For all types of Website Designers, whether they are a web design jedi or simply a padawan in training, one of the most effective methods of improving their website design skillset is simply put, experimentation and practice.
With most designers at Creare being experienced in the field for over 5 years prior to joining us, it’s easy to forget about our roots, how exactly we learnt the skills that we now rely on every day.
Personally, my top method was to simply to look at websites that inspired me and then recreate these in Photoshop, using some of the many great tutorial websites available online along the way. Of course, my method is one of many, but the core philosophy is the same, practice, practice and more practice.
If you’re a budding web designer, or even an experienced one, we’ve highlighted below some of the best tutorial websites that have helped us over the years.
WebMonkey
Ever since it was associated with Lycos, we’ve been using WebMonkey to help us with the latest in web design tips and tricks written by fellow web designers.
W3 Schools
Previously mentioned in my CSS Resources for Web Designers blog post, we consistently refer to W3C schools at Creare if we need a quick reminder on any aspect of XHTML or CSS.
Tizag
Recommended by fellow blog post writer, James Kemp, Tizag offers a range of tutorials perfect for web design beginners to brush up on their skillset.
A List Apart
If it wasn’t for a A List Apart, I’d likely still be coding using Tables and pulling my hair out over using the appropriate number of ‘ColSpan’. Regardless, it’s a fantastic website that’s a great resource for any designer.
Further Reading
If you’re unaware, every week we publish a Web Design Video Blog which can further build upon your existing Web Design skills. Alternatively, if you’re looking for great free professional web design software, read my recent blog post on Open-Source Website Design Software.
While you’re at it, why not apply for Creare’s Graduate Open-Day 2010?
W3 Schools seems to be the one I found most helpfull when looking for some insights.
I usually use W3 Schools to find out what the most used internet browser is in certain months, so I know what percentage of people use each internet browser.