Beyond the Basics in Web Design
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By Gabby Hyman
gabby.hyman@hqpublications.com
Design Programs Columnist
There's a joke going around that if you need a website done, call any high school student. It's doubtful that any company with a sense of branding, corporate identity, established user profiles and a comprehensive marketing plan would think that just anyone could program their site.
While it's true today that many companies hire web designers to build or maintain sites using WYSIWYG programs such as Dreamweaver or FrontPage, you'll still need to know basic HTML code to get a well-paying, long-term web design job.
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Getting the Fundamental Skills
There are campus-based and online web design schools that can teach you the essential fundamentals of graphic design, web publishing, HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), and other basic skills. Certificate web design programs from dedicated business and computer schools can also bring you up to speed on state-of-the-art web design software.
Most programs show you how the code works below the graphical user interface. A solid foundation in a graphic design program, such as Photoshop and ImageReady, is also essential for most web design jobs.
Taking Yourself to the Top
To really prepare for a lifelong career in the field, however, you'll need to know advanced design programming. At the minimum, you'll need to learn about CSS attributes, image mapping; web server basics, the foundations of DHTML, and Javascript. Most web design schools have an expanded curriculum that offers server-side technologies like CGI and ASP scripting, JSP and, more frequently today, PHP.
Get prepared for an exciting design career. At The Art Institutes, you'll receive hands-on training from industry professionals, plus you'll build your portfolio.
It sounds like a lot to know - and it is - but you can take entry-level design jobs and continue learning at your own pace while you grow into a fulfilling career.
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has written for print and online media for more than 20 years. He has created online content for eToyds, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Avaya, and Nissan UK. He has also been a web consultant to the Governer of California. As an author of fiction, journalism, and poetry, Gabby is a former English professor for the University of Illinois, University of Alaska, and Old Dominion University. He holds an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Alabama.
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