Learn Key Website Designer Basics
Intro to Web Design

The field of Web design rewards a unique blend of technical skills, creativity, visual communication, information science, and entrepreneurship.

In this introductory class, you'll learn how the Web evolved, cover the technical fundamentals, and learn the design principles that characterize the leading sites. Through exposure to best (and worst) practices on the Web, you'll learn how to intelligently critique a Website design, both from a functional and an aesthetic standpoint.

No software is required, just a keen interest in the Internet world. It's the perfect introduction to Website design, whether you want to become a Website designer, or you're just intensely curious about what they do!

Instructor:
Margaret Penney is a teacher, designer, writer and media artist...
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Course Developer:
Tara MacKay is a Web designer who has designed award-winning sites ... get bio

Identify the main design elements of a Webpage including headers, tables, and navigation.

Identify the basic features and applications of HTML including opening and closing tags, title tags, and formatting code.

Identify the most common types of Web graphic files and how they are optimized for Web presentation.

Evaluate existing Websites to determine how and why they have used specific design and code features.

Identify specific principles of Web design and common Web design pitfalls in existing Web sites.

Research a Web site audience and conceptualize features appropriate to that audience.

Select appropriate Website design and development software.

Identify the various facets and roles of a Web design job.

Perform critiques of existing Web sites based on design principles, functionality, and audience needs, and suggest improvements.

Outline:

LESSON 1 The Fundamentals of Web Design How did the Web we know today come about, and how does it work? Lesson One discusses the history and the evolution of the World Wide Web from the 1950s to the present day. You'll take apart a sample Web page to discover how it's constructed, both from a functional and an aesthetic standpoint. Then you'll look at six leading Websites to learn how to learn how different sites function. In the exercise, you'll apply this knowledge by analyzing a sample site from a functional standpoint.

LESSON 2 The Principles of Web Design What separates a well-designed site from a poorly conceived one? In Lesson Two, you'll chart the differences between Web and print design, focusing on those issues a Website designer can (and can't) control. You'll learn eight principles for effective Website design, and discover our Top Ten Web design faux pas, those "pitfalls" that any Web designer should avoid. In the exercise, you'll critique a sample site from an aesthetic perspective.

LESSON 3 Getting Started in Web Design What tools and technologies does a Website designer need to master? In this lesson, we look at today's well-stocked Website design toolkit, examining the pros and cons of the main software options in digital imaging, HTML editors, and multimedia. To equip you for a real-world design environment, we'll also look at the different roles and stages in the Website design process, to find out what's required. In the Final Project, you'll wrap up all you've learned by presenting a sample critique to the rest of your class.

Tuition: $286 US