Additionally, any time you get into more complicated sites, you also need to understand the basics of programming. If you don't, you'll end up designing poor-quality sites, or else spending a lot of time and energy to correct mistakes caused by lack of knowledge.

3. Web designers should be marketers, first and foremost.

After all, that's what website's are all about-marketing products, services, and ideas. If a web designer does not understand the mindset of a marketer or a salesperson, they won't understand the logic of how to create pages that sell.

4. The point of graphic design is to increase functionality, NOT to create something that looks pretty.

The appearance of a website (or a particular aspect of a website) has a tremendous affect on functionality, but design is not for appearance itself. It's a means, not an end. As soon as designers begin treating appearance (and graphic design) as an end in itself, functionality starts to suffer. Instead, graphic designers have to recognize that every line of text, every photo, every button, and every other element on the page should be designed to make the page more functional. If it doesn't increase functionality in some way, it doesn't belong on the page!

5. It helps immensely to narrow your own target market as a designer.

It's a simple reality that no one can be good at everything. Even in the specific field of web design, one designer can't be an expert at designing all the various sorts of web sites that are needed. It's better to pick a niche-whatever sort of niche you're best at-and hone in on that niche. Whether that means restricting your focus web design of e-commerce sites, or single pages for sales letters, or B2B sites, or sites in a specific industry, focus is key. It allows you to become specialized in one area and to develop real expertise in that niche.

6. Reading is incredibly valuable.

Learning from the experience of other people who have already "been there and done that" saves a tremendous amount of time. In my opinion, both books and online newsletters are very valuable. Books are more methodical than newsletters, but newsletters are free and can cover more up-to-date topics. Personally, I try to read on a variety of subjects, including graphic design, web design, web development, search engine optimisation, copywriting, marketing, and online business in general.

7. Knowing the rules is good, and knowing when to break them is better.

If you learn the rules and principles that underlie good design, you're a step ahead of the crowd. But if you have skill in knowing how to apply (and when not to apply) those rules and principles, you're leaps and bounds ahead. Knowing (and following) the basic conventions of the web is very important, but it's even more important to be able to think through the logic of a given situation.