Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Web design is a very valuable skill, especially in a world where everything revolves around the internet today. If you're really good at it, you can make money from customers, create a membership site (a website that limits access to guest content), or pursue other monetization projects. And if you really want to know how to learn web design then this article is for you!

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Getting Started

1. 

   Note the difference of web design. Not book design, not poster design, not illustration. The bottom line in these fields is also not what web design is about. While websites can be the delivery systems of games and videos, and while those distribution systems may be quite eye-catching, they are the epitome of game design and video storytelling, not web design.

2. 

   
   
   Knowing what web design is all about. That is the process of creating a digital environment:
   • supporting and encouraging human activity;
   • reflect or adapt to individual content and voices;
   • change in a rhythmic manner over time while still maintaining their identity.

3. 

   Identify the resources you want to use. Websites, videos and books are the three main resources. Codecademy and W3Schools are two of the famous websites today. In addition, there are many other resources, do not hesitate and feel free to experience!
   • If you choose any website, please register for an account to save your progress.
   • If you choose to study by video, highlight all the videos you need.
   • Visit your local library or bookstore if you plan to study by book. In case you don't want to spend too much (or even don't want to spend it), you can download ebook or PDF document.
   • If you're willing to pay, chances are you'll find tailor-made lessons from a professional web designer.

4. 

   
   
   Determine how much time you need to spend studying. If you are a busy person, you will have to find a way to find time to study.

5. 

   Download the web design program if you don't have one. While you can still work with Notepad, it's better to have a program like Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression Web, or KompoZer. There are tons of other options, please look up more and download the program you like. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Study

1. 

   
   
   Get started with HTML. HTML is an indispensable skill for any web designer. Master concepts like tags, classes, IDs, inputs, etc.
   • The latest version of HTML is HTML5. HTML5 introduces some new technologies and so is probably the best version to learn.
   • XHTML is also a viable option. However, this version is a bit more demanding.

2. 

   Learn CSS. CSS stands for "Cascading Style Sheet" or cascading style files. Without CSS, there is no beautiful design you can still see on the web. HTML is merely a frame, and CSS is what makes a website colorful and eye-catching.
   • CSS is quite strict in usage. For example, you may have to scratch your forehead for errors when you forget to put a semicolon at the end of each line.

3. 

   Learn JavaScript and jQuery. For those who plan to create a simple website, this step is optional. However, in order to create an interactive website, learning the two above programming languages ​​is extremely necessary.
   • If you're going to use jQuery, you only need the basics of JavaScript because jQuery can make things simple.
   • With jQuery, you can insert widgets such as accordion (collapsible content), calendar, etc. jQuery also comes in a variety of styles and so it's up to you to choose the right style for your website.

4. 

   Continue with more advanced languages. It's PHP, MySQL, Perl, Ruby, and several other languages. Not required for people who just want to build a simple website, but this is essential for creating a large, interactive website.
   • One of them, such as PHP, needs a test server. Therefore, don't forget to register for an account with website hosting service or install server software on your computer.
   advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Apply Your Knowledge

1. 

   Create a project website. Experiment and create the web from scratch. That will help you manipulate knowledge instead of letting it rust in your brain.

2. 

   Ask a friend or relative who needs a website. You can make a free website for them to gain experience!

3. 

   Start your own website. With content you like, that website will give you the opportunity to show your skills to the public.

4. 

   Freelance if you want. Charge a reasonable fee and post your portfolio on your site. Who knows, one day your business will develop into a real company. advertisement

Advice

• Please be patient! If you intend to capture everything in just six hours, then you will forget very quickly.
• Don't assume you will have to pay for a good HTML editor. There are many good free programs that can cost no less than a few million VND.
• When you finish a project, accumulate some code and turn it into a library. From there, you won't have to reprogram the same things over and over again with every project. If the library gets too big, you might even sell it!
• PDF documents are a bit more flexible than ebooks. You can read PDF documents on any computer while eBooks are usually designed for a certain type of device, such as a Kindle, iPad, etc.
• If you or someone close to you knows about web design, ask them to teach you. You will surely be taught for free (hopefully!).

Warning

• Don't force yourself too much! When you are tired, you will forget everything and learn nothing.
• In programming languages, there is a concept called infinite loops. They are the fear of the programmer. Be careful so it doesn't happen to you!
• Be careful when downloading the program! Anything can be a virus.
• Please find out before registering on a website. Of course, if it's a reputable website, there's no need to worry. However, lesser known websites are most likely phishing.

What you need

• Computer
• Web design program
• Books, videos or instructional websites