Web Page Design

United States
February 21, 2010 12:46pm CST
I am currently studying Web Page Design at home. I am just wondering if anyone out there can offer me any helpful advise. I do have some questions and concerns. I am basically just in the learning process and starting to understand how to do some of the very basic examples in HTML and CSS. I know this seems like a silly question, but how long does it take to learn how to build web pages through and through. I am picking up on it faster than I thought I would, but it seems like alot of information that I can't really put together at this point. Another question I have is: Is is possible to make enough income doing this to live extremely comfortably. I can't lie, I would love to make alot of money doing this, but I'm not sure if its possible. PLEASE HELP!
4 responses
21 Feb 10
There does seem to be a lot to take in but once you start to use it all regularly you will soon master it. To put it into perspective when I decided to learn php, which is something I imagine you will learn as well, it took me about 2 months to learn the basics and after that it just got easier and easier as I used it more regularly. But remember that the whole world of web development is continually evolving so it is always a case of once you learn one thing the next thing is already there to start learning. In fact even techniques you use such as in css will change at some point. So remember web development is not something you learn and then stop once you get so far. You will be continually learning as long as you want to try and make it work. Now the million dollar question can you make enough to live extremely comfortably. Well firstly web design/development is a very competitive but well paid market. As such even at a junior level in a big company you would make a lot more than most people. Plus if you get to the point where you go self employed taking on contracts and hiring your talents out then you can be charging quite literally silly money. To put it into perspective one of the web developers I worked with went self employed and now charges the equivalent of £30 an hour to hire him to build a website. But he is on top of his game and it takes time to become that good, I am talking years.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Feb 10
I haven't got as far as PHP yet, but I will eventually. It does seem like so much to learn especially when you have to know how to apply each and every skill to become really competitive. This is something I really want to learn and master no matter how long it takes. I do have to admit, I do get frustrated at times. Thank you for the insight, and encouragement to go all the way. The money does make it seem a little beter too!
22 Feb 10
My advice is try to learn html and css together as then you will get into the good habit of using css to control the layout and look rather than using the older techniques such as html tables. Once you have this learn the basics of php as this will come easier having gotten to grips with html. Once you know the basics of php, then I would suggest learning about sql combined with more advanced php techniques because they pretty much go hand in hand. Once you have done this then you can tackle things like javascript where needed and will be really easy to do becuase you will understand the logic of php. Most importantly try to learn how to use things and apply them to different situtations rather than just copying and pasting prescripted code with out fully understanding what it does. There are too many so called web developers who can construct a site using pre scripted elements but then can't fix them when they go wrong and trust me things always go wrong.
• United States
22 Feb 10
That's great advise and I will keep all this in mind as I slowly but surely learn all the techniques. I am so anxious to learn it all, that I sometimes get overwhelmed, but you are right. As long as I take it all in steps, and really learn the skills and how to use them, I will be alot better off in the end. The sites I am able to make now are so elementary, and some of the concepts seem like I will never be able to apply.
@sushie93 (1355)
• France
21 Feb 10
Hello, i have learned html and css language too in the past, then i apply it to build a design, it was so ugly that i give up lol so i decided to blogging so no need to care about the design. I think that if you take time to learn and memorize all things, you will able to make great design but you should have some great softwares too like Adobe Photoshop to make great design. When you have improve your skill, i sugest you to create a site/blog where you expose all creations and sell them, if they are beautiful and professionnal, you will have munch buyers ^^. (But you would have to promote your site too in order to be known and have more customers so maybe you could make big money with it ^^)
@sushie93 (1355)
• France
23 Feb 10
It's normal because you're just starting. ^^ I'm sure your will improve your skill in some weeks!
• United States
22 Feb 10
I know! That's how mine look now. They look like elementary school projects, how embarassing....but true. Thanks for your response.
@dendhar (20)
• Indonesia
21 Feb 10
Hi I got the same situation too here. But at the same time I overloaded with all the information about this topic, which make me confused where should I start to do it by myself. I try to learn it by browsing a site which give an information like Utube, mylot, and some free offer from some affiliated program which I can join as a free member. Honestly it's like playing puzzle, we have to put the right pieces at the right place until we can get a full picture that we can unsderstand. It only take a moment to build a website, but it seem forever if we only study it by the book. And yes there always a possibility to make income with this way, as long you can find something unique through your creations, a new idea which there still a little using it on the net. Goodluck CHumphreys.
• United States
23 Feb 10
I'm glad to hear I'm not alone, web designing is driving me crazy. I am getting all my information from w3schools.com, and it is very "dumbed down". But, that doesn't mean it is easy, it is anything but easy! I feel the same way you do: overloaded! I am not sure if this is a good subject to try to learn all by yourself, but I am sure it can be done. Good luck to you!
@Trykro (241)
• Romania
21 Feb 10
To learn the basics and more of html go at this page(this is not a referral link): http://www.w3schools.com/ and you'll find the best tutorials available grouped in a few categories to make them easy to use. The same time open your html editor (Frontpage, Dreamweaver, or any other you might use), open a new page and try to apply what you are learning from those tutorials. Later on, when you think you are able to practice what you've learn, download a free template from the web and start playing with it - apply what you've learned and see what's happened to the template. After that if you think you are good enough you may start (or try to...) build your own design from the scratch. I hope I've been useful to you. Good luck.
• United States
23 Feb 10
I have been using this site you are mentioning. It is great for me because it is free and very simple (or as simple as they can make it I'm sure!) What I am wondering is this site going to be sufficient for my learning or not? Will it take me as far as I need to go? What I'm thinking is this site gives you basic explanations and examples and it's up to the student to figure out the rest. But I do like the site.