by Mark | Nov 20, 2025 | Industry News, Web Professional Trends
November has been packed with interesting developments in the web world, and we’re excited to share what’s been on our radar. From performance breakthroughs to accessibility milestones, this month highlighted how quickly our industry adapts and innovates. Keeping up with these changes helps all of us build better, more inclusive web experiences.
We’ve gathered some of the most significant topics and resources that caught our attention. Let’s dive in.
TOON
Token-Oriented Object Notation (TOON) is emerging as one of those “why didn’t I think of this” technologies. Essentially, every time we interact with a large language model (LLM) and provide a set of data in JSON format, we are wasting a number of tokens since every curly brace, every bracket and every quote counts as a token. Plus, JSON is not exactly human friendly on the readability front. TOON allows for more human readable data stores. That being said, it does not seem to work well with deeply nested structures. If you would like to learn more, consider the code repository on GitHub.
WebAssembly
WebAssembly has matured significantly in 2025, and it’s no longer just about making things faster—though it certainly does that. Think of WebAssembly as a way to run almost any programming language in your web browser at speeds that rival native desktop applications. The official release of WebAssembly 3.0 in September brought some game-changing capabilities that make it easier for developers to use familiar languages like Java, Python, and Ruby directly in web applications.
What’s particularly exciting is the Component Model, which lets different programming languages work together smoothly. Imagine building an application where parts written in Rust, Go, and JavaScript all communicate effortlessly—that’s the kind of flexibility WebAssembly now offers.
You’re probably already using WebAssembly without realizing it. Figma’s design tool runs entirely in your browser thanks to WebAssembly, Unity WebGL delivers console-quality games without any downloads, and Adobe’s Creative Cloud tools let you edit videos right in your browser. This comprehensive overview of WebAssembly’s capabilities shows how it’s being used for everything from CAD applications to scientific computing and even serverless applications running at the network edge.
For developers interested in exploring WebAssembly, the ecosystem now includes mature toolchains like Emscripten for C/C++, excellent Rust support via wasm-bindgen, and frameworks like Spin for building serverless WebAssembly applications.
TypeScript
TypeScript 5.7, released in November 2024, introduced several improvements that make catching bugs easier. One of the most useful additions is better detection of variables that never get properly set up before being used—even when they’re accessed deep within nested functions, which previous versions would miss.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by having to write .js in your import statements even though you’re working with .ts files, the new –rewriteRelativeImportExtensions option fixes that annoyance. It automatically handles the conversion for you when working with modern tools like ts-node, Deno, and Bun.
This version also adds support for the latest JavaScript features from ECMAScript 2024, including handy new methods like Object.groupBy() and Map.groupBy() that make organizing data much cleaner. Plus, performance improvements mean large TypeScript projects now build noticeably faster.
The official announcement from Microsoft walks through these improvements with practical examples. TypeScript 5.8, which came out in February 2025, continued adding refinements that make the language even more reliable and easier to work with.
Accessibility and WCAG 2.2
Accessibility took a major step forward in October 2025 when WCAG 2.2 was approved as ISO/IEC 40500:2025. This ISO certification transforms WCAG 2.2 from a best practice guideline into a formal international standard with legal and regulatory weight across borders.
The nine new success criteria in WCAG 2.2 focus on areas that previous versions didn’t adequately address. Focus Not Obscured (2.4.11) ensures keyboard users can always see what element has focus. Dragging Movements (2.5.7) requires alternatives to drag-and-drop interactions for users with motor impairments. Accessible Authentication (3.3.8) demands that authentication mechanisms don’t rely solely on cognitive tests or memory challenges.
For US public entities, the ADA Title II regulations now explicitly require WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance for state and local government websites, with deadlines in 2026 for entities serving over 50,000 people and 2027 for smaller entities. The European Accessibility Act has similar requirements taking effect in June 2025.
This detailed analysis of WCAG 2.2’s ISO approval explains the implications for procurement, compliance, and strategy. Organizations should begin updating their accessibility policies now, as many procurement frameworks will start requiring ISO/IEC 40500:2025 compliance in vendor contracts throughout 2026.
Headless CMS
The headless CMS market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach $7.1 billion by 2035 from $973.8 million in 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 22.6%. This surge is driven by the increasing demand for omnichannel content delivery and the flexibility that comes from separating content management from presentation.
Unlike traditional CMSs where content and presentation are tightly coupled, headless architecture stores content in a backend system and delivers it via APIs to any frontend or device. This approach enables businesses to publish content simultaneously to websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, digital signage, and platforms that haven’t been invented yet.
The integration of AI-powered features has become table stakes for modern CMSs. Native AI functionality now helps with content generation, automatic tagging, and smart recommendations, removing bottlenecks and accelerating content workflows. This market overview from Storyblok reveals that 69% of headless CMS users report improved time-to-market and productivity, while traditional WordPress users cite delays of over an hour to publish content.
Edge Computing
Edge computing is revolutionizing web performance by processing data closer to where users actually are, rather than routing every request to distant centralized servers. Research indicates that 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the edge by 2025, up dramatically from just 10% in 2018.
The performance benefits are substantial: edge computing can reduce latency to under 5 milliseconds compared to 20-40 milliseconds typical of traditional cloud computing. For e-commerce sites, where a one-second delay can cause a 7% drop in conversions, this speed improvement translates directly into revenue. Studies show edge implementation can reduce website load times by 50% or more.
The integration of 5G networks with edge computing is enabling new applications that require split-second responses—autonomous vehicles, real-time gaming, and augmented reality experiences. This practical guide to edge computing provides implementation patterns and best practices for developers looking to leverage edge architecture in their applications.
Core Web Vitals
Google’s Core Web Vitals continue to evolve as a critical ranking factor and user experience benchmark. The most significant recent change was the replacement of First Input Delay (FID) with Interaction to Next Paint (INP) as a Core Web Vital. Unlike FID, which only measures the first interaction, INP provides a comprehensive view of a page’s responsiveness throughout the entire user session.
Google has also introduced a new metric for 2025 called Engagement Reliability (ER), which measures how consistently users can interact with a website without encountering obstacles. This addition emphasizes that Google isn’t just looking for fast sites—it wants sites that provide frustration-free experiences where buttons respond reliably and forms submit without issues.
Mobile performance now carries even more weight in rankings, reflecting the reality that over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Poor mobile Core Web Vitals can severely impact engagement metrics like bounce rates and session duration. This comprehensive guide to Core Web Vitals optimization provides actionable strategies for improving your scores, including image optimization, efficient JavaScript execution, and proper resource loading techniques.
Serverless Architecture
Serverless computing continues to reshape how applications are built and deployed by eliminating infrastructure management overhead and enabling automatic scaling. The serverless architecture market is projected to reach $17.78 billion in 2025, with major cloud providers like AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, and Google Cloud Functions leading adoption.
The key advantage of serverless is that developers can focus entirely on writing business logic while the cloud provider handles scaling, maintenance, and security. Applications automatically scale from zero to thousands of concurrent executions based on demand, and you only pay for actual compute time rather than provisioning capacity in advance.
The serverless paradigm works particularly well for applications with variable traffic patterns, event-driven workloads, and microservices architectures. Common use cases include API backends, image processing, data transformation pipelines, and scheduled tasks. Digital Silk’s analysis of web development trends highlights how serverless, combined with edge computing and instant-loading strategies, is defining the future of high-performance web applications.
Voice Search Optimization
Voice search continues its rapid growth, with projections indicating that 75% of US households will have voice-activated smart speakers by the end of 2025. This shift is fundamentally changing how users interact with the web, requiring developers and content creators to optimize for natural language queries rather than traditional keyword phrases.
Technical implementation includes using schema markup to help search engines understand your content structure, ensuring fast mobile loading times (since most voice searches happen on mobile devices), and optimizing for local SEO with accurate business information. Natural language processing capabilities in modern CMSs are evolving to better support voice-friendly content creation.
From an accessibility perspective, voice interfaces also benefit users with visual impairments or motor disabilities, making voice optimization not just an SEO strategy but an inclusive design practice. Websites that successfully adapt to voice search see improvements in overall discoverability and user engagement across all interaction modes.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the end of 2025, several themes are clear: performance optimization through technologies like WebAssembly and edge computing is becoming essential rather than optional, accessibility is transitioning from best practice to legal requirement, and the tools we use are becoming more sophisticated while often easier to deploy. The separation of content from presentation through headless architectures provides the flexibility modern applications demand, while Core Web Vitals ensure we’re delivering experiences that meet user expectations.
What articles or developments caught your attention this month? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. As always, feel free to reach out to us anytime to learn more about Web Professionals Global and our mission of Community, Education, Certification. If you are not yet a member, join us today.
by Mark | Oct 26, 2025 | Industry News, Web Professional Trends
As October draws to a close, we wanted to share the articles and developments that have captured our attention this month. The web continues to evolve at a rapid pace, and helping our members stay informed creates better experiences for our users. As always, we are curious to hear what you’ve been reading and thinking about.
Here are some topics and articles we found interesting this month.
CSS
The CSS landscape continues to mature with significant updates that are changing how we approach styling. Container queries, introduced in CSS 2023 and widely adopted in 2025, allow styles to be based on a container’s size instead of the viewport. This represents a fundamental shift in how we think about responsive design—no longer are we limited to viewport-based media queries.
Modern color handling in CSS includes relative color syntax, which lets you adjust properties like lightness or saturation from an existing color, and the light-dark() function allows easy switching between light and dark color values. For those working with scrollable interfaces, scrollbar-gutter keeps layouts stable by reserving space for a scrollbar, preventing annoying shifts when the scrollbar appears, while scrollbar-color lets you style the scrollbar’s track and thumb.
We found this article on CSS updates for 2025 particularly useful for understanding what’s ready to use right now across all major browsers. The W3C has also published their CSS Snapshot 2025, which provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of CSS specifications.
Accessibility
Accessibility remains a critical focus area for web professionals. On the standards front, there have been updates to the working draft for WCAG 3.0 including removal of exploratory content and updated assertions section of the Explainer for WCAG 3.0.
The European Accessibility Act continues to shape global standards, and organizations worldwide are working to meet upcoming compliance requirements. It’s worth reviewing your current accessibility practices now rather than waiting for deadlines.
AI and Web Development
OpenAI launched GPT-5, a multimodal model that handles text, images, audio, and video with a huge context window of a million tokens. This represents a significant leap in what’s possible with AI-powered development tools.
AI-powered development tools like GitHub Copilot are transforming coding workflows, automating repetitive tasks while enabling developers to focus on creative problem-solving. This comprehensive guide to AI tools for web development explores how these technologies are streamlining everything from code generation to testing and debugging.
The integration of AI with web development is no longer experimental; it’s becoming standard practice. The challenge now is learning to use these tools effectively while maintaining code quality and user experience, especially when it comes to accessibility and security considerations.
WordPress
WordPress development continues to move forward despite earlier concerns about release cadence. October brought three significant Gutenberg releases—21.6, 21.7, and 21.8—each introducing features that streamline development workflows and expand what’s possible in WordPress.
The Command Palette is extending beyond the Site Editor, making navigation commands available throughout the admin. For developers working with taxonomies, the new experimental Terms Query block provides a dedicated tool for building taxonomy-based layouts, particularly useful for directory sites and content hubs.
WordPress 6.9 is confirmed for release on December 2, 2025, bringing simplified site editing, advanced template control, and foundational AI support. If you haven’t updated to WordPress 6.8.3, now would be a good time—it includes important security fixes.
JavaScript Frameworks
The JavaScript ecosystem continues its evolution with several frameworks making significant updates. React 19’s compiler is a move inspired by frameworks like Svelte and Solid—React now compiles code ahead of time, bypassing reliance on the virtual DOM, which means the compiler can eliminate the need for optimization hooks like useMemo and useCallback.
Angular 18 now officially supports zoneless change detection by introducing signals, making Angular apps easier to read, debug, and ship while slashing bundle sizes. Vue.js is working on Vue Vapor Mode, a new compilation strategy that eliminates the virtual DOM, opting instead for hyper-efficient, fine-grained DOM updates.
The Tiobe index for October 2025 shows Python still leading by a wide margin at 24.45%, while C jumped back to 9.29% with the help of its C23 update, and JavaScript remains one of the most widely used languages in web development.
Web Design Trends
Web design in 2025 is embracing personality and expressiveness. Micro animations help guide users, reinforce actions, and give interfaces extra polish through hover effects, button ripples, and loading indicators. Custom cursors are gaining popularity as brand elements.
Web designers are increasingly drawing inspiration from gaming UI aesthetics, integrating 3D, intricate UI details and detailed microinteractions to create an atmosphere of high-tech immersion. At the same time, there’s a countertrend toward organic, handcrafted elements that bring warmth and authenticity to digital spaces.
Dark mode has moved beyond being just a trend—it’s now an expected feature. Many sites are implementing sophisticated light/dark toggles that respect user preferences and system settings. For those interested in implementation details, this tutorial on building a light/dark toggle with the Interactivity API provides a modern approach.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) continue to narrow the gap between web and native experiences, with major brands reporting significant performance improvements and user engagement. The PWA market is projected to exceed $15 billion by 2025, driven by surging adoption across sectors.
The most significant advancement is enhanced offline functionality through sophisticated synchronization, allowing users to continue working seamlessly regardless of network conditions. With iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, Apple has significantly improved PWA support, bringing push notifications, install prompts, and offline functionality that opens up new possibilities for iPhone users.
This technology is particularly valuable for content-heavy applications and e-commerce platforms where uninterrupted user experience directly impacts business outcomes.
New Member Tools
For our members, we have recently added some tools to our Member tools page (tools created by members for use by our members). As with all our tools, we do not collect nor store the information you submit via our forms. Yes, you can often find the same functionality elsewhere on the internet, but do you really know what happens with the data you submit? These new tools include:
- The ability to strip EXIF data from images (this may be helpful when working with client materials).
- The ability to split long strings of text into smaller strings. For example, if you use DKIM with 2,048 bit encryption, you will be working with a long string of text. Of course, when you try to enter this into a DNS record on most servers, you will discover that only the first 255 characters are pasted. You can add subsequent TXT records and this tool allows you to paste those as strings of 250 characters each. As most webmasters working with DNS records know, it is up to the server to stitch those records together into a coherent string after the TXT record has been updated.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the end of 2025, several trends are clear: accessibility is no longer optional, AI tools are becoming integrated into standard development workflows, and the gap between web and native experiences continues to shrink. The frameworks and tools we use continue to mature, offering more powerful capabilities while often becoming simpler to use.
What articles or developments caught your attention this month? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. As always, feel free to reach out to us anytime to learn more about Web Professionals Global and our mission of Community, Education, Certification.
by Mark | Jan 3, 2025 | Web Design, Web Design Trends, Web Professional Trends
The 2024 Industry Report – Web Design and Development is proudly presented by Web Professionals Global and its Advisory Council. This comprehensive analysis reflects our commitment to Community, Education and Certification, serving as a guiding resource for web professionals, educators, and workforce development leaders worldwide. As the web continues to weave itself into every aspect of industry and trade, this report offers a thorough exploration of trends, statistics, and the evolving needs of the web design and development field. Today, it can be argued that everyone, regardless of career path, is in one way or another a web professional.
Executive Summary
The web design and development industry has seen tremendous growth over the past five years, with new trends redefining its trajectory. In 2024, the web is more integrated into the global economy than ever before, spanning traditional tech roles and trade professions alike. This report explores key developments such as the rise of AI, the necessity of industry-based certifications, and the increasing demand for leadership training and workforce adaptability. It also provides actionable insights and recommendations to ensure professionals stay competitive in an evolving landscape.
Key highlights include:
- Steady growth in web-related employment and salaries across the US and internationally
- Critical role of mobile-first design as mobile users dominate internet access
- AI’s transformative impact across all workplace sectors
- Continued impact and growth of industry-based certifications
- Future-proofing today’s professional
- New courseware and certifications
- Importance of early career pathways to build the next generation of web design and development leaders
Growth of the Industry
The web design and development industry has grown exponentially over the past five years, driven by technological advances and increased internet penetration worldwide. Employment opportunities have expanded, with an estimated 8% annual growth in job postings globally. Salaries for web professionals have risen correspondingly, with US-based developers earning a median salary of $85,000, while international averages vary between $40,000 and $70,000 depending on region.
Market research shows the global web design and development market will reach approximately $123.2 billion by 2032, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2024 to 2031. In the United States, employment for web developers is expected to increase by 16% from 2022 to 2032, significantly outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations. This expansion is anticipated to result in approximately 34,700 new web developer positions annually.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, careers in digital and web-related fields will be among the most in-demand in 2025. Roles such as Animation Designer, Frontend Web Developer, UX/UI Designer, and Digital/Web Designer are expected to see continued growth as businesses prioritize enhancing user experience, creating engaging visual content, and maintaining a strong online presence. These professions are critical in shaping the digital landscape, with increasing reliance on innovative design and development to meet evolving consumer expectations and technological advancements. This demand underscores the importance of equipping professionals with cutting-edge skills and training to thrive in these dynamic career pathways.
The web design and development job market in Europe reflects a growing demand for digitally skilled professionals, with a significant talent gap persisting across the region. Frontend developers, who bridge the gap between code and stunning visual designs, are particularly vital in this landscape.
Ireland exemplifies this trend, facing a critical shortage of IT professionals. A 2023 survey by Expleo revealed that 94% of Irish businesses struggled to find suitable candidates for IT roles, and 74% of business leaders acknowledged challenges in attracting top talent. This shortage underscores the need for increased training and education in digital skills to meet industry demands and maintain Europe’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
The demand for web designers and developers in South America is experiencing significant growth, driven by the region’s expanding digital economy and the global shift towards online platforms. Latin American developers, including web designers and developers , are increasingly sought after due to their high level of technical training, soft skills, and proficiency in English. Countries like Brazil and Argentina have become prominent tech hubs, with cities such as São Paulo and Buenos Aires hosting vibrant tech ecosystems. The rise of remote work has further opened opportunities for South American web designers and developers to engage with international clients, enhancing their employment prospects.
The global impact of web design and development is evident as industries increasingly rely on web technologies to enhance operations and customer engagement. E-commerce, education, healthcare, and even traditional trades like construction and manufacturing have integrated web-based solutions to remain competitive.
Web Usage and Statistics
The number of active websites worldwide surpassed 1.2 billion in 2024, reflecting steady growth in online activity. Of these, over 60% are optimized for mobile devices, showcasing the dominance of mobile-first strategies. Key statistics include:
- Browser usage: Google Chrome remains the top browser with a 65% market share, followed by Safari at 18%.
- Mobile growth: Over 60% of global web traffic now originates from mobile devices.
- E-commerce influence: Online retail sales accounted for 22% of total global retail sales in 2024, compared to just 15% five years ago.
These figures highlight the growing need for adaptive web design and development practices.
Key Turning Points for the Global Web Design and Development Landscape
The past five years have been marked by significant changes in web design and development. These include:
- The AI revolution: Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Grok, LLaMA, and Gemini are reshaping content creation and web experiences. AI has become indispensable for tasks ranging from personalized user experiences to predictive analytics. Platforms such as Adobe, Canva, Designs.ai, and many others, including integrated development environments (IDEs), are incorporating AI, seamlessly converging design technologies with artificial intelligence.
- Cross-industry reliance: Trades such as automotive mechanics and electricians increasingly use web-based tools for diagnostics, scheduling, and customer interactions.
- Responsive and accessible design: A universal emphasis on inclusivity has made accessibility a standard rather than a bonus feature.
In 2024, the rapid and ongoing integration of web tools across industries highlights the critical need for a digitally fluent workforce across all career pathways.
Future-proofing Web Designers and Developers for Tomorrow’s Challenges
The evolving landscape of web design and development demands continuous growth and adaptability from professionals. Rapid advancements in technology and changing user expectations require web designers and developers to adopt a proactive approach to skill development and maintain high standards of professionalism. Future-proofing in this dynamic industry hinges on a combination of technical expertise, soft skills, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Key competencies essential for staying ahead include:
- Proficiency in AI tools and foundational AI skills: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how websites are designed, optimized, and managed. Web designers and developers who leverage AI for automation, user behavior analysis, and creative enhancements will be better positioned to lead in the field.
- Inclusive design and accessibility principles: Prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility is both a moral and practical obligation. Designers who create user experiences that accommodate diverse needs contribute to broader audience engagement while complying with legal and business standards.
- Mastery of data privacy regulations and security protocols: Growing concerns over data privacy and cybersecurity make it critical for web professionals to understand and implement robust measures that protect user information and uphold global standards.
- Commitment to lifelong learning, training, and certifications: The fast pace of technological advancement necessitates continuous education and skill validation. Certifications not only confirm expertise but also signal a dedication to professional growth, a quality highly valued by employers and clients.
- Soft skills, leadership, problem-solving, and project management: These attributes remain vital for effective collaboration, team management, and addressing complex challenges in a competitive environment.
Flexibility is another key attribute for web professionals, enabling them to adapt to economic uncertainties and shifting client demands in a digital-first economy.
By embracing lifelong learning and maintaining professionalism, web designers and developers enhance their capabilities, future-proof their careers, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the industry. Web Professionals Global supports these efforts by providing resources, certifications, and advocacy to ensure web professionals remain competitive and prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Importance of Industry-Based Certifications
Industry-based certifications have emerged as a key differentiator for web professionals. These credentials validate expertise and signal to employers a commitment to quality and continuous learning. Certifications in areas such as UX/UI design, front-end development, front-end design, cybersecurity, and AI have seen a 20% increase in demand over the past year.
Employers use industry-based certifications as part of the hiring process to assess candidates’ skills, qualifications, and readiness for specific roles. These certifications serve as standardized benchmarks of competence and knowledge in various fields, making them valuable tools for streamlining recruitment. Prospective employees with certifications from accredited organizations or professional associations can distinguish themselves from those without certifications giving them the edge to get hired.
Employees with certifications are more likely to get promoted, while freelancers with relevant certifications instill confidence in clients regarding their abilities and the professionalism they bring to their work.
Organizations like Web Professionals Global play a pivotal role in fostering technical and soft skills development through recognized education and certification programs.
The Value of Competition in Strengthening the Workforce
Competition continues to be seen as a powerful tool for improving the pool of workforce professionals, not only in Web Design and Development but across all industry sectors. Events like the SkillsUSA State and National Web Design and Development competitions provide a vital platform for developing professionals to test their skills, benchmark their abilities against peers, and refine their craft in a dynamic, high-stakes environment.
These competitions simulate real-world challenges, requiring participants to perform under pressure while solving complex problems with creativity and precision. Such experiences prepare individuals for the demands of professional environments, equipping them with the resilience and adaptability needed to excel in their careers.
Beyond the competitive framework, these events also offer access to valuable training sessions and seminars led by seasoned professionals. Participants gain cutting-edge insights into industry trends, tools, and best practices, fostering continuous learning and professional growth.
Leadership development is another cornerstone of these initiatives. Competitions encourage participants to cultivate critical skills such as teamwork, communication, and decision-making—attributes that are essential for advancing careers and driving innovation within the industry.
Moreover, competitions inspire a pursuit of excellence and provide unparalleled networking opportunities. Engaging with peers, mentors, and industry leaders allows competitors to build connections that can shape their professional journeys and open doors to future opportunities.
By investing in competitive events, industries ensure a steady pipeline of skilled, confident, and innovative professionals who are well-prepared to meet the evolving demands of the workforce. For Web Design and Development, these platforms are instrumental in fostering the next generation of talent while driving the industry toward higher standards of excellence.
Essential Recommendations for Web Design and Development Professionals
While these recommendations for web design and development professionals remain largely unchanged each year, emerging technologies and trends like AI and AR/VR continually shape and update this essential and evolving list.
- Stay updated on emerging technologies like AI and AR/VR
- Pursue certifications to validate and expand skillsets
- Prioritize accessibility and inclusive design in all projects
- Embrace lifelong learning through workshops and online courses
- Engage in industry events and competitions for exposure
- Join a professional association and network with professionals to exchange ideas and best practices
- Focus on mobile-first and responsive design principles
- Keep security and data privacy at the forefront of web development
- Mentor young professionals to contribute to the next generation of leaders
- Be adaptable to shifting client needs, market demands and new technologies
Author’s Note: If you examine the essentials above, you’ll notice that, aside from a few technical specifics, this list aligns closely with what any professional should consider, regardless of their career pathway.
Creating the Next Generation of Web Design and Development Professionals
Every year, the need for relevant workforce training and secondary and post-secondary curricula aligned with industry-based certifications continues to grow. Developing the future leaders of web design and development begins with engaging students early through dynamic curriculum and extracurricular activities. By integrating career pathways programs and mentorship initiatives, learners are equipped to make informed decisions about their education and professional goals. Participation in events like SkillsUSA further builds confidence, creativity, and a competitive edge, fostering the skills needed to thrive in this fast-evolving field.
Web Professionals Global plays a pivotal role in this mission. Dedicated to advancing the web design and development industry through education, community, and certification, we empower professionals at all stages of their careers with invaluable resources and growth opportunities.
Training Tomorrow’s Professionals Through Online Integrated Courseware
To meet the growing demand for a digitally fluent workforce, schools and organizations now have access to online integrated courseware designed to upskill individuals across various career pathways. These programs focus on equipping learners with essential digital skills, technical expertise, and adaptability to succeed in modern industries.
One of the latest innovations is the AI for the Workplace course and microcredential. This program provides learners with foundational AI skills, enabling them to utilize AI as a tool to enhance productivity, improve accuracy, and work more efficiently. By mastering these capabilities, participants gain a competitive advantage, future-proofing their careers and positioning themselves as indispensable professionals in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Whether in web design and developmentor other fields, these training tools help bridge skill gaps, empower learners, and ensure that the workforce remains agile, skilled, and ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
What is Web Professionals Global?
We are a trusted advocate for the web design and development industry since 1997, supporting professionals at all stages of their careers. With a mission to advance the industry through education, certification, and community engagement, we provide essential resources and opportunities to help individuals and organizations thrive in this dynamic field.
Over two decades ago, we partnered with SkillsUSA to establish the national Web Design and Development competitive event, fostering talent and innovation among students across the United States. As a proud partner with the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET program, we contribute to defining professional standards and resources for web developers and other web-related roles.
We are also a vocal advocate for ethical practices in the industry, promoting the Web Professionals Global Code of Ethics to ensure integrity and professionalism. Guided by an international Advisory Board, we maintain a global perspective on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring our initiatives are forward-looking and inclusive of diverse viewpoints.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The web design and development industry stands at the crossroads of innovation and opportunity. With the continued integration of AI, the rise of mobile-first approaches, and the emphasis on certifications and leadership, the future is promising yet challenging. Over the next five years, we anticipate a further blurring of lines between industries and the web, necessitating a robust, adaptable, and skilled workforce.
Education, community, and certification remain the pillars of success in this dynamic field, ensuring professionals are equipped to shape the future of the web.
For more information about how we support web professionals and the industry at large, please browse our entire website and reach out to us today.
by Mark | Dec 18, 2023 | Industry News, State of the Web, Web Pro News, Web Professional Trends
As we look back at the digital landscape of 2023, the world of web design and development continues to evolve at a rapid pace, ushering in a new era of innovation and creativity. The team at Web Professionals Global has been fortunate enough to see many of these changes up close. This year, designers and developers have pushed boundaries and redefined user experiences. In this article, we’ll explore the trends that have dominated the web design and development scene in 2023.
As a member, you have access to specific links with all thee articles (providing much more detail). Members should view this linked page for access to all those details. If you are not a member, you will be directed to the join page (members should login first).
Immersive and Interactive Experiences
Web designers are increasingly focusing on creating immersive and interactive experiences to captivate users. With advancements in WebGL and 3D graphics, websites are now offering dynamic and engaging content. From interactive storytelling to product showcases, the web is becoming a more interactive and visually stunning space.
Augmented Reality (AR) Integration
The integration of augmented reality into web design has gained momentum in 2023. AR elements enhance user engagement by overlaying digital information onto the real world. From virtual try-on experiences for e-commerce to interactive educational content, AR is reshaping how users interact with websites.
Dark Mode Dominance
Dark mode has transcended from a trend to a design standard. Offering a sleek and modern aesthetic, dark mode not only reduces eye strain but also conserves device battery life. Major websites and applications are embracing dark mode as a default or optional theme, providing users with a more personalized browsing experience.
Voice User Interface (VUI) Implementation
Voice technology has become more sophisticated, leading to the integration of voice user interfaces in web design. Websites are adopting voice search, commands, and navigation, making it more convenient for users to interact with content hands-free. This trend reflects the growing importance of accessibility and user-friendly interfaces.
Minimalistic and Functional Design
Minimalism continues to be a key design philosophy, with a focus on simplicity and functionality. Clean layouts, ample white space, and intuitive navigation are essential components of modern web design. Striking the right balance between aesthetics and usability, designers are creating seamless and clutter-free digital experiences.
AI-Powered Personalization
Artificial intelligence is playing a pivotal role in web development by enabling personalized user experiences. AI algorithms analyze user behavior and preferences to deliver tailored content, recommendations, and even dynamic website layouts. This level of personalization enhances user engagement and satisfaction.
Blockchain Integration for Security
With an increasing emphasis on cybersecurity, blockchain technology is making its mark in web development. Blockchain provides enhanced security and transparency, making it a valuable addition to websites dealing with sensitive data. This trend is particularly prevalent in e-commerce, finance, and healthcare sectors.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
Progressive Web Apps continue to gain popularity due to their ability to provide a seamless user experience across devices. Combining the best of web and mobile applications, PWAs offer faster load times, offline functionality, and push notifications, enhancing user engagement and retention.
Wrap-Up
In the ever-evolving landscape of web design and development, 2023 has been a year marked by innovation, user-centric experiences, and the integration of advanced technologies. From immersive designs and augmented reality to the widespread adoption of dark mode and AI-driven personalization, these trends collectively shape the digital experiences of users worldwide. At Web Professionals Global,we are excited to continue supporting web professionals around the world and see where the industry goes in 2024. Reach out to us today to find out more about our mission of “Community, Education, Certification.”
If you want more details about any of the above information, please view this linked page (members only – be sure to login first).
by Mark | Mar 27, 2023 | AI and Machine Learning, CSS3, Web Accessibility, Web Professional Trends
March has been a most interesting month in terms of new advancements in web design and development. Here are just a few articles we found interesting this month. Perhaps a bit of a directed stream of our thoughts supported by articles. Admittedly, some were published prior to March and we just encountered them. We encourage you to review these articles and follow along with the stream as we focus on:
- AI (and accessibility) – yes, they go together in many ways,
- CSS,
- JavaScript, and
- Website sustainability.
AI (and accessibility)
First, let’s examine a recent post by Brad Frost concerning “design systems in the time of ai.” As mentioned at the end of the article “…AI makes it crystal-clear we need to be focusing on why we create things vs what/how we create.” In a nutshell, AI can be used to improve efficiency in what is created. We can be leveraging the power of AI to reduce the mundane tasks and focus on what is important.
So, what does AI have to do with accessibility? It can help tremendously. Last year, Accessibility.com published a great overview of “How Artificial Intelligence is Improving Accessibility.” This is a rapidly evolving landscape, and we can think in terms of AI-supported voice assistants helping those with visual impairments, AI driven transcribing can help with those experiencing hearing impairment. Likewise AI tools can help with speech impairments (think in terms of Parkinson’s or brain injuries)as well as mobility impairments. We encourage you to read the linked article to learn more.
Accessibility
Focusing solely on accessibility, we found the Guide to Accessible Form Validation by Sandrina Pereira to be most informative. She correctly asserts that when we build form validations from scratch we often overlook accessibility. Sandrina focuses on both usability and accessibility. We found this article to be a solid introduction and encourage aspiring web professionals to develop such an approach in all their work.
We also encountered this solid article dealing with color contrast. Yes, this is something everyone finds very annoying. We liked the subtitle – “Web Accessibility for Text & UI Design.” Good thesis – always make your UI components easy to identify.
CSS
Getting started with style queries by Una Kravets is a solid read also. The ability to query a parent object’s inline size along with container query unit values has achieved stable support in modern browser engines. Una covers the fundamentals of working with these and provides useful examples (including code snippets). Of course, this technology continues to expand and you should be come familiar with these approaches whether you are a practicing web professional or an aspiring one.
JavaScript
Sandworm audit is a command line tool to identify vulnerabilities, malicious scripts, license, and metadata issues. It is free and open source and works with any JavaScript package manager. Have you tried it out? What are your thoughts?
For those who like a bit of spice with their JavaScript, we encountered Jared White’s “Great gaslighting of the JavaScript Era” article. This article represents a cogent view of many of the internal discussions we have been holding for several years. The web is built on standards and protocols. Your site is based on HTML, but can be served from any operating system on any hardware any place on our planet. You do not need a JavaScript framework to build a simple website. We seem to have forgotten that. Yes, I have personally seen sites relying on large JS libraries to display what could be done in a few lines of HTML (and stuled with a bit of CSS). Good article (and we agree with you Jared). This article is also a great segue to the issue of website sustainability (see below).
Website Sustainability
Alexander Dawson published an interesting article on the carbon impact of web standards in January, 2023 (yes, we just encountered this one and it is worth reading). Given that the Internet is a major source of carbon pollution, it is important to think in terms of sustainable web design. Yes, Greenpeace recently reported that if the Internet were a country, it would be in the top 10 carbon emitters. The BBC published an overview of the extent of the problem a few years ago. Yes, the WWW is highly dependent on electricity (and the source of much of that electricity is not carbon neutral). Alexander focused on HTML and CSS and how much energy was required to render a basic boilerplate. He relied on different browsers, different hosting providers, different equipment and different locations (among other variables).
His test suite consisted of nearly 300 HTML elements and attributes, over 500 CSS rule, selector, and property tests, and over 50 media and other specification tests. He noted that embedding interactive content caused the use of a significant amount of CPU, GPU, RAM, and data usage. Non-standard code triggered rendering issues as well. with respect to CSS, animation (specifically keyframe animation) and the use of custom fonts caused a dramatic impact. For media formats, SVG is the best. We thought his conclusion (below) summarized that major changes are needed.
Existing evidence shows that websites are getting more bloated [54], sites remain largely inaccessible [55], and with JavaScript taking higher importance than basic semantics in tooling practices, the backbone of the web (HTML & CSS) have become clogged with un-performant code. The existing web needs a firm shake-up if it is to meet it’s commitments to become sustainable (and user-friendly).
Your thoughts?
Yes, that was a lot to examine this month. We are keen to learn what you liked and what areas you would like us to examine in greater detail. We look forward to your comments.
by Mark | Jun 1, 2021 | Industry News, Web Professional Trends
As we begin another month, here are my thoughts regarding what is happening in our industry.
This month, my thoughts center around longevity. Hope you find this information useful. In case you are curious, I built my first web page in 1992 (yes, 29 years ago). It no longer exists, nor does the company where I built it at.
I am already looking forward to your comments.
Ageism
My colleague and friend, Tom Green, recently posted an article on LinkedIn.com about this last acceptable prejudice.After you review the article, let’s start a discussion in our Slack #general channel about this topic. What are your experiences? Does Tom’s article resonate with you? Why or why not?
CSS
Eric Meyer reflects on 25 years of CSS. Has it really been that long? If you have a moment, please post a comment reflecting on your first use of CSS. Consider a discussion in our Slack channel as well. What are your thoughts on the past 25 years of CSS.
WordPress
Speaking of longevity, WordPress turned 18 in May. Isobel Weston has a great overview article at NameCheap. From a simple blogging platform to a technology which powers nearly 41% of the WWW these days. And it only took 18 years to get to this point. Makes me wonder what the next 18 years hold for this technology.
Annual Web Competition with SkillsUSA
Speaking of longevity, this year marks the 19th year for our national web competition held in conjunction with SkillsUSA. Our first year (2004) was a demonstration contest. This year will mark our first large scale virtual competition. We did a smaller competition in 2020 as the pandemic raged. This year, we have over 20 teams competing at secondary and post-secondary levels. Winners will be announced near the end of June at the above site.
I am curious – now that you have read this far, what information would you like to see next month? Please tell us via the comments.
