Web Designer vs Graphic Designer
Some background...
I started as a graphic designer in the 80's, working for small ad agencies and by 1999 I was an Art Director at a publishing company in NYC. During that time this company thought it may be a good idea for me to learn dreamweaver and flash. I took a few classes and enjoyed it, but was not able to put it to practice.
Graphic Designers in "the old days" wanted nothing to do with the web and many of them wanted nothing to do with computers. I was not one of them. Always had a little techy in me. Loved learning the software on my MAC about how the computer worked - I was able to figure things out pretty easily.
When I eventually left my position as an art director, I decided to work for myself. I freelanced for several publishing companies, a wine distributor and local businesses.
In 2012 I was working on a political campaign for a gentleman running for NYS Assembly. He had hired someone to create a website but the guy didn't come through. So, my client said: "I need this website - can you do it?" I replied - I'll try. That was how I began creating websites - I taught myself and eventually put myself out there — joined networking groups, the local chamber, etc., and eventually started getting small businesses website design jobs. I was totally hooked.