Leap of Faith: Traditional Web Design or Website Builders for Your Design Career?

Why This Matters

If you’re just starting out in web design, you’re probably staring at two very different roads: take the deep, code-heavy plunge of traditional web development, or fire up a website builder, drag a few things around, and feel like a wizard by lunch.

This is a technical and a career decision. The route you choose will shape the clients who call you, the kinds of projects you’re trusted with, and whether you’re ever likely to enjoy a weekend off again. Get it right, and you can build a sustainable, rewarding business or job for yourself. If you make the wrong decision, you can end up either lost in a maze of code tutorials or stranded in the shallow end with cookie-cutter sites that everyone is bored of. Nobody wants that for you, especially your future clients.

This choice can also drain your time and bank balance if you fumble it. I’ve seen fresh designers invest months in JavaScript courses only to freeze up when a client needs a site tomorrow and the bills can’t wait. Others load up on portfolio pieces built and torn down in squarespace, and soon discover enterprise agencies glide past their inbox unhindered. That’s why making an informed call is so important and why you’re wise for giving this some proper thought instead of chasing the next shiny app.

Common Pitfalls

The biggest trap is assuming there’s a one-size-fits-all answer.

Plenty of designers think website builders are for “amateurs” with no coding skills, and the only real way to make a living is by embracing the old-school tools. Meanwhile, others get seduced by the promise of easy money and breezy setups, only to quickly realise there’s far more to “drag and drop” than meets the eye.

Most new designers trip up in these areas:

• Shortcutting the fundamentals: Skipping over the bones of how websites really work (structure, UX, performance) just because a builder “does it all for you.”
• Getting paralysed by choice: Bouncing endlessly between code tutorials, course signups, and builder demos without ever finishing a real project.
• Underestimating clients: Forgetting that real people (with wallets) care about reliability, support, and unique solutions, not just how you built the thing.
• Not planning for growth: Choosing a pathway because it feels easy now, then getting stuck when your skills or client base outgrow the platform.

When you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being very little to anyone. It pays to be honest with yourself, and draw a clear map for where you want your career to take you.

Step-by-Step Fix

Let’s break this crossroads into a set of clear actions. No faffing about. Here’s how to work out whether you should immerse yourself in traditional web design, embrace a builder, or blend both. This will save you some headaches (and heartaches).

Step 1: Get Honest About Your Career Ambitions

Before anything else, you need to figure out where you want to end up, both in the short term and over the next few years. Ask yourself:

• Do you fancy yourself as a freelance specialist, building up a personal brand with truly custom work?
• Or are you hoping to land a solid job in an agency, working as a cog (albeit an important one) in a larger machine?
• Does the idea of managing ongoing client relationships fill you with dread, or does it feel like a chance to build something meaningful?
• Are you more interested in the user experience, design, and communication side, or do you get a kick out of solving logic puzzles with code?

Jot it down. Don’t just think it—write it somewhere you’ll see it. When you know what success looks like for you, the decision gets clearer.

Step 2: Audit Your Existing Skills and Learning Appetite

Be brutally honest. Web design isn’t rocket science, but it isn’t the easiest job either. Here’s a starter checklist:

• Comfortable with HTML, CSS, and maybe a dash of JavaScript? Traditional design is within your grasp. If you’re only pretending to like code while breaking out in a cold sweat at the sight of a function, don’t force it.
• Enjoy structured learning? Traditional design means constant upskilling. You’ll live in documentation and online forums. If self-teaching or deep problem-solving isn’t your bag, website builders are a smoother entry point.
• Design tools like Figma, Photoshop, or Canva second nature? Good news: those visual skills transfer beautifully to modern website builders and can shine in traditional design with portfolio pieces too.

Step 3: Compare Project Complexity and Client Types

Every project and client sits somewhere on a sliding scale, ranging from “get it up yesterday” to “build something nobody’s done before.” Keep these points in mind:

• Small businesses, independents, and quick wins: Website builders let you deliver functional, good-looking results at breakneck speed. There’s a thriving market for this.
• Unique branding or advanced integrations: If you want to impress clients with distinctive, feature-rich websites or handle more advanced requests (like custom API work, complex forms, or specialized content structures), knowing your way around traditional tools is essential.
• E-commerce: Builders are fine for simple shops. Go bespoke when scale, integration, or unique workflows come into play (think: over 500 products, custom checkouts, or intricate user roles).

Think about where your portfolio would shine and what problems you actually want to solve day-to-day.

Step 4: Test Your Workflow and Time Management

A cold, hard fact: custom-coded websites take longer. Not just to build, but to plan, test, and support. Agencies have processes to reduce this, but as a solo or small shop, you’ll always be up against the clock.

In contrast, builders accelerate that “from zero to live” journey, but often at the cost of pixel-perfect customisation.

• Try timing yourself building a site from scratch versus using a builder.
• Do the quick sites leave you time to market, learn, and rest? Or do you miss the satisfaction of fine-tuning every detail?

Step 5: Experiment with Hybrid Approaches

The best web designers I know rarely see this as an either-or problem. Sometimes you set up simple client sites in Squarespace or Wix, then add custom scripts or CSS for that extra spark. Sometimes you prototype in a builder, then rebuild bespoke once the person’s budget or ambition grows.

• You might start with builders to quickly build up a roster of happy clients.
• When opportunities for more custom work arise, you can level up gradually rather than biting off more than you can chew.

Step 6: Stay Curious and Commit to Lifelong Learning

No matter which path you start with, the online world will shift beneath your feet. Platforms pivot, coding standards update, and what feels “cutting edge” today feels quaint in three years.

• Set aside time every week—even an hour—for learning something outside your comfort zone.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Online communities, mentorships (hello, Pixelhaze Academy), and industry forums exist for a reason.

What Most People Miss

A reality that often goes unspoken until you’re a year in: the best path for your first job usually isn’t the best choice as you grow to your second, third, or fifth year. Your career changes, and your skills should too.

Many designers get hung up on which is more “legit.” The reality is, clients don’t care about the technical debate. They just want solutions that are fast, functional, and trustworthy. If you can deliver, how you got there matters much less than you think.

Also, switching approaches as you mature does not mean you failed at the other; it means you’re growing. Someone who designs in a website builder today might become a full-stack developer in the future, or vice versa. Every step matters.

No platform is a cure-all. The most successful designers aren’t “builder people” or “code people.” They are problem solvers.

The Bigger Picture

If you make a well-informed decision at this stage, everything that comes after becomes far simpler. You’ll:

• Build a business or client roster you actually enjoy working with, rather than feeling trapped in projects you dread
• Spend less time floundering in the wrong courses, and more time getting paid (and growing)
• Avoid the feast-or-famine cycle by gradually stacking your skills, client base, and confidence
• Build a reputation for reliability, integrity, and continuous improvement, not just for nice-looking sites
• Give yourself the freedom to move between working solo, joining a team, niching into specialist areas, or starting your own agency

A career in web design comes in many forms. It begins with a realistic look at your own strengths, your patience, and the reality of client needs and budgets.

Wrap-Up

There’s no golden rule in web design, just the informed, honest choices you make from project to project. Whether you commit to traditional tools, use website builders, or mix both approaches, remember that every experience helps you learn something valuable.

Clients focus far more on their problems being solved and how they feel at project’s end than on how many code snippets or templates you know. Give yourself permission to experiment, improve, and occasionally rethink your path.

If you want genuine advice, new skills, or a place to share your latest client story, join us at Pixelhaze Academy. You’ll find experienced designers (me included) who’ve made similar choices, worked through the tough questions, and gained some practical wisdom.

“Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.”

FAQ & Jargon Buster

Q1: Should I learn to code if I use website builders?
A: For most beginner projects, not necessarily. But knowing the basics of HTML and CSS gives you a massive leg-up, especially when you want to add a tiny bespoke tweak or two.

Q2: Will starting on website builders hurt my chances of agency work later?
A: Not at all. Many agencies value people who can turn around rapid prototypes or manage builder-based sites. Just keep building your skills sideways, too.

Q3: Can you ‘outgrow’ website builders?
A: Yes. As projects get more complex or clients’ demands get quirky, a builder may start to feel restrictive. That’s when those dusty code tutorials will start calling your name again.

Jargon Buster:

• UI/UX Designer: Focuses on how websites look and how people use them.
• E-commerce Specialist: Builds online shops, makes sure products are easy to buy (and sell).
• Bespoke: Built-to-fit, totally custom; no templates in sight.
• Hybrid Approach: Mixing builders and custom code to suit the job at hand.

Further Reading

• Why It's Still Important to Fact-Check AI Tools Like ChatGPT
• What Does a UX/UI Designer Do in Web Design?
• Mastering YouTube Thumbnails with Canva: A Practical Guide
• Image Compression in Web Design: Why It Still Matters in 2024

Elwyn Davies

Elwyn is a designer, front-end developer, and project wrangler who values clear communication and enjoys breaking down web technology for others. When he’s not building sites with businesses of all sizes or creating new tutorials for Pixelhaze Academy, he tries to keep up with the next generation of bright-eyed designers.

Happy designing.