A beginner’s guide to learning web design at home!
Determined to learn web design at home? You have clicked the right article.
In today’s world, web design is a must-learn skill for designers. Yet, it’s true that learning it can be quite complex. But, with the development of technology and the internet, learning has become easier than ever before. Not so surprisingly, becoming a web designer has become a popular trend of the present.
So today, I’ll walk you through learning web design with resources and tips. Web design beginners who wish to take this path, make sure to read this blog till the end.
Here are the things I’ll cover in this blog:
- • What is web design?
- • What skills does a web designer need?
- • What are the five basic elements of web design?
- • What are the best sources to learn web design at home?
What is web design?
I’ve commonly seen web design beginners intermix the concept of design with development. Web design is the design of websites that are displayed on the internet. It incorporates the UI vs. UX design elements of the website rather than the software development.
Besides, even if you don’t have technical knowledge, you can still become a great designer with the help of design tools like Sketch, Mockplus, or Figma. Of course, additional knowledge about coding languages like HTML, CSS, etc. would be a plus point. However, that’s not the core of web design. The core of web design is two things: visual and interaction — it seeks to fill in the communication gaps between the users and the web page.
What skills does a web designer need?
Next comes the necessary skills a web designer needs to master to start their career. So, let’s skip the confusion and dive right into it.
Learn the basic visual design rules
As a beginner, you need to master visual design, the process of improving the UI and UX of a web/app. For the best results and maximum engagement, focus on colors, illustrations, photography, typography, layouts, balance, contrast, visual hierarchy, and the like.
Learn layout design
Layout design is an important component of the process. It is the process of arranging visual elements including text, images, or shapes on a given page. Besides, it helps designers determine the overall appearance as well as the smooth message flow for better performance.
Learn color principles
It is crucial to consider color schemes when designing a website since they can provide visitors with a variety of experiences and visual contrasts. Do keep in mind the fundamentals of color, as they can assist you in developing successful color schemes for your website.
Learn interaction design
To develop a user-friendly experience for visitors, web designers need to have a basic understanding of interaction design, including creating design strategies, identifying essential wireframe interactions, and prototyping interactions.
Learn to use prototyping and design tools
To create a website, there are plenty of prototyping/design tools available. As starters, you should pick a tool that is simple to use and has a variety of built-in components so that you can rapidly acquire the first picture of your future website.
Learn the basics of coding languages
Unless you’re a web development beginner, you don’t need to get yourself deep into front-end development. But, with a basic understanding of the programming languages such as HTML and CSS, designers can better collaborate with developers.
Learn about the product and user group
The goal of the design is to communicate the value of your service or product to consumers. So having a distinct persona and producing designs that satisfy your client’s expectations is the final but not least ability for a designer.
What are the five basic elements of web design?
Once you master all the skills above, it’s time to move to the next stage: web design. You can always get in touch with a custom web design company for the best services. However, if you’re a beginner, here are the design elements that you should get right!
- 1. Overall layout: Keep the design clean, simple, and accessible. Create a great overall layout by using grid-based designs to keep things organized and orderly.
- 2. Color scheme: The color palette and fonts you choose say a lot about your website. It is what decides whether they’ll leave or stay. When choosing the color scheme, consider your target audience demographics.
- 3. Typography: Make your text easily readable. For instance, the body copy should be at least 16 pixels. It is fine if you use a complementary font heading/accents, but don’t go overboard with it.
- 4. Navigation: Place the navigational elements at the right place on your site. For example, you may place them on the site’s header, body, and footer but it must be visible enough to direct your users to the information they require quickly.
- 5. Content: After all the above basic elements, it is time to add content to your site. Extra words can get in the way and dull your brand’s main selling points, so efficiency is essential. To keep your content organized and informative, keep it short and relevant.
What are the best sources to learn web design at home?
Learning is an ongoing process. And, the best part is that now you can learn to effectively design a website from professionals at your home.
So, I’ll be quoting a few of the best resources that can help you get started.
Web design learning books: the books mentioned below are ideal for both students and professionals of all backgrounds and can help them keep their skills up to date.
- 1. HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites
- 2. Learning Web Design: A Beginner’s Guide
- 3. Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Web design online courses: what could be more convenient than learning at home? For those new to web design, these video tutorials are the best way to learn the basics as well as everything there is to know about the field.
- 1. TreeHouse: Web Design Track
- 2. Envato Tuts+: Responsive Web Design for Beginners
- 3. Future Learn: User Experience (UX) Design and Research
Web design blogs to follow: blogs offer a lot of valuable information for beginners and professionals looking to hone their skills. As a beginner, you may follow these blogs to discover and learn from some of the best design resources around.
Summing Up
Learning web design is a long-term task that is full of challenges. If you’re adamant to become a pro at web design, you need to make up your mind right now. Learn from the resources I’ve mentioned in this blog. And remember, practice is your best bet!
If you’re on the lookout for mobile app design and development services by experts, ensure to check out Codment. What other things would you like me to talk about next? Let me know in the comments below.