Comp 484
Once you master the basics of authoring HTML, you’ll need to focus on what your next steps will be. If you’re an aspiring web designer, you’ll need to dive deeper into HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you’re maintaining a corporate or personal site through a CMS, you’ll need to focus on how the CMS works, and the most efficient ways to edit and maintain content. On this page I’ll give you some basic advice on how to approach learning web design and point you toward additional resources that can help you along the way.
“Web design” is a pretty open-ended term. Often people who are new to web design feel overwhelmed at everything there is to learn. That’s understandable, but just remember that it’s like any other discipline; with proper dedication and focus you’ll progress quickly. Here’s my favorite advice to new web designers on learning web design:
Learn how the web works.
I’m always amazed at how many web designers focus on learning “just what they need to know” and ignore how the web actually works. Without understanding how web servers, protocols, browsers, and other related web technology work, you’ll never really understand the context behind why you do the things you do, and what makes one practice better than another.
Determine an area of focus, and start there.
There are a lot of areas of web design that you could specialize in, so it’s best to learn enough about them to see what interests you most. Once you choose an area of focus, spend as much time as possible developing those skills before branching out.
Never stop learning.
The web is constantly evolving. Even if you become highly skilled in a specific area, new techniques and approaches will continue to emerge. Being a good web designer means embracing the changing nature of the web.
Break things!
“There is no better teacher than experience.” Build and experiment constantly. Ask yourself, “what would happen if I?” or “wonder if I could build?” and then go out and try it. You’ll fail sometimes, but learning from those failures is part of the process. Always challenge yourself.
Although their format can be difficult to read at first, the W3C specifications are one of the best resources for learning HTML and staying current with it.
W3C Markup Validation Service
Great for testing code and making sure you’re writing valid HTML syntax.
Mozilla Developer Network
One of the best online resources for web designers and developers. A great collection of articles, tutorials, and references.
HTML5 Rocks
Once you’ve got the basics down, sites like HTML5 Rocks provide articles, tutorials, and resources to help you keep up with the evolving web.