Since web site builders are so easy to use, this inevitably poses the question how this will impact web designers. Well, maybe for now web designers, especially the talented ones, don't have to worry about their work but it is a safe bet to say that many users will choose to use a web site builder and create the site on their own, instead of hire a designer.
This might sound like bad news and it is. The ones, who should worry most, are all the mediocre designers, who tend to charge high and deliver sites of questionable quality. Since more and more users will be using web site builders to create their own sites, it can be expected that design work volumes will drop.
On the other hand, hardly everybody will use a web site builder for every site he or she needs. Additionally, web site builders offer pre-made templates. If such a template needs customization, most likely users will hire a designer to do it. Also, web site builders as a whole might be great but the cases when they make a mess are not an exception.
Even if the hidden costs are included, web site builders are generally much cheaper than hiring a designer. This also means that design fees might have to drop because when the competition, i.e. the web site builder is so cheap, you need to offer something really special in order to keep your clients at your current prices.
Web site builders are competition to web designers but there is room for both. Web site builders are great for simple, static sites and in a sense these sites are the low level of the web design food chain. Fortunately, complex sites with sophisticated designs are not an area where website builders can compete with humans and if nothing else, at least this is left to talented designers. If we look at the bright side of life, talented designers might be relieved to get rid of all the boring work of small, simple, and static sites, which is “outsourced” to web site builders.
