Aspiring newbie seeks advice

Hey guys. Recently I've developed a desire to learn how to make websites. And I want to make them good.

I like the website development part of website creation more so I started watching video courses at lynda.com about HTML and CSS. I really liked them and after 10 days and watching 40hrs of video cources I learnt some incredible things about CSS - history, browser support, the CSS, how the web works, etc. I plan to start learning JavaScript after I get more comfortable with CSS and I gain better ability to control over CSS. (Please let me know if thats the way or its not really recommended to gain more control over CSS to start with JavaScript).


I've got some questions though. My future aim is to provide website creation
services. I prefer to do the things alone, so I guess I have to start learning Web design too. So there they are:

1. Should one be an artistic person so that he can learn web design (so he can make prototype for example) - I consider myself not really a man of arts. I've never been good with painting at school. Neither I've had a passion about this kind of arts.

2. In this line of thought: where get images/logos specific for the current client website need. Outsource? Or maybe it's possible learn how to do them myself although I've never been keen on arts? If so should I use Fireworks for example, Illustrator, Photoshop or mix of them?

Cheers

A Web Designer does the graphic end of things (mockups for example). Most use Photoshop, however Fireworks is what you should use because it was designed specificly for web designers (it will also be easier for you to learn than PS). A Web Programmer does html and css; a Web Developer works with databases, javascript, jQuery, Php,etc.. (often times people just say web developer for both).

If you want to work for a company than pick your niche and master it. If you want to work for yourself you will need to know Web Design, Web Programming, and it will help you to know Web Development.

This site will help you be sure to watch all the videos http://www.mlwebco.com/

Good luck to you

The first thing I did was take a programming class at my local college and learned html and php, but then when I got into the graphic side I kinda got drawn to motion graphics and forgot about my coding

You have the right idea in getting a handle on CSS first, javascript and other tools used for "fancy" effects are the icing on the cake, if you don't have a strong control of the foundation your site will suck regardless of how much flair you give it. One doesn't need to be an artistic person to be a good web designer. Good web design is a lot more about layout, efficiency and flow than artistic nature. When you're learning just start out using stock images, or if none are available outsource it, then gradually learn how to use photoshop and work that in when you feel comfortable with it, a lot of great looking aspects can be done with very basic editing skills.

Lynda is a great way to learn so definitely keep up with that, also the second poster gave great outline on each specified tasks, you can outsource what you aren't good at.

A great photoshop person isn't necessarily a great web designer, nor do you have to be a great artist to be a great web designer.

Thank you very much all of you guys! I really appreciate every single answer to that thread!
It's really great when you see so good view/reply ratio to thread like here in the BHW :>
Anyways thanks to you, now I have more courage and desire to look at a few web design courses and learn the stuff

I think your taking the path of being a web developer rather than a designer. That may be good because with the new technologies and tools available now you can almost design a full website straight from the browser already.

I learned html and css from lynda myself. Definitely get a good handle on your CSS first before dipping into php or java, but eventually learning those will open up your doors to a bigger market.

Good luck.

SYAWEDIS said:

I learned html and css from lynda myself. Definitely get a good handle on your CSS first before dipping into php or java, but eventually learning those will open up your doors to a bigger market.

Good luck.

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Yes, I also find that Lynda is a good place to start learning. The tutorials there are easy to follow. That's where I started from too.