I'd really like to get into a career in web design, and have researched into what I need to learn. But I' not sure how upto date the web sites that I have read. As far as I am aware I need to learn HTML, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Fireworks and maybe some other software.
Is it best to learn from home or is it best to go to a night college? I might be wrong but potential employers in the future might prefer it if I was taught at a college, rather than self taught.
My Thoughts
I don't have a crystal ball, or any way to see into the future... but when I was a hiring manager of Web developers I cared a lot less about what degrees they had, and a lot more about their abilities. I interviewed several people with Web design degrees or certificates who knew less about actually building Web pages than the people I hired who were self-taught. Personally, I found that people who were self-taught tended to be more motivated and eager to learn.
I don't know what Web sites you've read, but I keep mine as up-to-date as possible. :-)
I would check out my "Get a Job" section - it talks about some of the things you should think about when looking for a Web design job.
If you don't know anything, you should definitely start by learning HTML and CSS. And don't bother with learning tables for layout - they are still fairly popular, but losing ground, and I am willing to make a prediction that hiring managers will want people who use CSS for layout rather than tables in the future. Separation of content and style is becoming more and more important.
If you're more interested in design, you should check out my Web Design section once you've learned the basics of HTML and CSS. You can do design without knowing those languages, but you'll be more hirable if you learn them.
What would you recommend to John_tomo?
If you have suggestions for him, you can post them in the comments or reply in the forum. How did you get into professional Web design? Is taking classes more useful than being self-taught?
Excellent article Jennifer !! Keep shooting us!
Perhaps the best answer to your question is another question, John:
Are you looking to become a designer (someone with special skill and talent that creates things that have aesthetic value) or are you looking to become a web programmer (someone who codes function into web sites using programming languages and software tools) ?
These two things are often confused because many people think the important word in “web designer” is “web” when in fact it is “design”.
As a professional in the field, I first recommend that people develop good design, type and color skills, just as they would for print design, or photography, THEN and only then would I recommend learning “web design”.
Sadly, much of the so-called design on the web is put together by those who think that if they can write html and use fireworks/photoshop, they must be web designers. This leads to ugly, unusable sites, that create visual pollution rather than a visually pleasing, enjoyable user experience.
I say this, not to discourage, but rather to encourage you to put the right foot first. Learn good design principles and skills first, and your work will stand head and shoulders above your competition. Then you can learn to use Dreamweaver and Photoshop to create something worth being seen. Your customers will thank you and so will those who have to use your sites.
Every web designer or developer needs to learn HTML and have a working knowledge of PHP and ASP; the rest is is by choice and necessity as you start building sites. Do your research and you can be teaching in six months. No you do not need a college course! You do need practice! View other sites on the web and mimic them. Good Luck!
I like John would like to become a web designer.
Thank you Wayne for your great comments. Could either of you recommend how to learn good design and principles. Is there a good book or websites.
I was referred to a website called http://www.bamagazine.com I believe this will help in the design aspects of type and color etc. Good Luck… I am on the same road also.
I would be curious to find out what your thoughts are on Joomla and of being a Joomla specific web designer.
This is a great article and I too agree that those who are self-taught tend to be more motivated. They are information junkies.
Hello,
I am in the same “boat”. After this reading I went out & bought the books I’d need to get started. So “Thank You”…
Thank you,