My List of Best Free Web Design Tutorial Sites on the Web

Having been around on the internet for a while now…trying to teach myself web design, I’ve kept track of some of the best tutorial sites that have helped me greatly. I have therefore presented them here for you.

Before you dive in, understand that becoming a web designer is a step-by-step process—you’ve to crawl before you walk and then run, so you don’t have to learn it all at once.

So start by…

4.1 Understanding the Basics of Web Design

What is referred to as the basics of web design here are a few preliminary information you should be acquainted with before you plunge in fully. This is important as they introduce you to the field of web design proper and also help you to build a solid foundation for the next stage of your learning.

This includes such things as: domain name, web host, color theory, layout and good design principles. The under listed sites give you this firm foundation:

http://www.websitedesignbasics.com/
This site helps you learn the principles of building successful websites—everything ranging from colour theory, to typography, to layout tips, and much more.

http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/category/basics/
Web Design from Scratch is owned by Ben Hunt—one of the big names in the web design world. This site features tutorials that give you wonderful insights into the core thinking that supports the design of effective and usable web sites.

http://2planawebsite.com/
2 Plan a Website is one of my favourite websites owned by Lisa Irby. If you can absorb the preliminary information on this site, you will have a huge advantage because most people rush and don't take the time to plan and educate themselves before they begin.

http://www.2createawebsite.com/
2 Create a Website is another of my favourite website—also owned by Lisa Irby. If your goal is to make money with a website or blog, absorb the content on this site like a sponge.

 http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
Web Pages that Suck is a website that collects and displays a list of poorly designed websites on the internet. You can learn good web design by looking at the bad ones.
 http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml


The Site Wizard is really intended for the beginner and layperson, taking you step by step through the whole process from the very beginning.


This should be okay. Now, let’s move on to…


4.2 Learning HTML: The Building Block of Web Design


HTML is not really difficult to learn. It’s just that there are so many things to learn. Fortunately, there are also a whole lot of resources that help simply the process.


With HTML you can create your own Web site. These tutorial sites are the best you can ever get on the internet. They teach you everything about HTML. They are free and you will enjoy it.


· http://www.w3schools.com/html/


· http://www.html.net/tutorials/html/


· www.htmldog.com


· www.htmltutorials.ca


· www.htmlbasictutor.ca


· www.expression-web-tutorial.com


4.3 Learning How to Apply CSS to HTML


The following websites give you all you need to learn and master CSS for free.


· www.html.net/css


· www.w3chools.com/css


· www.htmldog.com/guides/cssbeginner


· www.cssbasics.com


· www.htmlgoodies.com/beyond/css


· http://www.csstutorial.net/


· www.positioningiseverything.net










4.4 Taking Advantage of Web Design Forums


With online web design communities, you can never get stuck. Once you post your problem or difficulty in these forums, you are sure of getting useful suggestions almost immediately. All for free.


Take out time to visit each. Read the rules and abide by them. Read up on others’ post and suggestion. You’ll find a gem of solutions to your own situation than you can get in any web design school. Serious!


· www.websitebabble.com


· http://tnbforum.com


· www.webdeveloper.com/forum


· www.webdevforums.com


· www.killersites.com/community/






4.5 Top Web Design Video Tutorial sites


There are only a few websites on the internet where you can really find complete free quality downloadable video tutorials on web design.


Here are 3 of my favourite sites where you can download a full course tutorial:


· www.1stoptutorials.com


· http://thenewboston.org


· www.phpacademy.org






Whereas the ones below are devoted to video tutorials in general, a quick search with the search box, will surely lead you to links containing answers to your query:


· www.youtube.com


· www.nettuts.com


· www.tutvid.com


Note: I recommend Youtube among the four sites above. There’s no topic you can think of that you can not find on youtube. By simply typing a keyword on the site’s search box, you’ll get a lot of useful tutorials than you can harvest.