Choosing to learn web design from scratch is a daunting task, but the rewards of such a skill set are tremendous. Web design is a skill that gives you access to an enormous, worldwide market; after all, We Are Social reports that there are more than 3 billion active Internet users in the world, which is a 21 percent growth from 2014. If you are looking to build the creative and technical skills to be a web designer, here is a look at some of the tools that can get you started:
Lynda
If you don’t have any previous experience, it helps to follow step-by-step tutorials to familiarize yourself with the basics. Sign up for Lynda to have access to an extensive library of video tutorials created by seasoned industry professionals. Currently, Lynda offers more than 1,000 courses in its web section. These tutorials help you learn the basic skills quickly and produce something as you learn.
Treehouse
Treehouse is a learning site that recognizes that teaching yourself can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. As such, Treehouse offers tracks of education to help you learn the specific skills you need to accomplish your goals. Treehouse also provides challenges in which you can test your knowledge and earn points and achievements that are logged on your front page. It also has an iPhone app that allows you to learn and program from anywhere. The app has push notifications for when new content is published and lets you download videos so you can watch them without an Internet connection. Treehouse also offers discounts and bargains to those enrolled in its programs, including special deals with Designmodo and WooThemes.
WixEd
WixEd offers its own free online learning courses and certification for becoming a Wix Webmaster. WixEd wants to help students of web design put their skills to use and provides mentoring sessions to do so. Certification is earned through completion of assignments, quizzes and classes and can make your resume shine if you choose to pursue a career in web design. WixEd is primarily focused on teaching you to use the Wix editor and is less concerned with teaching you the skills of coding, so keep that in mind when you are deciding what skills you want to get out of your education.
Learning on Your Own
Remember that just because you have learned basic HTML tags doesn’t mean you understand the ins and outs of design yet. Another excellent way to apply the basic knowledge you have is to look at the source code for websites that you find appealing. Simply click the “View” button in your browser, and then the “Source” tab to bring up the code for you to look at. This is a great way to apply and expand your understanding as you learn by deciphering what makes sites tick. Before you know it, you will be able to read the code like it is a second language.
