A fifteen-year-old high school junior in Evanston, Illinois, earned enough
money working after school to put himself through college, and then some. Tim Dorsett did it by designing Web pages on his home computer. In case you didn't know, a Web Page is a site, or location, on the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web (or "www") is the name for computer files that can be reached through the Internet. The Internet is a world wide information network available through the use of a computer, a modem, an Internet provider, and a telephone. A Web page can be a person's own information page, telling other about his or her life. It can be about something that person is interested in. For example, an eight-year old boy in Minnesota made a Web page about a survey he conducted in his second-grade class about playing video games. A web page can be one page ona comptuer monitor, or it can be many pages in what are called links. Links lead viewers to other pages of related information. Someone with knowledge of how to design a Web page can find a lot of work. Some 44% of U.S. companies sell their products or services on-line, according to a 1999 report by the Association of National Advertisers. Another 36% reported that they were planning to do so in the next twelve months. Web site designers will be needed to create and maintain those new Web pages. People who know how to create Web Pages are in one of the newest but fastest growing careers in a computer technology. The job of Web page designer didn't even exist about then years ago. Only in the last five years or so has it grown into a career supporting tens of thousands of people. Some people go into business for themselves as Web page designers. They design Web pages for other individuals who may just want a personal Web page about themselves or their special interests. They may also design Web pages for business. Many other people work for Web page design companies. They may be writers, programmers, artist, or musician who bring their own skills to the design of Web pages. They work either on staff or as consaltants. It is estimated that companies spend $19 billion a year on a Web Page design. Figures are not available on how many more millions of dollars individuals spend to have their personal Web pages designed. This site will tell you more about Web page design. It will also introduce you to both young people and adults who either design Web pages for extra money or make it their career. If you like working on a computer and learn how to design a Web page, you could choose a cool career as a Web page designer.