While talent is a major part of the success of a web designer, it’s not the only necessary requirement for the job. In addition to a natural ability to design a creative piece that accomplishes the goals of the client, a web design professional must also have experience and credibility performing the assignment. One way to prove this to prospective employers and do the best work possible is by getting web design certifications – predominantly, within the Adobe Suite. Here are some of the top web design certifications that can accelerate your career.
“Adobe After Effects is an industry standard for mid-level professionals.”
1. Adobe After Effects
Who needs it?
Print and web designers, as well as those in graphics and animation.
What is it?
Adobe After Effects is a popular software used for creating and editing videos. According to Media College, it’s an industry standard for mid-level professionals, so it’s in designers’ best interests to becoming familiar with the program. It can be used for editing high-profile commercials and films, and is predominantly used for adding visual effects in the post production stages of a video.
With a certification in this program, professionals will be able to produce a high-quality video for clients and hone in on their knowledge of a complicated, technical subject.
How does the process work?
The certification process for the program involves downloading an exam guide off the Adobe Training Services website and studying that in preparation for an exam. From there, you’ll need to sign up for an account with Pearson UVE and schedule an exam. For Adobe After Effects specifically, you’ll be asked 50 questions regarding animations, composites and visual effects. A score of 64 percent or higher is required for certification.
2. Adobe Dreamweaver
Who needs it?
Web developers and designers.
What is it?
It’s likely that you’ll need to use Adobe Dreamweaver at some point in your career as a web developer or designer. The program allows you to build websites and mobile content in a visual, user-friendly way. Using the WYSIWYG editor, you can more easily write codes like HTML, CSS, XML, and more.
The program is easy to use, but there are many advanced features that might not be as intuitive for some. Having certification arms professionals with the knowledge they need to take their Dreamweaver skills a step further and use the program to its full potential.
How does the process work?
As with most Adobe certifications, the exam for Dreamweaver first requires users to set up a profile with Pearson UVE. Download the exam guide so you’re best prepared for the test. During the exam, you’ll be evaluated on your ability to architect a site, code a web page, and format a page using CSS. There are 47 questions, and a score of 66 percent is required to earn the certification.
3. Adobe Flash
Who needs it?
Web designers and developers, as well as those in graphics and animation.
What is it?
When you’re on a website that includes animation and interative designs, there’s a good chance it was deployed using Adobe Flash. Professionals use this program to create games and other rich Internet applications that render when engaged on a site. For instance, there are some ads that enlarge and start playing a video when a user rolls over them with his or her mouse, making this an especially effective tool to use in marketing and advertising.
How does the process work?
Create an account with Pearson UVE and schedule a time for a 50-question exam. Professionals will need a minimum score of 67 percent for certification, and they’ll be tested on things like building animations with MovieClips, optimizing assets and creating alternates for browsers without the necessary software.
Getting certified in a web design program increases your skills and credibility.4. Adobe Illustrator
Who needs it?
Those in graphics and animation, and designers of all types.
What is it?
A program that allows artists to create vector images, Adobe Illustrator is most commonly used for promotional images, company logos, charts, and other drawings. The advantage of creating a vector image is that you’re able to enlarge and shrink it without losing quality, making it preferred over photos in many instances.
The program is quite complex and requires sufficient training before a professional is able to use it to its full potential. A certification would not only give artists the skills they need to use the software, but also the credibility they deserve for mastering the software.
How does the process work?
Schedule a time for an exam through Pearson UVE and download the helpful exam guide that outlines the essentials of passing the test. You’ll be asked 60 questions and you must earn a score of 66 percent or better to receive certification. The exam will test your knowledge on creating two-dimensional illustrations and text treatments, and it will also require some experience with other Adobe products, like InDesign and Photoshop.
“A certification shows that you’re able to go beyond the basics of designing a website.”
5. Adobe Muse
Who needs it?
Those in web design.
What is it?
Adobe Muse is a program for web designers that streamlines the creation of a website. Designers are able to construct the layout of a page for desktop and mobile without needing extensive knowledge of coding. The program helps professionals design a site to the most recent web standards in a simple, user-friendly way.
Getting a certification in this software shows that you’re able to go beyond the basics of designing a website. It proves that you’re able to take a design through all stages, from planning, to creating, to adding interactivity to publishing.
How does the process work?
Set up an account with Pearson UVE and download the exam guide, complete with all of the concepts covered on the test. Schedule a time that’s convenient for you to take the test, and be prepared to answer 50 multiple choice questions within 180 minutes. You’ll need a score of 68 percent or better to be certified. The exam will test you on all parts of the web design process, including creating and editing images with Illustrator and Photoshop, adding navigation and widgets to a web page, and more.
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