Best place to start in web design

[Eagles]

Hey,

I'm new to creating websites and things like that at this stage, but I am really interested in it. I was just wondering where to start with such a broad topic. What are the right and wrong programs to use? Courses that are good to do? Things like that

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks heaps
Tiffany

[ray326]

Well the best place to start is the source (http://w3c.org) but check out the links in my sig below.

[Eagles]

thats great if I had that much money to spend.

Are there any courses worth doing? Remembering I am Australian and I can't really afford to go to America to study.

[ray326]

Check out w3schools.com.

[buntine]

Australia has a huge industry. There are literally hundreds of courses you can do in Australia. Even a TAFE course (Certificate 4, for example) will only cost about $200 - $500 for 6 months.

Definately check out www.w3schools.com to get aquainted with HTML and the relavent technologies.

Regards.

[Eagles]

Thanks I have been looking at the TAFE courses, the thing is I work 7 days a week (2 jobs), so I would have to do it externally. I'm checking out w3schools and TAFE.

[Eagles]

What sort of programs am I going to be looking at needing?

[buntine]

Not many. Everything you need to start basic Web Design is already available on your PC. But for usability, I suggest you download a copy of HTML-Kit from www.chami.com. You could also buy a lisence for DreamWeaver MX or FrontPage 2004 if you like.

You most likely won't be doing a whole lot of programming at this stage, so you won't need to worry about that.

Regards.

[Eagles]

I actually do a fair bit of programming, I do a lot of database work, and I would actually like to learn a fair few different programs.

[scragar]

all you need to make a webpage is HTML(hopefully XML or XHTML as opposed to standard HTML, but HTML is still valid) and CSS(CSS2 is miles better than CSS1).

to add interactivity you'll proberly want javascript or a java-applet.

and to make things like mail forms, use a database you need a SSL(server side language) like PHP, Perl, CGI or ASP.

[screaming_banjo]

Here's a free XHTML class and there is also a free CSS class:

http://webdesign.about.com/c/ec/9.htm

[Eagles]

Thanks screaming banjo you all have no idea how much this is all helping me

[buntine]

Well, if your already a programmer, this should be a breeze for you. You will be up and running in about 30 minutes. ;)

Creating Web Sites is more about programming rather than using prebuilt software. Graphics-wise, you may want to check out FireWorks.

[Eagles]

Thanks I would have thought programming a database and programming a website would be totally different things.

[buntine]

They are. But programming concepts are universal, regardless of the technology or application. Database programming is a huge part of developing Web Sites, too.

Regards.

[Eagles]

fair enough, I just never thought of linking the two before.