How i can design a website?

If you are talking about ACTUAL design, such as UI designing, and all; you first need to have a good idea of what you want to design for a website. Start sketching it on a notebook, and then start brainstorming on what you want it to look like. After you get a good sketch, you then design it with a good design program. I recommend Photoshop, Illustrator, or Gimp (If you are desperate/no money.) Start messing with Photoshop to get a good idea on the tool. After you get the layout, you then crop each image that is needed for your website. You put those images in an image folder of your website directory.

To build the website; learn standard HTML5 and CSS3. Be sure to learn older versions of HTML and CSS because older browsers do not support most features of CSS3 and HTML5. You can move on with learning PHP, mySQL, and Apache for server side scripting of your website (User signups, etc..) It takes lot's of pain, but in the end art has been created. You can use anything to program any language. If you are looking for a free program, I suggest Notepad++. If you want to go pro, go with Dreamweaver. If you have a Mac, and Dreamweaver is too expensive, go with Coda. Still cost money, but HIGHLY cheaper than Dreamweaver

Cheers!

If you are talking about ACTUAL design, such as UI designing, and all; you first need to have a good idea of what you want to design for a website. Start sketching it on a notebook, and then start brainstorming on what you want it to look like.

 

*Thumbs up for this.

 

It is sad how many website designers have never even thought of designing on paper. You might laugh at me but we would design our websites in college with pantone markers on marker paper before we would open Photoshop.

 

I agree, start by learning what design is.

 

You think out the design on paper and then you will have a good idea of what kind of skills or tools you will need to do the jobs. There are so many tools available like WordPress, Photoshop, Gimp, Pixelmator, that you will be able to find whatever you need.

 

If I was just getting started I would begin by copying what other designers are doing and putting up your first website or two. Only then would I even begin to attempt anything original.

 

I think that all too often beginners are afraid to make mistakes.

 

You will make mistakes.

 

I still do.

 

Heck, I don't even design websites for clients anymore most of the time. I would prefer to hire that out. But I am still making mistakes when I build my own personal website and there is always something to learn.

 

Always a student.

Cool! College sounds fun for web design

Should I bother going, or is it no different than what I am learning?

Cool! College sounds fun for web design

Should I bother going, or is it no different than what I am learning?

 

I will say that college is nice for getting papers which some employers respect. But in the end, your skills are going to land you more jobs than any piece of paper from a college will. It really depends on how much money you have and how much debt you are willing to go into to get you piece of paper.

 

I think that if I had to do it over again, I would go to college for the social experience because that was fun. But I don't think I would go only for the paper certificate.

 

In a lot of ways it was a waste of money. It has also turned into a pain to pay off all my debts. Only one of which is the two loans I took out for college before I understood how terrible an idea those loans were.

 

I can only say that it depends on the person.

 

If you are self motivated you can go anywhere in life with or without college. If you are not then you had better get a piece of paper in something that people respect.

 

They typically do not respect designers.

 

I hate to even say that.

 

But that has been my experience.

Edited January 7, 201313 yr by WebsiteWriter

Eh; I shouldn't bother with college, then. I don't care much for socialization. I am fine just the way I am. I will continue reading textbooks on my own, self educating. I have a family, a mate, and all I have ever wanted. I don't need college, and that goes to many of you. You only need college if you want to go into medical, sciences, and other stuff. You don't need college for web development, and all. That can all be self taught if you are self motivated. Thank you for the heads up, WebsiteWriter.

i completely agree with WebsiteWriter.. as i generally do..

 

I never bothered with college, if im going to be honest, i learned most things right here. Get involved with the creative industry.

Read books like HTML for Dummies, CSS for dummies

 

Build your website content

Draw a design

photoshop a design

Code your design

Install plugins,

install social plugins

make changes

update regulary

 

There is so much to learn, and we are all still learning to this day.

 

If you need any help code side of things give me a private message i am more than happy to help, BUT get a baseline idea first. i wont be writing your websites for u

 

 

stay focused and good luck! its an amazing industry to work in.

 

Craig

^ Thank you, and I am already doing it xD I have been doing this independent study since I was 10, 11, or 9 :/

I think I will go to college to help me organize my time, and also to help me learn a lot faster. I am learning so much at the moment, that I just need somebody to TALK to me, and tell me what I am doing, and what I have to do. I need assignments given to me to help me learn better. I just feel so... independent, and reading 4-6 textbooks at a time does not help. I need to know if I am doing it correctly by being graded and guided. I am going to go to college for business so I can market myself as a web designer/developer.

I will say that college is nice for getting papers which some employers respect. But in the end, your skills are going to land you more jobs than any piece of paper from a college will. It really depends on how much money you have and how much debt you are willing to go into to get you piece of paper.

 

I think that if I had to do it over again, I would go to college for the social experience because that was fun. But I don't think I would go only for the paper certificate.

 

In a lot of ways it was a waste of money. It has also turned into a pain to pay off all my debts. Only one of which is the two loans I took out for college before I understood how terrible an idea those loans were.

 

I can only say that it depends on the person.

 

If you are self motivated you can go anywhere in life with or without college. If you are not then you had better get a piece of paper in something that people respect.

 

They typically do not respect designers.

 

I hate to even say that.

 

But that has been my experience.

 

Agree that College is not important to become a designer (or developer), although i think for any youngster in the UK, you might as well spend 30 hours a week ''learning'' about website design & development than working a full time job and learning in your spare time... i think it obviously depends on your circumstances when it comes to college/uni, but given the opportunity to go, you should take it.

 

You will learn more when you actually apply yourself through trial & error, reading forums, books etc.. if you have a passion for it, you will excel beyond many in your college/uni class.

 

Just remember, free information is just as good as the stuff you pay for, websites like lynda.com are a good resource if you can afford it, although you won't learn anything you could have done for free, the only difference is video quality..

 

Good luck

You will learn more when you actually apply yourself through trial & error, reading forums, books etc.. if you have a passion for it, you will excel beyond many in your college/uni class.

 

Or apparently if you are diagnosed with OCD. Two days ago, I had to visit the emergency room of our local hospital due to a nervous breakdown where I was laughing uncontrollably and then crying.

 

It turns out all these years that I thought I was motivated I was really suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. I'm still waiting for an actual diagnosis but it seems to fit.

 

I will add that I have written over a hundred posts here on the WDF in a few short days.

 

I guess, i know why now...

 

Man, I wish I could write that fast for clients. When I write for clients I find myself proofreading the copy hundreds of times before I can send it to them and it has made my life a living hell.

 

I closed my business yesterday.

 

It was a hard decision to make but until I get medicated for my conditions. I can't really afford to take on clients. I mean, life really throws you a curve ball sometimes...

 

You know, I do hate on college sometimes. I was never a very social person. But I will say, I did enjoy the social aspect. I think that is all I can really recommend it for unless you desperately want papers.