Top 7 Tips to Learn Web Design from Home

Congratulations on taking the first step! Web design is something every single person on the internet needs right now. So, least to say, you’ve chosen a growing field.

If you’ve been procrastinating on how, where and when to begin your learning journey or are simply confused about the constantly changing parameters then, don’t fret. We got you. In this article, we have curated a complete list of seven wholesome tips that’ll help you kickstart your career right from the comfort of your home.

But, first things first, always remember who you are designing for. The people who shall see it and the behaviour they are most likely to have. The importance of UX needs to be paid attention to, especially when it comes to developing consumer-facing websites.

Now that you know where you’re going let’s dive head-first into the specifics.

 

Come up with a plan

Imagine the biggest tree you’ve ever seen. The concepts and branches of web design are probably bigger than that. No one knows all, and no one can be expected to either. So, it would be best if you ready yourself for the challenges that might come up along the way. Create a learning mindset and a plan to go with the kind of web designer you want to be. It can be as modest as learning to design sites for a particular niche or industry.

Understand the Process

Learning web design from scratch comprises of asking two questions –

1. What is Web Design?

Web design can be looked at as a way to solve problems for your users. There are multiple aspects like skills, art, technology and science attached to it that shall, in turn, decide the interface and functionalities of your website. In simple terms – Visual + Interaction = Web Design

Think of it as defining the user interface and user experience in a way that leads your visitors to the right information and the right decisions.

2. What is the Process of Web Design?

The path to completing a whole web design can be looked at as a cascading set of dominos. Although there is no hard set ofrules to stick to a certain direction, following them certainly helps in forming an organized structure. Here is what it seems like –

Setting a goal for the kind of website you want, be it a blog, an e-commerce portal or a portfolio
Creating a timeline for each of the processes that shall follow and sticking to it
Brainstorming to create a wireframe design that puts your thoughts to paper
Building the web copy, design elements, and interactions at every user touchpoint
Conducting beta and alpha testing to understand the accessibility and usability factors
And finally, launching the website in all its glory

Start a Practice Website

Nothing teaches you like experience. Plus, there is a certain kind of validation in applying what you have learned. We’d suggest you set up a blog or portfolio kind of domain that allows tinkering with it as you go along your learning path. It would also give you a hands-on approach to the front and back-end development, allowing code inspection and editing. You don’t need to go all-in and become a web design agency in London. Start small by using website builders like Wix, WordPress and Squarespace.

Read Cover-to-Cover and End-to-End

Since you’re already reading this, we’re sure you know what a good blog, article or snippet can do for your learning. The only advice is to keep at it. Read everything you can and consume inconspicuous amounts of content on design, trends, techniques, functionalities and practices around the world. As always, if you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to search for it online until you have the right solution. Start with reading the basics and build your way up to the complex concepts.

Master HTML and CSS  

Although the drag-and-drop culture is quite prevalent, as a web designer, you should be able to look and troubleshoot issues that happen beneath the surface. Most websites you look at are HTML5 responsive with CSS as their skin. HTML is a simple markup language that defines its fundamentalsthrough the use of tags, attributes and nested elements. On the other hand, CSS is a stylesheet language that can be inserted into an HTML document to define the elements, properties, values, typesetting and layouts.

Study the Websites That You Love

Web design is a free-flowing, creative field where inspirations are encouraged. Hence, paying close attention to the websites that you appreciate can be your gateway into understanding your own style. Take note of –

Navigation and directional cues
Typography
Use of whitespace and imagery
Animation effects
Colours and contrasts

Think about how you can do it better or what changes would you make to make it more user-oriented. Adding your own take to what the already existing is a great way to inculcate your learnings into something tangible.

Stay Updated

By the time earth completes one revolution, web design is already done with a plethora of them. Learn to stay in touch with the upcoming trends and technology, fully understanding their use and applications in the current times. For instance, AR, VR and 360-degree videos are making a run at the money right now. Dissect the complexities to give your web design an upper hand down the road. Even if you’re not ready to take it in, you must know the uses and potential each trend or technique has.

Ending Notes

You must have an insatiable hunger to learn more. Web design, like many other professions, is not a classroom-restricted field. Step outside your luxury zone more often and try a hand at things you might not know.

The more you experiment with different gears, the more you’ll find newer avenues to build your expertise and establish yourself as a one-of-a-kind service provider in the industry.

Remember, hundreds of free and paid courses can teach you the fundamentals, but only by applying those concepts do you truly stand a chance to know web designing.

Jeremy

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