The acronym that goes by DIY is most probably a familiar one to you. But what does it mean, and what does it stand for? What are its pros and cons? Is it as effective as hiring a professional web designer? In this article, I will do my best to answer these questions, along with any others you may potentially have in your mind.
First and foremost, it’s best to define what DIY even is properly. DIY is an acronym for do it yourself. It applies to a wide range of activities and is to determine whether an activity can be done by the average person and, if so, how they should go about it.
There are many DIY videos and instructions out there for many things, such as changing a tire, changing a fused light bulb, etc. there are tutorials that give step-by-step instructions to the layman on how to accomplish these things by themselves without having to hire a professional or expert to do it for them. The goal is majorly to save expenses.
There are varying degrees of difficulty pertaining to DIY, some being easily accomplished while others requiring a high degree of skill and experience.
DIY (Do it Yourself):
The following are some pros and cons of DIY:
Pros:
Cost-saving:
This is the biggest reason people even consider the DIY method in the first place. Hiring an expert or purchasing a particular product can be quite expensive to many. However, if it is possible to do these things yourself, then you will save a very large amount of money by simply making a habit of spending less and doing more.
Skill building:
By completing tasks by yourself, you will undoubtedly gain knowledge on said tasks. Even if you didn’t manage to complete it, you would still gain experience from actually doing it or at least trying to. It is also a great way to improve upon already existing skills.
Customization:
By having full reigns on the project, you are able to lead the final product/result to be exactly how you envisioned it to be, as compared to if you simply hired an expert to take on the task, where it may not have come out the way in which you would have wanted it to.
To be able to customize your project entirely according to your specifications without having to spend money or time hiring an expert is an extremely underrated benefit.
Sense of accomplishment:
Upon completing your project or task, you will feel proud of yourself, along with your work, as it’s something that you were able to create by yourself, whereas many people either hire an expert to do the same or try to do it themselves and fail miserably.
That sense of accomplishment will make you feel more confident in yourself, have more pride in your work, and be more determined when faced with another task.
Cons:
Time-consuming:
Trying to complete DIY projects alone can be quite time-consuming. They also take a lot of effort to complete. This is because not only do you have to take the time to watch the video/tutorials on how to go about it, but you also need to understand it and, on top of that, work on it. These things can take more time than you’d think.
Lack of expertise:
With a lack of proper knowledge or expertise, a DIY project could likely not turn out the way in which you would expect it to and may not even be completed at all.
Risk of Injuries:
There is always going to be a risk of injuries when attempting to do a project by yourself, where normally, you would hire an expert to do so for you. It can especially put you at risk of injury if the necessary safety precautions are not taken. Not being an expert yourself, you may not know the proper precautions to take.
Can be costly:
If it so happens that the project which you are working on is unsuccessful, then it will most likely cost more to rectify the mistakes made, as it would have just hired an expert in the first place.
Professional Website Designers:
Professional website designers are people or businesses who focus on developing and designing websites for customers. They frequently thoroughly understand visual design principles, user experience (UX) design principles, and web development technology.
They collaborate with clients to comprehend their requirements and objectives before developing a website that satisfies those wants while also being aesthetically pleasing and simple to use. Several website designers also provide continuous upkeep and updates to maintain a website current and functional.
Web designing is no easy task and requires years of hard work and dedication to build the skill that is necessary in order to design a website. Unlike most DIY projects, Web design is not something that the average person is capable of doing by themselves.
The following are some pros and cons of the field of web design that professional web designers have to face.
Pros:
Pros of working as a web designer:
.Web design talents are in high demand in the job market. Even just being an average web designer, you’re almost guaranteed to land a job in the field. Work hard, and you can earn a great deal of money as well.
.Flexibility to work both independently and collaboratively. Some people aren’t team players, and that’s okay. In the web design field, you have the option of working independently, at your own leisure. No pressure from peers, no expectations set by them, no need to communicate with anyone other than your client for the work.
If you do enjoy working with other people, then you can opt to do so, as many people do in the field. This can help you greatly, as if youre an inexperienced web designer, then you can learn a great deal from the people who you are working with, and if you are skilled, then you can have some friendly competition with them.
.The capacity for remote work. Most web designers prefer remote work, where you can work in the comfort of your own home. In this field, it’s convenient for both the client, as well as the designer for work to be remote.
.Technology and fashion trends are constantly changing, creating new learning and development opportunities.
Cons to being a web designer:
.Pressure to satisfy client expectations and short timelines. Sometimes, clients can be too demanding, asking for far too much from their designers. Working on deadlines can be quite stressful, even for the most seasoned designers. Trust me on that.
.There is a constant requirement to stay current with new design and development tools and methods. Not knowing of and utilizing these tools and methods will put you at a disadvantage, as all of your competitors will be incorporating these tools into their work, gaining more clients and popularity in the industry.
.It may be challenging to stand out and establish oneself in a crowded market. Just because there is a high demand for web designers, doesn’t mean that there is a shortage. It simply means that it is a highly demanded skill for companies and businesses.
Standing apart from the crowd of countless web designers is an extremely difficult thing to do. You will have to be significantly more skilled than most people in the field, unique, original, and driven.
.Work and revenue from freelancing can be erratic and inconsistent. Not having a consistent flow of revenue can be quite daunting and is a reason many web designers work odd jobs just to cover their day-to-day expenses. This is especially true when they’re just starting out.
Conclusion:
While both do-it-yourself projects and web designers have their fair share of pros and cons, and some parallels can be drawn to both, they are still completely different things.
DIY projects can be done by anyone, even web designers, while web designing can only be done by web designers. DIY is a method of saving money, while web designing is a method of making money, etc.
To compare the two would be foolish, as both have their own uses and drawbacks. This being said, even though doing web design is impossible for laymen, they can still hire a custom web design service to work for them.