Best way to learn web design??

[bobbi716]

I am looking into learning web design. I already have a degree in graphic design, but I feel so behind the times not knowing web design - when I was in school they didn't offer any web classes. So I want to go back and learn it. I just don't know the best way. I was wondering what some of you did and your opinions??

I'm leaning towards getting my associate degree in web development through an online school.

If anyone wants to share their experiences and/or advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

All you need is www.w3schools.com/ (http://www.w3schools.com/).

It's free and after you learn from there test you can take a test through them and get a certificate. The test are only $50 (US) each. You can't get a better deal trust me.

Oh and Welcome to the forum.

[bobbi716]

Cool, thanks so much. I'll definitely check it out.

I've been to the forums before, but it's been a LONG time since I've visited. I've missed it so much!! I'm glad to be back... :)

[3howards]

i don't think you need to go back to school and pay to learn web development, heck those professors can't teach you real-world solutions. i agree with benjo, go to w3schools and maybe buy some books on html, javascript, and maybe php or asp if you want to get into dynamic sites. make sure you learn proper html and css.

[Ryan8720]

I learned completely from online tutorials and looking at other's source code. A good book helps with programming/scripting languages though.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

[axoi]

I would recommend the following:

HTML & XHTML definitive guide:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/html5/index.html

Then move on to:
Designing With Web Standards w/ Jeffrey Zeldman (look it up on amazon the link to too damn long...)
Eric Meyers books ( two or three of them, showing practical CSS ) (ditto above...damn amazon web people...ugh)

Sites you want to frequent:
www.alistapart.com - Cutting edge CSS and design related stuff.
www.useit.com - Kinda dry but a nice taste for usability web sites
www.wpdfd.com - Web pages for designers

Once you digest all that there is still more to learn. Like PHP, Javascript and/or ASP but that is a little down the road still.

- Bill

[Silence04]

if you don't have a dollar to your name for schooling, just read tutorials like Ryan said... all of the info you need is all over the web, you just have to have the motivation to teach it to yourself.
but if your like me and your motivation only last for 5 minutes a day, then you may wanna take a class like benjo was saying...


http://www.jdcgraphics.net/banner.gif

Ryan what are you going to go to school for. I never thought about this till now. Are you going to major in Graphic Arts or Computer Science?

[Ryan8720]

Computer programming mostly. I'll probably have a few graphic design courses as well.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

So your going to look for a career in programing? Watch out they might replace your for Indians.

The US is loosing somewhere around 200K jobs a year to India in the IT field and those numbers are expected to increase.

Cnet has a special report (really long) touching on the subject. You might want to stick to web programing we aren't getting outsourced from what I know.

Post Edited (benjo...) : 6/10/2004 6:06:14 PM GMT

[Ryan8720]

I'll be doing Web design, but you need to know programming for backend Web design.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

Yes very true.

Well you will defiently be ahead of your class and I hope you get good teachers cause it would be ashame if you know more then them. What school are you looking into?

[Ryan8720]

Not sure. Probably WV Tech.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

Is that the same as Virginia Tech? The one with the Apple brand super computer.

[Big Perm-dizzle]

trial and error...learn from mistakes and you will never make them again

JUST LAUNCHED - www.hirethisdesigner.com (http://www.hirethisdesigner.com) - check it out

[Ryan8720]

benjo... said...
Is that the same as Virginia Tech? The one with the Apple brand super computer.
*sigh* No, West Virginia and Virginia are two different states.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
RUN DOS RUN

[Cathode]

I cannot praise the learning qualities of experimentation :) sure, do some of those online tutorials, then start looking at the source code of your favorite webpages. Save snippets of code on to your drive, and edit it to see what changs :)

http://www.ianlabs.com

[brother_psychosis]

believe me check out:

www.csszengarden.com (http://www.csszengarden.com)

for the others aswell. these pages are separation of contend and design at its best.

http://www.methodlab.com/members/brother_psychosis/sig_tourr.gif (http://www.methodlab.com/members/brother_psychosis/pf/)

[Benjamin]

Worth starting out with coding html by hand - don't start out with Dreamweaver.

http://www.jackfruitdesign.com/
Om Namah Shivaya

[brother_psychosis]

Benjamin said...
Worth starting out with coding html by hand - don't start out with Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver's still the best choice, also for coders. you don't have to use the WYSIWYG editor.

http://www.methodlab.com/members/brother_psychosis/sig_tourr.gif (http://www.methodlab.com/members/brother_psychosis/pf/)

[bobbi716]

Cathode said...
...then start looking at the source code of your favorite webpages. Save snippets of code on to your drive, and edit it to see what changs...

Um, how do I do this?

[Benjamin]

In the browser, something like view->page source

http://www.jackfruitdesign.com/
Om Namah Shivaya