O/T Web Design / Web Developer

Off topic discussion.
I have funding available and looking to train as a commercial web designer / developer.
I want to start off with the basics,but also dont want a quick Dreamweaver course that lasts about 4 weeks.
Does anyone know where I can learn this as a career and how long it takes?
Not looking to do a full time course either as I work.
Any information would be greatly received?

Start with Dreamweaver for Dummies. PC World will have on. About a tenner but will be the best tenner you'll spend.

Start with Dreamweaver for Dummies. PC World will have on. About a tenner but will be the best tenner you'll spend.

My advice would be to focus on HTML5 because that is very much going to be the primary platform for the foreseeable future as HTML5 essentially sits across all platforms so will become universal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5

Dreamweaver (and other WYSIWYG type of options) are great for regular folks like me that need to build sites on a one off basis

(My site for example is deliberately simple (i just used the moonfruit sitemaker) because I think anything more than three clicks does peoples heads in. All I want them to really do is hear my music and download the sample for three. This is possible in just two clicks and then entering their email address. feel free to have a look and download the sample yourself by the way HTTP://sibaroni.com )

However, if you want to be a web developer (and be good enough to get paid to do it) you really need to know HTML.

If you want to do shit that looks cool then you need to get your head around flash http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_animation

You can make stuff look sexy as hell which can let you charge good whack if your client is after a ego wank for a website.

Flash isn't particularly good for Google rankings though and web2.0 smashes it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web2.0 so it's worth loosley getting your head around this and how S.E.O works (traditional S.E.O is dying because of the emphasis google has now placed on video and social media) Its important to understand how to get websites highly ranked (which ultimately is all anyone should want)

Get your head around these elements and your on to a winner

Personally, I'd ignore dreamweaver or similar and start with the basics.
I tend to use Notepad++ for most of my work (a slightly glorified version of basic notepad)

There might be better sites out there, but this should cover everything: http://www.w3schools.com/
I'd start with looking at basic html/css and try to get your head around that.
Once you have got used to putting together basic pages you can start developing your skills.

As for the funds, I don't know whether you'll need to spend anything really. Most of it will just be the time you put into learning and practising.
There is so much free material on the internet, I don't think there'll be anything you want to do that you can't find a guide/video for online.

As others have suggested, you're best starting off with HTML and CSS, both are pretty much essentials.

After that you might want to move onto a language like PHP. By this point you'll probably want to set up a server on your own pc, or buy some cheap hosting, so you can tinker around with things yourself (it's best to learn by example).

For the design side of things, Photoshop is pretty important in my opinion.

There's a lot of stuff to take in, I don't think it's something you can get really good at in a short space of time

Start with Dreamweaver for Dummies. PC World will have on. About a tenner but will be the best tenner you'll spend.

Thanks mate

My advice would be to focus on HTML5 because that is very much going to be the primary platform for the foreseeable future as HTML5 essentially sits across all platforms so will become universal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5

Dreamweaver (and other WYSIWYG type of options) are great for regular folks like me that need to build sites on a one off basis

(My site for example is deliberately simple (i just used the moonfruit sitemaker) because I think anything more than three clicks does peoples heads in. All I want them to really do is hear my music and download the sample for three. This is possible in just two clicks and then entering their email address. feel free to have a look and download the sample yourself by the way HTTP://sibaroni.com )

However, if you want to be a web developer (and be good enough to get paid to do it) you really need to know HTML.

If you want to do shit that looks cool then you need to get your head around flash http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_animation

You can make stuff look sexy as hell which can let you charge good whack if your client is after a ego wank for a website.

Flash isn't particularly good for Google rankings though and web2.0 smashes it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web2.0 so it's worth loosley getting your head around this and how S.E.O works (traditional S.E.O is dying because of the emphasis google has now placed on video and social media) Its important to understand how to get websites highly ranked (which ultimately is all anyone should want)

Get your head around these elements and your on to a winner

Would you consider myself just starting off with a html5 course?
Do you know where I can do a full course?

Personally, I'd ignore dreamweaver or similar and start with the basics.
I tend to use Notepad++ for most of my work (a slightly glorified version of basic notepad)

There might be better sites out there, but this should cover everything: http://www.w3schools.com/
I'd start with looking at basic html/css and try to get your head around that.
Once you have got used to putting together basic pages you can start developing your skills.

As for the funds, I don't know whether you'll need to spend anything really. Most of it will just be the time you put into learning and practising.
There is so much free material on the internet, I don't think there'll be anything you want to do that you can't find a guide/video for online.

Thanks for the advice.
I have £2000 available for a course level 3 and above.

As others have suggested, you're best starting off with HTML and CSS, both are pretty much essentials.

After that you might want to move onto a language like PHP. By this point you'll probably want to set up a server on your own pc, or buy some cheap hosting, so you can tinker around with things yourself (it's best to learn by example).

For the design side of things, Photoshop is pretty important in my opinion.

There's a lot of stuff to take in, I don't think it's something you can get really good at in a short space of time

Thanks, where Can i find these html and css courses?

Personally, I'd ignore dreamweaver or similar and start with the basics.
I tend to use Notepad++ for most of my work (a slightly glorified version of basic notepad)

There might be better sites out there, but this should cover everything: http://www.w3schools.com/
I'd start with looking at basic html/css and try to get your head around that.
Once you have got used to putting together basic pages you can start developing your skills.

As for the funds, I don't know whether you'll need to spend anything really. Most of it will just be the time you put into learning and practising.
There is so much free material on the internet, I don't think there'll be anything you want to do that you can't find a guide/video for online.

Thanks for the advice.
I have £2000 available for a course level 3 and above.

I have no idea about the courses I'm afraid, as I taught myself (with the help of the internet).

Personally I think unless the course was of good quality, and was a modern syllabus it might be a bit of a waste.
Lots I've seen before tend to use things like dreamweaver, which in all honesty isn't the best way to go.

Before spending money on a course I'd try and get to grips with the basics using the w3schools site I mentioned previously.
I wish I'd done that straight away rather than trying to use programmes like dreamweaver.

Personally, I'd ignore dreamweaver or similar and start with the basics.
I tend to use Notepad++ for most of my work (a slightly glorified version of basic notepad)

There might be better sites out there, but this should cover everything: http://www.w3schools.com/
I'd start with looking at basic html/css and try to get your head around that.
Once you have got used to putting together basic pages you can start developing your skills.

As for the funds, I don't know whether you'll need to spend anything really. Most of it will just be the time you put into learning and practising.
There is so much free material on the internet, I don't think there'll be anything you want to do that you can't find a guide/video for online.

Thanks for the advice.
I have £2000 available for a course level 3 and above.

I have no idea about the courses I'm afraid, as I taught myself (with the help of the internet).

Personally I think unless the course was of good quality, and was a modern syllabus it might be a bit of a waste.
Lots I've seen before tend to use things like dreamweaver, which in all honesty isn't the best way to go.

Before spending money on a course I'd try and get to grips with the basics using the w3schools site I mentioned previously.
I wish I'd done that straight away rather than trying to use programmes like dreamweaver.

This is good advice.

Cheers for all the advice lads