Where to start with web design? (srs)(reps)

[seatbelt]

I've always been interested in how to make websites completely from scratch. I'm aware that I will have to learn coding languages like html, css, perl, etc. But which one is the most useful to learn first? Also, if you could point me to any websites that maybe have tutorials or forums I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Shattering Fast]

http://net.tutsplus.com/sessions/web-design-from-scratch/

[ticktickytembo]

Wordpress is good software for making blogs. It's like a GUI for all the code.

can't post links, google w3schools

[kanyetothee]

html is basic basic.
you should try using dreamweaver

[xremix123x]

Start basic with html. Once you've mastered html you can branch off into CSS, PHP, Javascript. After that you should probably learn some frameworks as well as libraries like JQuery, etc.
Also a great free editor to use is Notepad ++ if you're on windows, BBEdit on mac, and gedit is good for linux.
You can start with w3schools for tutorials if you want but it's not the greatest reference according to most people, but it's not too bad for beginners.

[MangoPort]

I think you should start with Joomla. (or Wordpress). Joomla will teach you a lot more about web design right away, and you'll slowly learn the nutz and bolts later.

[Choofer]

Dave Raggett's HTML Tutorials. Best to learn all your good habits early :D

Edit: As an absolute starting place, this is day one stuff.

[circusmidget]

1)
a) HTML
b) CSS

2)
a) A server-side scripting language such as PHP
b) Design patterns, especially MVC

3) SQL

4)
a) JavaScript
b) jQuery

Master the above and you'll be a decent web application developer... but still not a good web designer ;-)

[seatbelt]

1)
a) HTML
b) CSS

2)
a) A server-side scripting language such as PHP
b) Design patterns, especially MVC

3) SQL

4)
a) JavaScript
b) jQuery

Master the above and you'll be a decent web application developer... but still not a good web designer ;-)So what does it take to be a good web designer?

[4ndrew]

Start with HTML and CSS ONLY. Don't confuse yourself with javascript, jquery or even php.

Think of HTML as the wood frames of a house, and CSS to be the wallpaper, baseboards and paint on the walls. I only use HTML to get a basic frame up, and hold text. Use CSS to decorate.

THIS (http://www.w3schools.com/web/web_css.asp) is the best site for learning HTML and CSS imho, and I find myself constantly going back to it if I'm using CSS.

Design wise, find a site that you like and pick it apart. What do you like about it? Figure out why it works.

Space is incredibly important on a website. If everything is too bunched up it looks like crap. If everything is spaced too far apart it looks like crap. If spaces are not consistent, it looks like crap.

Colors are very important, you don't want some funky colors that are going to make pepole vomit, so use a good color scheme. USE THIS FOR COLORS (http://colorschemedesigner.com/)

I would even look into learning HTML5 as that is the future, and learning it now can be a great asset.

Good luck!

[circusmidget]

So what does it take to be a good web designer?

Being good at design ;-)

I'm a software developer, not a designer. Knowing the aforementioned languages doesn't even make you a good software developer, let alone a designer, which is something entirely different. I imagine doing a design course or researching the subject via the internet would be a good start but I have no more specific information because I'm not a designer.

[xdestron]

Designer and Developer are 2 completely different things. OP needs to clarify which he was asking about.

[EvolutionSic]

http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/1-introduction-to-the-web-standards-cur/#toc

Should take you 2 days.

[wings_unhinged]

Html

[FGCUCody]

Start basic with html. Once you've mastered html you can branch off into CSS, PHP, Javascript. After that you should probably learn some frameworks as well as libraries like JQuery, etc.
Also a great free editor to use is Notepad ++ if you're on windows, BBEdit on mac, and gedit is good for linux.
You can start with w3schools for tutorials if you want but it's not the greatest reference according to most people, but it's not too bad for beginners.


Start with HTML and CSS ONLY. Don't confuse yourself with javascript, jquery or even php.

Think of HTML as the wood frames of a house, and CSS to be the wallpaper, baseboards and paint on the walls. I only use HTML to get a basic frame up, and hold text. Use CSS to decorate.

THIS (http://www.w3schools.com/web/web_css.asp) is the best site for learning HTML and CSS imho, and I find myself constantly going back to it if I'm using CSS.

Design wise, find a site that you like and pick it apart. What do you like about it? Figure out why it works.

Space is incredibly important on a website. If everything is too bunched up it looks like crap. If everything is spaced too far apart it looks like crap. If spaces are not consistent, it looks like crap.

Colors are very important, you don't want some funky colors that are going to make pepole vomit, so use a good color scheme. USE THIS FOR COLORS (http://colorschemedesigner.com/)

I would even look into learning HTML5 as that is the future, and learning it now can be a great asset.

Good luck!


Html

These are the only correct answers ITT. Don't start using editors and all of that stuff yet. You won't learn nearly as much as starting with basic HTML. I use Notepad++ for a lot of things, but I also use Aptana studio because of the built in FTP function. No dreamweaver or wordpress or anything else yet. Just start learning the basics.

http://www.w3schools.com/html/

You can get the basics from w3.

After you learn to work with HTML a bit, start creating stylesheets (CSS). You shouldn't need to any scripting just yet.

EDIT:


http://dev.opera.com/articles/view/1...dards-cur/#toc

Should take you 2 days.

This was good too.

[zebrahz]

i think stuff like typography, flow and all that artsy stuff... i'm no expert but there should be a lot of good resources out there...

also check out hacker news, they'll have stuff thats more relevant to your interests if you pursue this further...
news.ycombinator.com