Is it a good idea ?

[anti_dote]

Ok, I am actually bit confused from where to start, I have now all the time in the word since I am having off from college for summer holidays. I am actually struggling from where to start web designing as I really wanna do it. Web designing really fascinates me, but here are some criterias I would like to work on.

I dont want to be a HARDCORE web designer like learning every single thing out there, neither I have time for this. I just want to make nice looking designs. My top priority would be redesigning a WordPress theme and to able to create nice HTML websites that I could sell them by setting up my own Web Design company.

After reading lots of threads here and on google, I think Adobe Fireworks is what I need right ? Because I know HTML (Dreamweaver) and know WordPress to a moderate level now. So, to cut things short. Do you think if I learn Adobe Fireworks I could achieve what I want to ? Or do I have to learn all these programs e.g. Adobe illustrator and PSD ?

Thanks

 

[ugjunk]

Do these:

1) Go to wikipedia and read about some history of web designing, trust me you won't regret the information.
2) Go to W3School and start learning basic HTML (Should be done in 7-10 days)
-- > Take some exercise and quiz. This will tell where you lack. Rework on those
3) Learn some CSS2 (This would take like 10-30 days depending on fast you can grab things).
-- > Take some exercise and quiz once again.
4) Now combine both of them and make a simple one page layout. Trust me, you would spend over 3-6 days figuring how to do that. So it will keep you busy.
5) Once you master those, go a lil deeper with CSS and HTML. Read the best practices and trends.
6) Now remake another website, a lil more complicated.

The whole of the above thing will keep you busy for atleast 2 months.

7) Now Start learning some basic Javascript. (You need to dedicate atleast 60-100 hours for Javascript. Trust me, I mean it. With so much advancement in javascript and so many libraries popping in, you gotta master the client side script language.)

8) Once that is done, Make another website. This time make sure to add some client interactivity.

9) If things are good for you then move to a server side language. Since you wanna work on wordpress, start learning PHP and mySQL.

Essential Tip - Keep reading various blog on daily basis to keep yourself updated with the latest trend.

I hope this helps. Further, if you need any sort of help then feel free to PM ME and I can help you out further.

 

[anti_dote]

Thanks for your reply, but I think you have missed the point here. Firstly, I know HTML and CSS, I already have created about 2 websites using only these 2. I do not want to be a Web Developer, I wanna Design stuff, Like good logos, Pages, Landing Pages and all those stuff.

Thanks though.

Do these:

1) Go to wikipedia and read about some history of web designing, trust me you won't regret the information.
2) Go to W3School and start learning basic HTML (Should be done in 7-10 days)
-- > Take some exercise and quiz. This will tell where you lack. Rework on those
3) Learn some CSS2 (This would take like 10-30 days depending on fast you can grab things).
-- > Take some exercise and quiz once again.
4) Now combine both of them and make a simple one page layout. Trust me, you would spend over 3-6 days figuring how to do that. So it will keep you busy.
5) Once you master those, go a lil deeper with CSS and HTML. Read the best practices and trends.
6) Now remake another website, a lil more complicated.

The whole of the above thing will keep you busy for atleast 2 months.

7) Now Start learning some basic Javascript. (You need to dedicate atleast 60-100 hours for Javascript. Trust me, I mean it. With so much advancement in javascript and so many libraries popping in, you gotta master the client side script language.)

8) Once that is done, Make another website. This time make sure to add some client interactivity.

9) If things are good for you then move to a server side language. Since you wanna work on wordpress, start learning PHP and mySQL.

Essential Tip - Keep reading various blog on daily basis to keep yourself updated with the latest trend.

I hope this helps. Further, if you need any sort of help then feel free to PM ME and I can help you out further.

 

[kralcx]

Web Design may seem easy, however it is takes more skill than most realize. Being a Hardcore web designer as you call it; is necessary if you are working by yourself. If you work in a team than you would only have to know one aspect of Web Design (for example html/css vs. web designer vs. web development).

Designing WordPress themes is more advanced than a simple 1-3 page website, because now you will also need to know Php in addition to html/css and web designing (mockups).

I am not trying to discourage you; just want you to understand that there is a learning curve involved. Rockable Press sells a great book dealing with how to make themes for WordPress http://rockablepress.com/books/how-to-be-a-rockstar-wordpress-designer-2 If you look around you might find it for free somewhere. Best of luck to you

 

[JACOb5]

...
I am not trying to discourage you; just want you to understand that there is a learning curve involved. Rockable Press sells a great book dealing with how to make themes for WordPress http://rockablepress.com/books/how-to-be-a-rockstar-wordpress-designer-2 If you look around you might find it for free somewhere. Best of luck to you

My hand slipped

http://www.mediafire.com/?v2bsxkgz290o118

vt:SHA256: ee7e2f62cb91fc6e26ec7ec4e099d346a46079d53b8412c84d9c84e1c29317b4
SHA1: 6f6d0701829d6f12a119c9373a72c04baeae0899
MD5: 0ecd8a54cf203977d1bb1b52baeaf7c5
File size: 8.0 MB ( 8426362 bytes )
File name: World Rocking v2.zip
File type: ZIP
Detection ratio: 0 / 40
Analysis date: 2012-05-18 20:09:11 UTC ( 1 minute ago )

Best of luck man

 

[ndks~]

It comes down to preference. Get your hands on Adobe Mastersuite some how and start learning how to use Illustrator, Fireworks and Photoshop. I work with a lot of UI designers and formally you are supposed to use fireworks, but some (and I) prefer to use a combination of Illustrator and Photoshop.

For logos, Illustrator is a must, I wouldn't imagine designing any kind of logo on Fireworks. Photoshop comes handy for touching up bits here and there, and essential if you are working with photographs of any sort.

As kralcx said, developing a good and personalised template for wp is a lot more intense than developing a basic html site. You will need to develop an understanding of how server side code works, and with learning PHP its 10% reading and 90% hit and miss. The best thing to do is just dive into it, and it shouldn't take you too long at all to become a good developer.

 

[blackmamba12345]

For new commerce W3School is the best website for learning the basic fundamentals of web designing.

 

[SpectroMX5]

If you know a bit of HTML and CSS, I would work with Wordpress and just customize themes. If you're looking to make a design from scratch, then your best bet is Photoshop + Headway. You can pick up a copy of both of them if you look in the right places. Headway uses a wizard to setup the design and layout, and then you can tweak things with your knowledge of HTML/CSS. It was really built for people just like you. And it scales with your skill level too. I still use it quite often to save time - and I'm a web design vet. Check it out, you can't go wrong