{"id":128976,"date":"2019-04-03T16:50:42","date_gmt":"2019-04-03T16:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=128976"},"modified":"2025-07-01T22:08:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T05:08:37","slug":"learn-web-design-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/learn-web-design-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Best ways to learn web design from home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134278\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/LEarning-design.jpg\" alt=\"Web Design\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re interested in learning web design, there is a long list of options. You can take the time to go back to school, take classes online, or look toward the online community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">With web design, formal education <strong>doesn&#8217;t offer immunity against falling behind on industry standards.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Those new to the game don\u2019t have the same benefits as their peers with existing knowledge, but that should not discourage you. Just remember, <strong>learning on your own isn\u2019t out of the question.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here, we&#8217;ll look at some of the skills that the modern web designer needs in order to compete. We also can tell you where to level up your know-how.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\">What aspiring web designers need to know<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you want to pursue a career in web design or development, there are a few components that make up the required skillset:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><strong>Coding\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 HTML and CSS are essential, even if you\u2019re planning on sticking to the visual stuff. Knowing how to code makes it easier to make changes during the design process. These days it\u2019s becoming less acceptable to pass off a web design to a developer without code.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><strong>Design theory\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 Design theory teaches the basics of design, shape, rhythm, color, typography, balance, and design fundamentals.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><strong>UX\/UI (usability)\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 Aesthetics aren\u2019t everything. Instead, you need to understand how to design something that works well for users.<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><strong>Photoshop\/Illustrator\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 The Adobe programs have become the backbone of web design. These pieces of software are required knowledge across the industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2018\/11\/freelancer-worker-woman-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">7 easy website design tips for beginners<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/website-design-tips-for-beginners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/website-design-tips-for-beginners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h2>Best ways to learn web design from home<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Udemy&#8217;s Adobe Illustrator CC MasterClass<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134234\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/Illustrator_master_class_rkwuyy.jpg\" alt=\"Illustrator Master Class\" width=\"700\" height=\"287\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.udemy.com\/illustrator-cc-masterclass\/?ranMID=39197&amp;ranEAID=vedj0cWlu2Y&amp;ranSiteID=vedj0cWlu2Y-lx50GdZRM5GRtVQ5.PQk2A&amp;LSNPUBID=vedj0cWlu2Y\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This program<\/a><\/span> aims to teach participants the techniques needed to create logos and graphics in Illustrator. Illustrator is an application that <strong>allows you to create typography, logos, icons, and illustrations.<\/strong> With 12 hours of on-demand video, you\u2019ll cover all of your basics from learning your way around the tools to advanced techniques.<\/p>\n<p>Udemy also offers <strong>classes that cover the full Adobe Suite<\/strong>, as well as one focused on Photoshop. Courses offered here range from free to a\u00a0 few hundred bucks. The Illustrator class is currently just $11.99, which is 94% off the normal price.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Gymnasium: Coding for Designers<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134208\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/Gymnasium_coding_nzrclb.jpg\" alt=\"Gymnaisum coding for designers\" width=\"700\" height=\"264\" \/>Gymnaisum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/thegymnasium.com\/courses\/GYM\/100\/0\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s1\">Coding for Designers<\/span><\/a> course is a free, self-paced intro for designers that need to learn coding.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Like MIT\u2019s intro, <strong>there\u2019s no need to bone up on HTML before enrolling.<\/strong> What\u2019s different about the Gymnasium course is it focuses\u00a0<strong>exclusively on where coding and design intersect<\/strong>. This free class teaches students how to translate graphic design to the web and troubleshoot some common problems. You\u2019ll learn page layout with CSS, receive an intro on typography for the web, and create a website with <a href=\"https:\/\/getbootstrap.com\/2.3.2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Twitter Bootstrap.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Career Foundry<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134210\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/Career_Foundry_nf4q5w.jpg\" alt=\"Career Foundry\" width=\"700\" height=\"262\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.com\/en\/courses\/become-a-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Career Foundry is a paid option<\/a><\/span>, but they\u2019re a reliable source for all things UX\/UI\/web design. The site offers a few options\u00a0\u2014 a certification in each of the previously mentioned specialties. We recommend looking through the site to see where you might need to learn the most. For those who have some art and design background, a UX certificate can bolster your career, as this area is in high demand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Career Foundry is one of the more expensive programs in this category. However, they offer a project-based curriculum that<strong> allows you to build a portfolio aimed at helping you find a job.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The course spans 10 months and includes a one-on-one mentor there to evaluate your projects daily.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">What\u2019s more, if you\u2019re on the fence, take the site\u2019s free UX short course and its\u00a0<strong>free consultation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">General Assembly<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134214\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/General_Assembly_txfm0k.jpg\" alt=\"General Assembly\" width=\"700\" height=\"297\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Like Career Foundry, <a href=\"https:\/\/generalassemb.ly\/education\/user-experience-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s1\">General Assembly<\/span><\/a> is not cheap. Still, there\u2019s a reason these boot-camp-style programs have become so popular in recent years. They offer <strong>an accelerated program designed to give you skills you can use in the workplace.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">General Assembly offers both UX design and visual design \u2014 and you\u2019ll have the option to take an accelerated one-week program. You can also spread the lessons across a few months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The curriculum combines user-interface fundamentals, web layout, and typeface design with research methods and responsive design. It\u2019s a modern approach to web design that <strong>covers user-interface and usability tactics, along with graphic design principles.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The UX curriculum covers design in a broader sense. <strong>Much of the lessons focus on information architecture, consumer research, and usability testing.<\/strong> There is a unit on visual design as well, but the focus is on a website\u2019s experience as a whole rather than just the aesthetics.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2018\/11\/code-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">4 free online courses for learning how to code<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/4-free-online-courses-for-learning-how-to-code\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/4-free-online-courses-for-learning-how-to-code\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">MIT OpenCourseWare: Introduction to Computer Science and Programming<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134220\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/MIT_Coursework_aw6pah.jpg\" alt=\"MIT Open Coursework \" width=\"700\" height=\"458\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This class may sound intimidating to those unfamiliar with coding and web development, but don&#8217;t let the name scare you.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ocw.mit.edu\/courses\/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science\/6-0001-introduction-to-computer-science-and-programming-in-python-fall-2016\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MIT\u2019s free online program<\/a> teaches beginners the ins and outs of Python, as well as computer programming basics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">While designers don\u2019t need to become experts in coding, getting comfortable with the backend activity will serve you well.\u00a0 This program isn&#8217;t necessarily design-focused. We think that <strong>the more information you can gather within the tech space, the better prepared you&#8217;ll be for digital transformation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Udacity: Intro to HTML and CSS<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-134221\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2021\/04\/Udacity_yhs6tw.jpg\" alt=\"Udacity\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.udacity.com\/course\/intro-to-html-and-css--ud001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">This online intro<\/a> is a self-paced, three-week course designed to teach you the<span class=\"s1\"> basics of CSS and HTML.<\/span>\u00a0It <strong>will make things easier for you if you end up working as a designer<\/strong>. In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of web development, how to style a website with CSS, and CSS syntax, units, and selectors.<\/p>\n<h2>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>This info might be tech-heavy, but the design world is changing<strong>. No longer is it enough to have amazing artistic abilities and a knack for fonts<\/strong>; you need to have a strong command of the web from usability to CSS.<\/p>\n<p>While we get that programs like General Assembly and Career Foundry can be pricey, they can be helpful for those looking to learn fast. If you&#8217;re just starting out or need to round out your skillset, take a few of these low-cost or free options. Later, you can decide if you need to invest more in your new career path.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2019\/02\/coding-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">Top 3 apps to learn coding<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/top-3-apps-to-learn-coding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Read Now \u25ba<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/top-3-apps-to-learn-coding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you might be a beginner or a master, these resources can help you hone your craft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9161,"featured_media":134194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[2441,3150],"tags":[1420,1745,1781],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-128976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","category-uncategorized","tag-design","tag-learning","tag-online-learning"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9161"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=128976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":326310,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128976\/revisions\/326310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=128976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=128976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=128976"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=128976"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=128976"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=128976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}