Web Design Class

learn web design online

Web Design I Learn a systematic professional approach to Web design. You'll use site maps, wireframes, HTML/CSS layouts, comps, color palettes, usability tests, and other tools and concepts to make sure your designs hit the mark. Students entering this class are expected to have a basic competence in HTML/CSS design, Photoshop or Fireworks, and Dreamweaver. Building upon those skills, students will complete four portfolio projects that challenge their Web design skills and build an understanding of how to manage Web design projects in a professional context.

On this page: enrollment details | instructor | class projects and objectives | prerequisites

Class Title: Web Design I Start Date: Classes start daily. Enroll today and gain immediate access. Class Length: Six months of access to class materials and instructor feedback. Instructor: Christopher Schmitt Other details: Self-paced, online, 24 access to online learning environment

THIS CLASS IS OFFERED AT SESSIONS COLLEGE: get the details (Check the syllabus at Sessions College for updated class information.)

Class Instructor Bio: Christopher Schmitt is the founder of Heatvision, a small new media publishing and design firm. Christopher is an award-winning Web designer who has been working with the Web since 1993. Christopher earned a Masters in Communication for Interactive and New Communication Technologies while obtaining a graduate certificate in Project Management from FSU's College of Communication. As a sought-after speaker and trainer, Christopher regularly demonstrates the use and benefits of practical standards-based designs. Christopher is the Co-Lead of the Adobe Task Force for the Web Standards Project (WaSP) and author of numerous Web design and digital imaging books, including Adapting to Web Standards: CSS and Ajax for Big Sites, and CSS Cookbook. Christopher has also written for New Architect Magazine, A List Apart, Digital Web, and Web Reference. LEFT: Image from Web Design I. Master professional Web design skills.

Class Projects and Objectives:

This online training class is packed with information for Web design projects. Students will meet the following objectives:

• Develop and present a well-researched competitive analysis for a Web site project.
• Create and present an orderly, well-structured information architecture for a Web site project.
• Create and present clear and cleanly designed page-level wireframes indicating the layout of content and features on main site pages
• Create valid one, two, or three-column CSS layouts for a Web site project.
• Develop a collage-style mood board to define the personality of a Web site.
• Develop and and implement an appropriate color scheme for a client.
• Use best practice approaches to incorporating JPEG, GIF, and PNG imagery in conjunction with CSS.
• Use CSS to specify and layout typography for main Web page applications, including titles, headers, and body text.
• Use CSS to precisely manipulate column width, alignment, paragraph formatting, blockquotes, and initial caps.
• Follow basic principles of usability in page layout and navigation design.
• Perform a usability test to assess the effectiveness of Web site structure or functionality.
• Design an artist's portfolio site, making sure important objectives are met and using a DOM-based technique for presenting graphics.