sara4152

Hi there,
I've just decided i'd like to do web design.
Currently I'm a CAD technician looking to set up buisness for myself, (half way there).
But I've now decided that i'd like to offer freelance webdesigning too as there is a bigger market for it, plus it looks fun.
I've been looking at home learning course and think there far too many, not sure which is best. basically I just want a course that will give me everything to get started from there I'm clever enough to teach my self the rest.
Has any1 here done a home learning course in web design?
I quite fancied a course in adobe dreamweaver and flash..but at 1900quid i thot it was too much for me.
Any suggestions, Also if I bought dreaweaver and flash would that be enough for designing web sites?
Sara

sharon1175

Welcome Sara! I was in communications for 10 years before realizing how much I hated it. So I switched my career to web design. I am having A LOT of fun doing it.

My brother bought me a book called Head First HTML. It's a little silly sometimes, but I think that's why I could follow it so well. Less technical mumbo jumbo to wade through. The pace is perfect and it keeps you interested. It's a giant tutorial you can do on your own time and it teaches you the basics for little cost. I think it's an excellent jumping off point to understanding how it all works. I will continue with my studies using the Head First series.

I use Dreamweaver to set up my designs and also to teach myself more about hand coding. I would set up a basic template in the editor then read the code above and experiment with it to get my desired results. At this point I start a completely blank template and hand write almost all of the code except for simple things that are just easier in DW.

DW has quirks I found... which is why it's truly best to learn how to write the code in case you need to tweak something. I can't rely on it for everything and

I learned CSS accidentally by doing a tutorial for creating Wordpress templates. My goal wasn't to learn CSS at that point, but it taught me a lot and I was able to take it from there on my own. I'm hoping Head First has a CSS book so I can learn the rest of what I haven't figured out on my own yet. I may need a more advanced manual though. I'm not sure yet. I've learned other techniques just by searching on the net for tutorials.

I learn by doing. I'm lucky enough to have a part time job where I can take the time to learn... and get paid to do it. But I'm on my own. No one here can teach me and I can't afford classes.

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but it's how I got started and am continuing to teach myself for very little cost. It takes self motivation to keep going through the books and trying new things.

Another book I recommend is the Web Design Index. I have version 7. It is nothing more than a book full of sample websites. When I see something I like, I try to duplicate the look. That is how I am learning.

sara4152

Thanks sharon,

I found this book ;
http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/8...searchsource=0
mite buy that, i've also got web design for dummys, half way through reading it. I too work parttime but I have a young daughter so don't have all the time in the world.
Do you or any1 else know if its worth my while buying dreamweave/flash, if that's all i need then i mite buy an older copy from ebay or sumthing, not sure whats best idea, though i do fancy buying the whole web creative suite but too expensive.
sara

sharon1175

I bought dreamweaver, which I use every day and was well worth the investment in my opinion. I have an older version of flash somewhere deep in the abyss of my closet. I haven't used it yet... and may not use it at all until I master the simpler stuff.

By the way... I have two kids also. I totally understand the time thing. As for my part time job... I'm actually doing web design. That's what I meant by being paid to learn. This opportunity is priceless because who in the world would hire someone who has no experience and is just learning??? Look for a small business who can't afford a "seasoned" designer and you might get lucky!