Any design advice...

[Willim-the-GREAT]

Ok

So some of you (Toon) already know im a nooby.

I am basicaly looking to at some point become a web designer.

I would apreciate it if people could post some steps on how i should become about doing this.

THanks

Willim :p

[Toon]

When I started I used many on-line tutorials. HTML and CSS Tutorials, References, and Articles | HTML Dog for instance. But one of the easiest ways I found was to get a copy of image ready. Layout your websites and learn about image map and slices, rollovers etc. Then by dropping these layouts into dreamweaver and golive you can then see the code of how everything is layed out. Then by stripping the code down you can visualize what code the browser it using to display certain web elements. Then you can begin CSS tutorials learning how to repeat certain background images and replacing your pictured text with actual type. It's a gradual process but don't try creating full working, fantastic looking sites straight off it's ok to spend time on basic layouts till you know enough it'll pay off later in your carear. Good Luck.

Study the link on this thread and you'll see how the basic layouts are made by CSS positioning CSS Layouts - Graphic Design Forum and Web Design Forum.

[Andy]

Bad choice.. first step is to become a great designer, learn photoshop. then learn css and xhtml :) well thats the way round i did it.. but with other things like C++ and php & mysql :P

good luck tho.

remember you learn from mistakes not lessons!

[flashwiz]

I think one of the main things to think about first as i think of late the term "web designer" is defined so diferently by so many people is what kind of webdesigner you will be....

Are you very creative but not logical? are you very logical and only so so creative... for example you could turn out to be a very good coder with only average design skills, and you would still be called a web designer.... or you could be very creative but then struggle with CSS, XHTML etc...

Or you could be one of the few that are both very creative and good with code!! The thing that i always say to people that ask me about my job is that you can always learn to use some software or write code... its just a case of time etc... but the one thing you cant learn is to be creative... you either are or you aren't.

[bluesage]

I started out by looking at online html tutorials, and reading some html books in libraries. Then got to studying websites source code on the web, as well as using a program like dreamweaver or other and study the generated code.

With time you realize its better to do everything by hand coding, as programs generate weird stuff sometimes, but you learn the basics by studying their code.

Then I started learning CSS both online and from books, but Id say mostly online with many examples to study from.

You can also look into javascript, although I dont really like it much as some people cant see certain effects because they deactivate it or their browser doesnt suppport it. I never studied the language in detail, but use scripts off the web here and there for visual enhancements of the webpage.

If you really want to make great websites, then you eventually should start reading up on Php or Asp as they seem to be easiest to learn. Buying a book is probably a good option for this kind of language though, its more complex than html or css.

There is always the other solution : Flash, but thats a more complex advanced type of programming so for a new comer into programming might not be a good idea.


If you want to be a web designer, thats how to start, but then it required you to keep up to date on all new trends, standards etc.., keep informed by reading web design related websites, studying other peoples work, looking at CSS inspirational galleries etc...

just my thoughts :)

[bluesage]

Hi,

thought would also mention that you should study Color Theory, its important in design :), possibly learn a bit about Sans Serif vs Serif fonts (ie. Arial vs Times New Roman)

some links of interest maybe:

http://www.mariaclaudiacortes.com/

http://www.colorcombos.com

http://www.webcreme.com/ (great for inspiration)

of course there are thousands of sitse you could find, if you search for :

color theory
css inspiration
web templates (templates give some nice ideas too)
css menus

[dyangochavez]

Hi,

You should read about web usability. Unfortunately, it is a topic that many designers don't consider when designing websites. Start learning about it now and you will be a more professional web designer.

Start with this book:
Don't Make Me Think, A Common Sense Aproach to Web Usability, by Steve Krug.

Good luck,
Dyango

[dyangochavez]

Also, learn the pros and cons of web technology. For example, Flash is a very trendy technology on the web. Unfortunately, it still has its limitations in regards to web usability and accesibility.

For a long time I was a Flash fan, until I participated as an invited guest at a web design workshop at one of the most important design schools on the east coast of the US. To my surprise, the school hadn't installed the latest Flash plugin in their computers. If they didn't have it, then how many of our prospective clients also don't?

I am not saying: "avoid using Flash", I am just saying: "Learn the technologies so you can make an intelligent decision".

Good luck.
Dyango

[Mute]

secret to becoming best designer u can be

get a cloth put it over right hand
get a cloth put it over left hand
get wax on car
now
wax off- wax on
wax off- wax on




practice, like andy said, i think first learn photoshop
then learn to bringur designs to life

Good luck!

[Russlock]

spot on advice. Give me a comp and i'll code it in html, css or even at a push flash, but i wish i had the skills to design the comps in the first place.

learning is constant and will never end.