what does it take (or what do i need to know to...

[ye_sago]

...be) considered a mid-level web designer?

[Steven D]

Technology:
- Basics: HTML, Javascript
- Scripting packages: ASP, .Net
- DB: SQL
- More advanced data formats: XML, XHTML

Good design principles:
- Presentation: how to organize data, how to use color and shapes to present data
- Navigation: how to structure a site so that it is simple and clear for the user to move around
- Database: how to structure data in normalized tables
- Design communication: capability to write a design specification, and otherwise communicate a design


There's more, but this would be what I would expect out of a mid-level web designer on my team.

[meansaenner]

you need to know how to make/use HTML format and you might want to get macromedia Dreamweaver as well as fireworks they both provide guides on hoe to use them step by step. DONT pay for it $400 download it or get it from someone else. if you have trouble finding it contact me at meansaenner@yahoo.com

[JustTheD]

Java, J2EE, JSP, WebSphere, JSF
More than anything, you have to have hot skills. IBM COBOL programmers as a dime a dozen. Check www.monster.com, www.careerbuilder.com, www.dice.com, justjavajobs.com, justtechjobs.com or other programming career websites. See which requirements are most desired.

[coldentity0101]

To be a mid-level web designer, one would need good knowledge of (x)HTML and all CSS specifications. Also a major for my business is the WAI guidelines. All designers _should_ know this and follow it. And if a designer cannot meet, at least, priority 1 then there is something wrong. Usually good understanding of Adobe Photoshop is another major priority for most web design businesses.

A designer should be able to design a site (as a whole) for multiple browsers. If a designer just follows the W3C standards which are all in place for them, then it takes off 98% of the work of having to "customize" for each different browser.

On the side note, many businesses push away WAI-Guidelines. But if you just follow the standards and validate your work then you usually will pass WAI Priority 1 very easily.

Oh yeah, if you get into JavaScript, make sure you practice unobtrusive JavaScript (Which is the right way of doing things).

www.w3.org (http://www.w3.org/WAI/
http://w3schools.com/
http://www.c-wd.net)