What's The Best Way To Learn Web Design?

44 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
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I am wanting to learn how to do web design without having to pay a fortune online. I paid about 30k to a school for 2 years and I barely know more than I did when I began. Can anyone give me any tips and/or ideas where I can become masterful at web design and by teaching myself.

There has to be some good sites out there?
#design #learn #web
  • Profile picture of the author xtrapunch
    Google is the best place to learn web designing.

    Htmldog.com
    net.tutsplus.com
    Smashingmagazine.com

    Thousands of good web design blogs/websites out there.
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  • Profile picture of the author BillyW
    I agree with Sham, w3school.com is the most comprehensive website when it comes to learning anything related to design and coding. There is also another great website called codecademy.com that offers "hands on" training. I'd say start off by going through the tutorials at w3school and others and then start applying what you learned. The best thing I have found when it comes to web design and programming is practical application. The more you do it, the more you learn. I would suggest setting up a local host and start practicing, once again, after you've done a few tutorials. And like Xtrapunch said, Google everything you want to know.
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    • Profile picture of the author ChicagoJoe
      Originally Posted by BillyW View Post

      I agree with Sham, w3school.com is the most comprehensive website when it comes to learning anything related to design and coding. There is also another great website called codecademy.com that offers "hands on" training. I'd say start off by going through the tutorials at w3school and others and then start applying what you learned. The best thing I have found when it comes to web design and programming is practical application. The more you do it, the more you learn. I would suggest setting up a local host and start practicing, once again, after you've done a few tutorials. And like Xtrapunch said, Google everything you want to know.
      As a Multimedia Artist, I highly suggest what Billy said above, w3school is a great awesome resource. Its been recommended from many of my professors in school, and I've used it for more advanced coding techniques, or to touch up my skills in other areas... Good luck on your Web Design Adventure!

      If you need any help we are here to help!
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  • Profile picture of the author Emil from Bavaria
    I'd start with editing existing designs, for instance take a very basic Wordpress theme such as TwentyTen, install Wordpress and the theme on a local web server such a Wamp, Mamp, Xampp, edit the CSS a little bit, reload the browser and see what it did. Or, do the edits in Firefox & Firebug first, then apply them to the CSS file. As BillyW said learning by doing is probably a better option than spending too much time with theoretical tutorials unless you find one that fits your style of learning and understanding very well. The hardest part is getting the layout right and compatible across browsers, styling the HMTL elements (adding color, border etc...) is rather easy. You should also have all major browsers installed so you don't rely too much on some CSS effects that just don't work in another browser.
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  • Profile picture of the author LongTail Silver
    Personally, I think the best way to learn "anything" is to start doing it.

    For example, if you want to understand how HTML works:
    1. go to some site (preferably a small, simple page to start)
    2. save the page to your desktop.
    3. Open the html file in a text editor (notepad works fine) and simultaneously open the file in a browser (File > Open > Choose file)
    4. Look for a "landmark" in the code, meaning, something that let's you have a point of reference. For example, if the page headline says "Cool website title", you could search the code for "Cool website title".
    5. Once you find it, make a small change to the text, save the file, and reload the page in the browser to see what changed. Then do it again until you get an understanding of cause and effect.
    6. Be persistent.
    7. If you have a question you can't figure out on your own, do Google search. Everything you could ever think of has probably been answered. StackOverflow, W3Schools, CSS Tricks, etc. are tremendously valuable resources.

    The above method is exactly how I went from knowing nothing to being fluent in HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, jQuery, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author CovertecH
      Originally Posted by LongTail Silver View Post

      Personally, I think the best way to learn "anything" is to start doing it.

      For example, if you want to understand how HTML works:
      1. go to some site (preferably a small, simple page to start)
      2. save the page to your desktop.
      3. Open the html file in a text editor (notepad works fine) and simultaneously open the file in a browser (File > Open > Choose file)
      4. Look for a "landmark" in the code, meaning, something that let's you have a point of reference. For example, if the page headline says "Cool website title", you could search the code for "Cool website title".
      5. Once you find it, make a small change to the text, save the file, and reload the page in the browser to see what changed. Then do it again until you get an understanding of cause and effect.
      6. Be persistent.
      7. If you have a question you can't figure out on your own, do Google search. Everything you could ever think of has probably been answered. StackOverflow, W3Schools, CSS Tricks, etc. are tremendously valuable resources.

      The above method is exactly how I went from knowing nothing to being fluent in HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, jQuery, etc.
      nice explanation
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  • Profile picture of the author QWE
    The way I learned was by buying several HTML, CSS, and PHP books. I just started to follow examples and applied them in the real world. You just take one step at a time. I know everyone has a different learning style but I just ask tons and tons of what if questions to myself. It worked for me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ewan Lumsden
    Banned
    Try the W3 school online. They have decent tutorials and its where I first learned how to code HTML. Also invest in some big chunky books that'll teach you it right through, a good big reference guide. It's also wise to learn other web languages like CSS and PHP etc...
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  • Profile picture of the author tamnl
    If you know basically about coding, I think you should follow some video tutorials about web design and do as they guide you. You can find many useful video tutorials on Youtube.

    But if you know nothing, you can start to build website with some open source CMS such as Joomla, wordpress... They're the best solution for you.
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  • Profile picture of the author dawidtailor
    If you want to learn web design than you have to search on internet, You can prefer many ways like classes and online tutorials those provide best information about web designing. There are many ebooks available on internet so you can read this book and get proper information of designing.
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    • Profile picture of the author mathi33
      you can learn from many online websites and some tutorial sites like w3schools.com..thats help you to undersatnd easily about basic codings and you just build a website by using some default free website builders so that you can get some idea and tats helps you to build your own website easily......
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  • Profile picture of the author goleza
    Try www.w3schools.com and www.tizag.com. You will find useful step-by-step and easy to understand tutorials on learning the HTML language to begin with.

    Since reading on the computer is not easy, I recommend that you get for yourself a hard copy and practice slowly by slowly. I also bought e-books online from www.webdesignmastery.com, downloaded them and made hard copies and started teaching myself. I have been able to design my own website.

    I really encourage you to go ahead with your desire. Wish you success
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  • Profile picture of the author Xifos
    I'm really surprised that nobody has directed you to Lynda.com as they are absolutely first rate at teaching anything and everything. They will start you off as if you have no knowledge at all and get you up to advanced levels quickly. Because it's video training you not only get shown, you do it, and you hear it, all at the same time, so it's a 3 way learning process that really increases your rate of knowledge retention. I swear by it. I learnt more in two months using Lynda.com than I learnt in 3 years studying a BSc at University. Why overcomplicate things when these people make it so bloody easy to learn.

    One thing I would strongly advice if you're new is that you get the exercise files and as they show you something, copy exactly what they do instead of watch the whole video and then trying to remember what you've just seen. If you do it like this you'll fly through and remember virtually everything one time.

    Hope this helps!
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  • Profile picture of the author WebProWorker
    w3schools is one of the best free resources out there. After you learn the theory and see what each HTML tag is supposed to do, you should work your ass off. This is how you will get good at it.

    Oh, and after you get to know some stuff, you will discover this site: w3fools.com. There are some errors in w3schools' documentation, but that's not a biggie.
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  • Profile picture of the author Quincy
    There's a solid course on Udemy.com , too.
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  • Profile picture of the author teamheroic
    thenewboston has helped me alot through it all.

    w3schools is also very helpfull
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  • Profile picture of the author mayankgangwal
    Every one is and i will also go for w3schools.com is the best way to learn anything you want. Itz the best website for startups.
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  • Profile picture of the author abacies
    Hello Mate,
    My suggestion is try to clone the designs in the initial stage.Just start with a scratch, While using Photoshop if you failed to find the tools just Google it.That going to great experience instead of studying each and every tools of the particular software.More over webdesign is playing with colors more over creativity.
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  • Profile picture of the author aadi144
    Originally Posted by sownsow View Post

    I am wanting to learn how to do web design without having to pay a fortune online. I paid about 30k to a school for 2 years and I barely know more than I did when I began. Can anyone give me any tips and/or ideas where I can become masterful at web design and by teaching myself.

    There has to be some good sites out there?
    You can check out W3Schools.com its a great site to learn every single language.
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  • Profile picture of the author bangdent
    i read Oreilly pdf head first html and css

    that is a good books for newbie
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  • Profile picture of the author Qualitywebsol
    w3school.com is the best way to learn web design because of their features that show the code of regarding topic that about you want to know and run the code on current page and show the output..
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Phoenix
    I agree with many of the previously-mentioned suggestions. I also like to search YouTube for videos on how to do things. In particular, search for videos on how to use Wordpress. Wordpress is a great way to start making sites. You can use the WYSIWYG editor or do things in HTML as you learn it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lewis Hillier
    lynda.com pay a monthly fee which you can cancel anytime and they give you unlimted videos and teach you what ever you want. its a great teaching site.

    w3schools is also good for a free source.
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  • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
    Banned
    Just increase your thirst for web design,increase your creativity,read more.If you don't do that according to my suggestion please give up everything.Mind it ,"a fruit takes time to ripe" so please be slow and steady ,be regular love web designing.Don;t copy try to make different.If you do so then you will be a great designer one day.
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  • Profile picture of the author redexclub
    try w3cschool or linda dot com
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  • Profile picture of the author antac
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    Some topics that should be covered:

    - graphic design theory (for imagery)
    - graphic design composition (for imagery)
    - iconography
    - typography for the web
    - HTML, CSS, Javascript
    - progressive enhancement & graceful degradation
    - color theory
    - shapes, forms, balance, harmony (visual grammar)
    - usability
    - accessibility
    - website performance
    - other media (video, audio, podcasts)
    - social media
    - basics of a programming language
    - basics of marketing
    - basics of writing for the web
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    • Profile picture of the author wordpress
      The best way is to buy books and learn.
      You need to follow those points one by one. You will not find all points in a single book.
      Also the most important is searching the topics on google and learn them.

      Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Jashandeepmax
    Web designing is not everyone's cup of tea but not difficult for willing and dedicated person to learn .If talking about resources to get start ,W3chools is best resource on web to start . There are much more resources available .One of the best supporter of you is Google that will help in every step by giving more accurate results to read from web ,on Query bases. You should have deep knowledge when started with any topic ,Clear all basic concepts ,make practical practices .their are online tutorials available for practices.
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  • Profile picture of the author carolynross09
    W3schools is the best website where you can learn html,php,css etc.,
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  • Profile picture of the author thastrainings
    i can understand you, but with out proper trainer it's too hard to learn web designing but still you can go with some tutorials like w3schools.com, htmldog.com etc... otherwise directly try 2 learn joomla or wordpress that might be help u a lot..
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  • Profile picture of the author abdurrahman
    The best way to learn to make best design to develope webpage u should learn html,php,
    javascript,css that help to u ;
    photoshope,flash
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  • Profile picture of the author jicon
    I believe that the best way to learn the basics of Web design are through doing it. You should start by learning HTML and CSS. w3school.com is the most comprehensive website when it comes to learning anything related to design and coding.
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  • Profile picture of the author trcapro
    Lynda.com has great tutorials for everything.

    If you're really interested, you could get Dreamweaver and try to follow along some tut's.
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  • Profile picture of the author jicon
    Several years ago I used to be into web design (back when it was basically just HTML) and I did a lot of the coding myself. It's a hobby I would like to get back into, no rush. I have noticed that things have significantly changed; CSS, Flash, XHTML, etc. I would prefer to learn on my computer at home but I'm open to buy a nice book or two. I am just wondering what out there is effective and a good source of information for beginners, especially with using Dreamweaver. Like I said, I'd like ot combine the two in the same tutorial if possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author lsargent
    From a reference standpoint, w3schools is the way to go. But for me, the easiest way for me to learn HTML/CSS, was to just go out and buy (or download for free) a CSS design template that's already pre-built.

    Then you can go in and start playing around with the CSS file, making tweaks, and seeing how they impact the end result. This was the best way for me to learn versus trying to build stuff from scratch.
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  • Profile picture of the author weboasis
    The best way? Outsourcing :p
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Bratcher
    The best way to learn is to play.

    Get some basic knowledge of html/css from many of the great sites listed above (w3schools is my fav).

    Find webpages you would like to mimic and grab their css files if you can. If not, find any old css file and mess around with them. Edit and change them to see what happens.

    Best way to learn anything? Learn about it then do it. You will learn SO much more when you start actually creating and editing than just reading about doing it.
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  • Profile picture of the author DanielDuffo
    best way hmm it's step by step i think
    HTML CSS JS PHP photoshop
    for start you always can use following website - w3schools.com
    and create your own web site and experimenting there.
    create website - update to blog - then update to something like social network. And in the end of this way u will be real PRO)

    Good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author bigjonnyg
    have you looked at weebly... i started there before learning wordpress.
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  • Profile picture of the author PhilipJSherman
    I believe that the best way to learn the basics of Web design are through doing it. You should start by learning HTML and CSS. Then once you've mastered the basics, you can move on to more specialized aspects of Web development...
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  • Profile picture of the author jer000
    w3schools dot com is best
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    • Profile picture of the author ronc0011
      Frankly I'm not so sure Wordpress or any other CMS software is such a good place to start because honestly the first time you look at the style.css file you are going to be lost, completely overwhelmed and that is not going to make learning easier, in fact5 it's probably going to make you give up. In the beginning what you need is simple pages and exorcizes that aren't loaded with a lot of etra code that does lots of extra stuff. To the newbee all that extra stuff just confuses the point of the exorcize. Probably a good starting place would be something like lynda.com or vtc.com. These sites you can pay for just a month at a time and frankly in a month you should be able to get enough basics to get you going using Google.


      BTW, Wordpress, Joomla and Drupal are not web design they are basically "website in a box" drag -n drop applications that teach you nothing about HTML or CSS
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  • Profile picture of the author koolphoto
    I agree Lynda.com is a good place. I learned in my local bookstore by reading and buying a few books I liked. I then used the trail and error method once I got the basics. Try it and if it doesn't work then try something different. I find you really do learn from your mistakes. It really isn't hard.


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  • Profile picture of the author Randize
    I'd say start with a template rather than from scratch. That way you could get the best of both world, learning and taking action.

    Others have pretty much mention the best resources.
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