What next!?

[J90JAM]

Hey everyone, kinda new to web development - literally only know html,xhtml,css. I'm a little confused as to what to start learning next? Can anyone provide a list of the next 5 or so skills I should be cracking onto?
Cheers ;)

[Sunny G]

Color Theory. Learn lots of color theory. Take a class or two. Why?
'Cause anyone can learn how to build sites with these tools. BUT it takes an artist's eye to make them look good, and a special mindset to build them creatively that only an artist can achieve.

[J90JAM]

huh? I was thinking more along the lines of Javascript, Ruby On Rails or what?

[jen518]

PHP (or ASP or .NET for Windows servers), Javascript, Ajax, Search Engine Optimization ...

An artistic design is pleasing to the eye, but if you don't have the skills to make the site "functional", the web site won't be as valuable as it could/should be. That's not to say that design isn't important, because I believe it is, but I think functionality is more important. People are generally looking to a website for information and they want to get it as quickly as possible. The website owner is wanting to offer functionality through the website that can help their company to be more efficient, as well as customer focused.

Of course, you can outsource things that you don't know how to do, whether it's design or programming ... but to even be able to advise a client about what is possible, you need to have a basic understanding of what is possible and how functionality is achieved on the web.

Just my 2 cents.

jen

[Sunny G]

Despite what these developers say, most anyone can make a site functional. Most anyone can learn these languages. But do not lose yourself in technology, it is only the means to get there. Arts and color theory will tell you where you want to be. Then the technical stuff will follow.

[J90JAM]

Yeah I see what your saying, but I thought they go hand in hand to be honest, because you can't really have one without the other. No one wants to look at a black & white page with no visual creativity and a page that looks nice but doesn't function is no good either. I just need a common path on which skills to learn next. ;)

[Sunny G]

Why in the hell would I say one or the other? I'm saying you should learn the arts before you go completely robotic. You need both, but one comes before the other.

[J90JAM]

Sorry, it just sounds like the arty side is more important, when from what I've heard that comes after the functional side to alot of people.

[Sunny G]

You need an equilibrium between the two. But you'd be surprised how far you can go with what you know already, as long as you are trained well.

[J90JAM]

Yeah I understand that you need a balance. The problem I have when looking to get my first job in the web field is that they want HTML, CSS etc. obviously but theres always another skill they require whether it be Java, Flash, Dreamweaver or whatever. Also its the old no experience in the field and can't get experience because no one will hire story! :confused:

[Sunny G]

I'm going to be honest. I know no more than you do, J90JAM. Just (x)HTML, CSS (and some php but whatever). I always thought I'd get a job in a webdevelopment firm or ISP just building sites, but those things are unappealing compared to what these people do. I want in on this more than anything else now. THIS is where creative thought comes from and what sets one apart from the dime-a-dozen developers. Note that Java, Flash, and a variety of other tools were used here. Just creatively.

Watch/look at these and then come back.

Text Rain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toWFvXHghDk) :: IO Brush (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04v_v1gnyO8) :: Very Nervous System (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GALMmVZ49Pc)
Barbie Liberation Organization (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVT4T7OR3iQ) :: Animated Grafitti (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luX7zBjUesk&feature=related)
A Day in the Life of a Turret (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz2_NkyTv8E) :: Scott Snibbe Lecture (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAY0EqSmBvQ&feature=related)
Hooger Brugge (http://ml.hoogerbrugge.com/)

[J90JAM]

Yeah they are pretty impressive, but that seems a bit detached from what I was going for and quite advanced. I would actually be overjoyed just working on web projects for big companies and that sort of thing. I do appreciate where your coming from though.

[Sunny G]

Let me just conclude that we both exceed the programming skills of most technical-artists out there, but they exceed us in aspects of aesthetics and creation. To be functional, you will need the latter.

[jen518]

I would actually be overjoyed just working on web projects for big companies and that sort of thing.

If you want to work for a big company, then you probably need to lean one way or the other, programming or design. Big companies have graphic artists/designers do their design work, often with a degree in it; and programmers do the programming aspects of web development, often with a degree from a technical school or a college degree in computer science. That's not to say you can't learn some of this on your own of course, you definitely can, but a degree makes you more marketable. Having examples of what you can do with the skills you have is also very helpful when pursueing a job so keep a portfolio with examples of your work, whether it's html, css, scripting languages, database programming, website designs, Flash, whatever.

Eventually your interests and abilities will generally lead you in one direction or the other.

Hope this is helpful.

jen

[J90JAM]

Yeah I'm kinda between the two, so I'm learning skills that require both creativity and logic, hoping this will make me look a bit more versatile to companies. I am planning on doing a degree course but at the moment I've got enough studying to do! :eek: