Web design: a New Career?????

Question

I'm needing to change careers & it seems to me that Web design would be the way to go.
I have some computer experience & minimal qualification (ECDL). I used to be a nurse & did most of my pharmacy degree. I learn very quickly & well & am a keen amateur artist.
I'd like to know what you think would be the best web design course I can take in the UK. I will need to improve my IT skills to the point where I can progress further.

Answer 1

To be perfectly frank, I have yet to see one college
course in the UK that will teach you anything but
standard formulaic stuff. They can barely keep up
as it is! ;o)

Having said that, if you flourish better in a formal
environment, and especially if you intend going after
a job with another company, then having that bit of
paper in your hand will carry some weight.

If you are a self-motivator, then a good book or two
from your local library would maybe stand you in
better stead. Combine this with all the practical
examples out there on the web, and you'd progress
quite quickly.

As to a program to use? Well, that depends on which
direction you are coming from, and skills you think
you already possess which could be developed a little
further.

To learn the ins and outs, wherefores and whys, then
start coding with a simple text, programmers, or
HTML editor.

If coming from a purely graphics or artistic angle,
then try graphics manipulation software, such as
Flash or a Flash-alike program.

The mid-ground is a mixture of the two.

Everyone will have their own idea of the best program
to use. Only you can decide what is actually the best
program for you. And this is usually a case of trial
and error.

Random links given below.

HTH .. a little!


C

Answer 2

Take a course in Web Design at a local college, this will get you a qualification that will help when you are trying to find a job.

A major help is the ability to read and write your own coding in HTML CSS etc:

If you are thinking of going into business for yourself, there are loads of web sites on the Internet that give good instructions on building your own sites.

Have a look at all the previous questions that have been asked here about Web Design.

Answer 3

I am currently going for a dual degree in application development and webdesign/programming. I would recommend if you actually would want to career in web design to learn some of the following: HTML CSS at least be able to understand and write it from scratch. XHTML javascript php or asp sql and server side programming. Thats a must if you plan on getting a job in todays web design world. Of course you want to learn dreamweaver to make putting one together a lot easier. Flash, photoshop, imageready and pretty much the entire macromedia and adobe suite is a must for tools of the trade. Then you need to be fluent in what you do and fast as well. If you can do that then i would say sure go ahead and look for work if not then stick with the degree your going for. The market is competitive as ever and a good majority of teenagers in highschool can already make basic websites.

Answer 4

I'd advise against it for the simple facts that:

1: you say you're a keen amature artist - there are PLENTY of people out their looking for jobs in web design who have DEGREES in design. People forget this is a subject you have to fight to get a position in college for to study for four years.

2: you say you have 'some' computer experience - again there are LOTS of people out there with a great deal of experience in computer programming and code engineering looking for jobs.

3: the job market is saturated and the value of web designers is becoming more and more diminished all the time. When I started out I could charge £4000 for a simple basic website, now I'm lucky to get £500, as a salary I could get £25,000 without even attending an interview, now I see people being offered starting salaries at junior level for £13,000 and they don't last in the position long as employers come to realise that a junior can't know what they need them to know to operate in the ever changing environment.

It CAN be a great job but right now I'd say look somewhere else - rarely a day goes by I don't wish I'd become a plumber.

Answer 5

I've thought about trying to do something like that too. I don't know about courses, but I bought the Dummy's Guide to Web Design and it's really useful. It starts at the basics and works up to actual HTML scripts etc. Also has a disc with a few web design software programs. Maybe that would help you too? Good luck!

Answer 6

The only way to learn it is to be fascinated by it, and to dive in yourself. I should know - I did the same when I was 15 and now I'm 25 and still working as a freelancer.

You should aim to understand the way things work rather than repeating them by rote. Start using a tool like dreamweaver to see how it builds the actual code from your actions - but aim to be writing the code yourself within a year.

Learn voraciously and be prepared for some difficult bumps in the road - sign up to some forums or other online communities where people will be able to help you with your questions.

And, good luck!

Answer 7

To be perfectly honest, there is an awful lot you need to know to be a web designer. You need to have a good knowledge in html, css and how to code for different browsers, because they dont all render pages the same, even if they should! then theres client side programming, eg javascript. You would have to have a good idea of what makes a good site (navigability, accessability) and importantly it needs to be web standards complient.
You would aso need to be proficient with graphics programs eg photoshop if you intend to do the graphics yourself.
I looked into this myself a few years ago and the amount there was to learn put me off.
If your interested, the company I looked into was www.computeach.co.uk
But, be warned, the course, although thorough, was very expensive.

Answer 8

this site is good for basics all free,
http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_primary.asp

I use front page, as a starter, from what yahoo answers have been saying it looks like dreamweaver 8 is the way to go for more advanced webite designs.

Answer 9

did "most of your pharmacy degree". Come on now.

If it is true, I would suggest finishing.