Does anyone know a good course for web design?

Question

Hi all, for a while now I have been wanting to pursue a new career, I have looked at various options and decided I would like to train to be a web designer. I have looked around at various options but most of them seem to good to be true. I have looked at places like skillstrain but never read anything good about them. Im now looking at doing an Open University course but would like a few details. What sort of time frame am I looking at before I can actually switch careers? What are the costs involved likely to be? What is the support like?

If anyone can help me out with this I would appreciate it so much. Thanks for looking, I look forward to you answers!

Answer 1

First advice: DON'T become a "web designer".  Become a "Web Application Developer".

There are millions of amateurs calling themselves web designers who know NOTHING about coding.  Web Designs pays £10-15 per page and the competition is fierce.

An Application Developper designs "programs" that just happen to run on a network, through a server, (and the web is just the biggest network!).  Look at it as the till at the bank: the employees all run the same "web application", taking care of all acounts, transfers and so on.

As an Application Developer, my STARTING fee is £5,000 for up to six weeks work.

Now, how to reach that target?

1. Learn Graphic Design: any course in Advertising will do.  Any good program will do.  Buy and Play with Photoshop.

2. Learn PROGRAMMING.  Don't even THINK using WYSIWYG software like Dreamweaver: They do not teach you anything but bad habits. Start with C, C++, C#, Java.  Continue at home, making small programs, with Php, javascript and HTML.  Buy a domain, rent a LAMP server, make your trials THERE.  Design small games that are run from the web: these are basic applications.

Use www.w3schools.com and www.php.net: HUGE help there if you take time to read.

Two courses: Advertising/Marketing design and Programming.

They will lead you to a good job with prospects.

Web Designer?  Open your shop.  Advertise.  Build a few websites.

I give you six months before you give up...

Good luck!

Answer 2

www.graphicday.com web design and development

Answer 3

W3Schools FOR SURE

http://www.w3schools.com/

Answer 4

I am a web designer, but trained in industrial design.

Web design is something you kind of teach yourself by looking at the source codes of other people's sites, but you can get fantastic tutorials online at places like lynda.com (my favourite one) that show you step-by-step how to design using a number of industry standard programs. You'll need to learn Adobe Dreamweaver/Fireworks or some other program, unless you're strictly into coding, but learning programs like that using the tutorials takes about 10 hours, which usually means a week or so for me, if I dedicate myself to trying to execute one complete project. But as with anything, practice makes perfect. I'd say start out doing tutorials in your spare time, and learn things ahead of time before you decide to do University courses. Arts education is better left to conceptual development, not so much skills based training.

Also depends on your self discipline. You will need to have that to do freelance web design, because people will count on you to make deadlines.

Hope this helped.

Answer 5

Have a look on your local council website for evening classes through their 'adult learning' section.  Courses will be relatively cheap, and good quality.

If you're looking to break into the world of web, and could stand programming rathe than design, then consider PHP.  Our webover  team is after a PHP programmer, and the market rate is silly money. Over £40k for someone with a bit of experience - even as a newly qualified programmer you're looking at £25k, not bad for a job with no experience.