to tell you otherwise, they are wrong. Why?
Well, here’s the explanation.
A developer/programmer does coding, while a designer works on the design. The programmer works with code and algorithms. And a designer works with pen, paper, and visual design apps to create the LOOK of the website.
Now, there is a role in between these two skills. And it’s just common to call it a Web Designer. This in-between role builds websites, but no coding or design skills are needed. And this is where you come in.
By using platforms like WordPress, which is free and is now powering around 65% of the whole Internet, you can build websites without coding or designing. Instead, you install WordPress on a hosting service and pick a design template.
By learning some of these systems, services, and tools, you will be well-equipped to create new or improve existing websites for your first customer.
So, when we talk about Web Design, I think we can say that we now have 3 major roles here:
- The programmer — who works on code for more advanced systems.
- A designer — who only works on designing using other apps.
- The “Web Designer” — who simply builds stuff with ready-made features and design already done for you.
This is why you as a beginner have an easy time building websites. Even advanced and more complex websites can be built on WordPress, without touching any code.
2. This is sweet — so how to become a Web Designer?
There are a lot of things I would love teaching you. We’re in a time where you can become a Web Designer without coding, design skills, or special computer knowledge as long as you are interested in learning a few steps.
Let me give you a short list of qualities and skills on how to become a paid Web Designer. One that your customers will come back to over and over again, leading to more and more income.
7 Skills You Will Learn to Become a Web Designer
If you learn the following steps in this order, you will be able to set up your first website today.
So, here are seven skills you can start learning to bring you paid work as a Web Designer. And you can do this from anywhere.
- Domains and hosting – Do a quick read-up on the difference between domains, hosting, and different server packages, which is not hard or technical at all. This will make sure you can pick a domain and hosting plan for yourself and your customer to start building the website.
- Learn WordPress – If you don’t know, go and check out what WordPress is, and make sure you don’t use WordPress.com for your own or any client’s website; use WordPress.org. There’s no need to download anything, just check it out so you know what it is.
- Pick the right hosting plan and install WordPress – Make note of three hosting companies you will use for your own website and future clients. When you sign up, it’s easy to install WordPress so you can begin building the site. As a simple start, I recommend Dreamhost. Or try a new service I use myself called Spaceship. Here you can easily register domains and attach cheap hosting to it. Then log in and install WordPress. To learn more, consider my eBook on how to start as a Web Designer.
- Learn about two main WordPress themes – When setting up a website with WordPress you can choose between a vast number of free design themes. This of course makes it super-snappy to set up a simple website. No need to design anything. But instead, I recommend more flexible WordPress page-builders like Bricks or Oxygen Builder.
- Learn some web design traits – Choose to become efficient at what you want to do so you feel more confident talking to your customers and clients. Check out and learn a little bit about colors, basic designing, what CSS is and how it works. CSS may include a little bit of “coding,” but this is simple and fun compared to what I’m referring to with coding, such as PHP, HTML, JavaScript and other heavy coding languages. You don’t need to learn CSS code in the beginning. But you may find it cool and fun.
- Become a Shopify partner – Shopify is the number one eCommerce platform on the planet now. I have been a Shopify Expert and Partner for years, and it’s my number one source for recurring passive income each month. If your customer wants an eCommerce store, use Shopify for this project. No coding skills needed here, unless you want to venture into that space.
- Be professional administratively and love your customer – It’s easy for you to look professional by sending invoices from services like FreeAgent or WaveApps. But also learn to be caring and attentive to your customer so they keep coming back for more work.
The client is not always right — so they need you
In my reality as an entrepreneur and Web Designer, the customer is NOT always right. You will at times get in touch with various clients. But for me, I don’t tolerate nonsense, and expect mutual respect between me and the client. Speak and act with confidence, and you will have a much better work relationship.
Usually, the client is NOT right at all. That’s why they hire me in the first place. And this will be the reason they hire you as well.
Take a look at the 7 skills and qualities. Do they look hard for you to learn more about?
It’s not, and you don’t need any education for it. There is no need for a big investment.
There’s always more cool stuff to learn, expand on, and dive into to become a good Web Designer. But these skills are easily accessible and free to look up and learn. It’s also the foundation for you to be able to charge money for your first website projects.
If coding is something you WANT to dive into and learn, that will just benefit you when working with custom website setups and integrations.
A fun fact regarding me and my skills
I have been a professional Web Designer working on both WordPress websites and Shopify eCommerce stores for years. I started my business in 2001. Start counting.
And you know what?
I won’t call myself a programmer. I do work with code. I love basic HTML and CSS, because I actually build and design stuff with that. But I don’t advertise custom coding. Because I don’t need to. And this will be an important factor for you to take note of.
Most of the advanced website functions and features you will need for many of your client websites have already been built for WordPress. You simply install them using plugins.
And for design? Well, there are thousands of themes. But you can also put together your own designs inspired by other websites. And by watching YouTube videos.
I have done a lot of different website projects and setups. I have been well paid, and I have clients that have been with me for years.
All without coding.
Now, my star sign is Libra. We have an innate quality and ability to “see” and create harmony, beauty and balance. We’re attracted to this, and these senses include design work and visual arts. So, maybe I got an unfair advantage there. (smirk)
Be good at figuring things out
A more interesting fact for you to consider is that I have also been overall interested in and good at figuring things out. Nobody taught me web design.
I educated myself. I like to figure things out.
Another secret? If coding comes up as a necessity, I have made sure that I’m affiliated and partnered with another web DEVELOPER—one that focuses on coding skills, not design work.
Together we make things work very well. (Though I rarely need his help.)
You can do this too. Partner up with a coder on Upwork and keep them as your peer for when you need some extra coding help.
Become a Web Designer without re-inventing the wheel
There was a time when I was also wondering if I could become a Web Designer without coding skills. Over the years, I have learned the answer to that.
I usually tell my clients that I wouldn’t recommend coding anything unless they are talking about a very special project that needs functionality that’s not already available by adding a plugin or an external online service.
Why?
Because usually, what they are looking to set up on their website has already been created as a plugin. Buying, or even installing a free plugin or app is insanely much cheaper than inventing, programming, and servicing their own plugin or custom code.
Also, as soon as there are updates to WordPress and themes, and for the sake of security and safety, using a well-developed plugin or app is a lot safer.
How to become a web designer without a degree
I keep laughing at this search keyword in Google. Why would someone need a degree or special diploma to become a Web Designer in the times we are living in now?
Be clever, educate yourself. Connect with a mentor, learn from YouTube, and…
- figure things out.
Here’s one suggestion to help you self-educate. Use this app and start building websites on your local computer. I use it often when I start new projects for clients. You can start a local server on your computer and install WordPress automatically. All for free.
If you tell people that you read this article and they still laugh and say you still need to learn coding, ask them this:
“How come the very handsome John Mac at JohnMac.pro has done so well as a Web Designer and a Shopify Expert? While retaining regular customers that pay him monthly recurring fees for his services?”
I hope you have found the answer to your question and see that starting out building websites to make a living is not hard. Here are a few options to get you started:
- You could sign up for my free guide – “The Web Designer Blueprint“.
- Get my Web Design Side Hustle eBook which covers more topics in way more detail.
- Start learning from one of my courses for beginner Web Designers.