<p>Donald Bengu began working as a website designer as a freelancer after he completed his college education in 2018. By 2022, he had established a successful career, receiving regular projects through the Fiverr gig platform. His clientele ranged from small local businesses to large companies in South Africa, earning him a monthly income of up to 45,000 rand, equivalent to approximately $2,422.</p>
<p>However, starting in early 2023, Bengu started to experience a shift in his work situation. He noticed a decrease in the number of new projects available, which was quite different from the busy schedule he had before. Currently, Bengu only receives about two new projects a month and earns approximately 5,000 rand ($270). He attributes this decrease in workload to the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools.</p>
The process of finding opportunities as a web designer has become more challenging, with the market becoming saturated and prices driven down due to AI technology. A web designer in South Africa noted the instability of the job market in this field, as more designers are competing to offer lower prices with the rise of AI. As a result, he is now seeking stable full-time employment to utilize his skills and secure a consistent income.
<p>Web designers in South Africa mentioned to Rest of World that they are facing challenges in securing projects and making a sufficient income due to the rise of free AI tools that are taking over their tasks. As stated by Bengu and other designers, individuals can easily enter the field of web design by utilizing services such as ChatGPT, WordPress, and React, resulting in a market that is saturated with professionals. Consequently, they are experiencing difficulties in negotiating fair compensation for their services.</p>
"The market for web design has become unpredictable," stated a freelance web designer based in Johannesburg. This designer has been utilizing platforms such as Indeed and Fiverr for over a decade. According to the designer, experienced professionals like himself can provide higher quality work. However, he expressed concerns that the competitive pricing offered by new entrants is negatively impacting the market. To sustain his business, he is now actively seeking clients in countries outside of South Africa, such as Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Five years ago, web design was a highly sought-after profession in South Africa, offering lucrative salaries and ample job opportunities. According to tech researcher Jupiter Punungwe from Discovery, a financial services company in South Africa, simply being a web designer is no longer sufficient. Punungwe explained that new designers can now easily create simple websites using AI tools for free. Larger companies now demand full-stack developers who are well-versed in front-end, back-end, and middleware web development.
The typical monthly salary for web designers in South Africa was approximately 38,000 rand ($2,040) in 2018. Freelance opportunities are becoming scarce and there is limited interest from local businesses in hiring full-time web developers, as mentioned by Tatenda Chatukuta, who works as an engineering talent acquisition manager at recruitment agency Takora, to Rest of World. Salaries for web designers in the country have also decreased to slightly over 12,000 rand ($643). Chatukuta emphasized the importance of staying updated on new AI trends to improve employability in the field of web design.
<p>Some web designers view AI as a threat, while others have found advantages in the new technology.</p>
<p>Thabiso Malatji, a 20-year-old self-taught web designer from Pretoria, began working as a freelance web designer in January. He uses ChatGPT for coding and basic design creation, and is willing to offer services at affordable rates. Malatji mentioned that his services are inexpensive because he utilizes free online tools. He acquired website building skills through YouTube tutorials and primarily works with WordPress. According to him, creating a website is a low-cost endeavor. He typically charges 1,500–2,000 rand ($80.43–$107) for his services, which includes domain registration and basic web hosting expenses.</p>
<p>According to online marketing analyst and strategist Scott Wentworth, web designers face the risk of becoming obsolete if they do not upgrade their skills.</p>
The web design industry in South Africa is currently at a balance point, where it is necessary for web designers to evolve in order to stay relevant in the future. Although AI technology can simplify web design processes, human creativity and skill are irreplaceable. It is important for web designers to adapt and prepare for the increasing use of AI in their work.
