Hey guys,

I have been struggling with this issue for a while. I'm fluent at HTML, CSS and I know a ton of PHP. However, when it comes to designing and laying out a site I'm terrible. Do you guys have any suggestions or tutorials to help me get better? If you could let me know that would be great!

Thanks

Read some books.

Sitepoint is a good start.

"The Principles of Beautiful Web Design" by Jason Beaird

I like to visit sites that feature nicely designed websites like http://thebestdesigns.com/. Try to dissect how those pages are laid out, how spacing is used around text, colors, what the trends are, etc.

When starting a new design, visit http://kuler.adobe.com/ and find a nice color scheme. That is very important. Extensive graphics aren't always needed for a good design, you can do a lot with the right colors.

Text is a big issue. Choose your paragraph colors, heading colors, etc. carefully so they all work well together and within the whole color scheme of the design.

Most of all, subscribe to many web design blogs that feature these good designs. Smashing magazine(http://www.smashingmagazine.com/) is a great one.

I also suggest: http://css-tricks.com/excercise-to-g...at-web-design/

Good luck.

I would just suggest making some mock-ups using photoshop or GIMP. If you PM me some .psd files or a .jpg or any format of a mock-up of a website, I will give you some pointers and critic it for you if you so desire.

Some helpful websites to look at are:
http://blog.plasticmind.com/design/c...-in-photoshop/
http://www.photoshoplab.com/website-...ckup-tips.html

and I would keep sampling around and seeing how you like it.

Also for some more step-by-step to create a nice end result check out some of the following:
http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...s-and-results/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...-in-photoshop/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...d-backgrounds/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...-in-photoshop/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...er-at-nettuts/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...-from-scratch/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...-from-scratch/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/in...ebsite-layout/

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/de...design-effect/

http://www.tutorial9.net/photoshop/c...-in-photoshop/

Those should be pretty helpful at least understanding some good design.

Also I found this other article, I haven't checked it, but I am sure that it has some of the same that I have listed above, because it is by PSDTuts which had almost all of those tutorials:

http://psd.tutsplus.com/articles/web/45-step-by-step-tutorials-on-web-design-with-photoshop/

If you can code then you are already there. One way to get a good inspiration would be to visit http://www.monstertemplates.com from there you can get all kinds of ideas for layouts.
For the graphic tutorials the above sites mentioned are good for this. I would throw in one other however and this would be http://www.deviantart.com

Hi pdpullmn612,

They already provide lots of links for web design tutorials, but you could still add this site below for your reference. Take a peek, feel free to visit it.

http://www.aksi.net/website-design-tutorial.htm

Hope this helps.

Grab some free templates, or buy some. It'll be less long than learning all webdesign stuff, especially if you don't have any talent in this at start.

Originally Posted by annuairedesign

Grab some free templates, or buy some. It'll be less long than learning all webdesign stuff, especially if you don't have any talent in this at start.

I would disagree. It isn't very hard to get good at it with a little practice. Free templates are bad because really that is how you are showing off yourself (as cheap). Buying templates is not unique. Also you can get a good job if you become good at it.

You can read tutorials, watch video tutorials, read books, take classes and do anything else you can think of to learn design but I honestly feel you can't learn how to be creative. I feel this is something your born with just like some people are better readers, writers and many other things. You cant just learn design.

1. You need to determine what software you will be using.
Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, Flash, Other?
2. Go to http://www.google.com
You must think for yourself. Only you know how you learn the best.
3. Enter some strings into google that might get you the results your seeking.
"[software] tutorials" or "web design [software] tutorials".
Not very good with google strings and don't understand how it works?
http://www.googletutor.com/google-manual/

Discovering design is something that can't really be taught by throwing links at you. It's a journey of googling tutorials and learning the techniques they use to come up with your own unique art. Follow a tutorial that looks interesting and focus on learning the technique(s).

Originally Posted by Kelevraco

If you can code then you are already there.

I don't think logic and creativity always go hand in hand. There are some people who aren't just cut out to be creatives and vice versa.

To the OP, I don't mean to put you off - I guess you just need to follow the resources provided by those above.

If you're an excellent coder than you must have put in the effort to become one, so replicate the focus.

very informative..thanks!!!i am new here and so much i can learn yet

Originally Posted by NewBreed

1. You need to determine what software you will be using.
Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, Flash, Other?
2. Go to http://www.google.com
You must think for yourself. Only you know how you learn the best.
3. Enter some strings into google that might get you the results your seeking.
"[software] tutorials" or "web design [software] tutorials".
Not very good with google strings and don't understand how it works?
http://www.googletutor.com/google-manual/

Discovering design is something that can't really be taught by throwing links at you. It's a journey of googling tutorials and learning the techniques they use to come up with your own unique art. Follow a tutorial that looks interesting and focus on learning the technique(s).

I definitely agree with this. If you aren't ready to spend all of the money on those programs all you need to do is use Notepad ++ and Gimp and you will be just as good off.

Really you don't even need to enter "Web design [software] tutorials" I would just enter in "Creative web design tutorials" Or just hang out around PSDTuts where they make being creative simple (well at least try).

Also check out this website to make sure that you aren't following any of these bad mistakes: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

If you are fluent in HTML, CSS, and PHP and you aren't very creative, I would recommend working more on backend stuff, I am sure that you could come up with some unique PHP scripts, or CMSs, CRMs, etc.

Well good luck to you.


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Edit:

Just remember:

If there is a will there is a way.

I always thought Tutorialized (http://www.tutorialized.com/) was nice but now they have way to many advertisements on their website. They still offer great services.