| Are you looking to get into website design for the | | | | your first rung on the web design ladder is |
| first time? This overview is really aimed at people | | | | probably the hardest part and it can be quite |
| who want to adopt this as a pastime or perhaps | | | | frustrating in the early stages as you try and |
| those of you who are looking to move your | | | | figure out the technicalities. However, there are |
| career in that direction. But this is a complex | | | | masses of help on the Web, but I cannot |
| subject, right? Well yes it can be, but it is actually | | | | recommend highly enough that you at least get a |
| quite simple if you want to develop a | | | | reference book like "Website Design for |
| straightforward website for personal use and you | | | | Dummies" to make things a little easier. |
| have no aspirations to try and sell your services in | | | | Most of the HTML Editors are WYSIWYG (what |
| the future. | | | | you see is what you get), so this will make life so |
| In my opinion, you shouldn't begin to think about | | | | much easier for you. As your skills progress you |
| starting out as a web designer unless you are | | | | will inevitably start to look at other people's web |
| reasonably technical or at least you have more | | | | design techniques and study the code they have |
| than a passing interest in the Internet. My own | | | | used to develop certain things that catch your |
| interest started out because I am passionate | | | | eye as you browse the Web. At this point you |
| about the Internet as a communication medium. | | | | will need to begin to understand how the code |
| One important thing it is worth flagging up from | | | | works and things will begin to get more |
| the outset is that web design can be addictive | | | | complicated. In a matter of weeks you will be |
| and don't even think about it if you don't have an | | | | talking knowledgably about Tables, CSS, Java |
| understanding partner! It can become an | | | | Script etc. You will become the 'office bore' |
| all-consuming activity very quickly as you begin to | | | | before you know it! |
| master the technologies. | | | | Finally, you will need to think about how you will |
| So what do you need to start out in web design? | | | | get your fledgling website out in front of the |
| Well for sure you need a computer and Internet | | | | unsuspecting public i.e. on the Internet. You're |
| connection - your first tick in the box! Secondly, | | | | unlikely to want to go and buy a domain name |
| you need some software to 'code' your web | | | | and a hosting package from day one, so it's |
| design. For starters, you can get all sorts of | | | | probably best if you check out what your |
| freeware and shareware off the web and you | | | | Internet Service Provider offers you for free. |
| can begin by searching for 'HTML Editors'. Don't | | | | Most of the larger companies offer limited facilities |
| worry about what this stands for, as it's | | | | to publish your web pages at no cost and this is a |
| irrelevant. You will need a HTML Editor to create | | | | great starting point. |
| the code for your website. As you move up the | | | | One thing is for sure. If and when you actually get |
| website learning curve, you will more than likely | | | | to the point of publishing your work of art so you |
| want to invest in commercial software such as | | | | can access it via the Web, you will be glowing |
| Microsoft's FrontPage or something like | | | | with pride and fascination. I certainly did and it's |
| Dreamweaver. "So that's all I need?" I hear you | | | | quite an addictive feeling. Then the fun begins |
| ask. Well, it would be handy to start out with a | | | | trying to attract visitors to your website, but that |
| few reference books to get you started. Getting | | | | can wait for another day. Good luck! |