Becoming a Web Designer takes Passion, Practice & Patience

[Spike90]

@CJFRANKS7 to be honest anything takes a years or two to get good. If you have passion you'll learn quick, and you won't look at it like I'll be good in a year, you'll be saying I'm getting better now.

[wadiha22]

id just like to say that any startup designer should visit "tuts+" and all there sub sites. :) your vids r great

[CJFRANKS7]

I wanted to get into web design because i liked the idea and wanted a job to help pay for college... but if it will take a few years to get good...idk... hmmmm

[DarkSourceP]

PracticePracticePracticePracti­cePractice yeah!

[ogdshee]

Thanks for the video. It helps me to get started being a webmaster. You really are very helpful.

[deeinkc]

I have a question that I hope you don't mind answering. I am setting up a website for my friend's nonprofit org in Dreamweaver. Is there a way that I can make it to where it's hosted off of her computer instead of mine (she doesn't have Dreamweaver software)? Also, what happens if the computer that it's hosted off of crashes? I'm worried that they'll loose the whole site. This is my first time working on a site like this and I'm clueless on making the transition. Any tips? Thanks much!

[WebDesignChamp]

I've been looking all over the web for this type of video content - Really Appreciate It!

[thetechgeneration]

back when i was a beginner, i learned html,css,javascript, and actionscript in 3 days

[landysaccount]

Hi Mike.

I agree with you on being passionate, patient and above all practice. But, I think creativity is something that, I believe, you're born with. I've been trying to become good at web design but, it has taken me a long time. The main reason is that I'm not creative enough and have a lot of difficulties on starting a project on my own. I can code and "copy" basically anything I see but, I can't come up with an authentic design. I have to look around for clues and ideas in order to start.

[mlwebco]

@landysaccount That's ok, that's me you're describing. If I just try to create a design off the top of my head, I can't do it. I need to look around for a bit and get ideas, then I can create something somewhat creative. That's normal. I do agree some people are more creative than others. That's ok, but if you're like me, you just have to apply and execute on a process to design something. Check out my video on overcoming creative block... /watch?v=owV1GDsPpno

[UmeRonaldo]

@landysaccount That's my problem too i wish i had a creative designer mind 

[ruusky415]

Yeah thats true you can say that for anything its takes patience persistence and consistence

[newdesigner1]

thanks a lot for your videos!!

[mlwebco]

Thanks for your comments. Truly appreciate the feedback.

[LiVApathy]

Thank you for making these videos Mike

[MegF142857]

Enjoying your videos. -- I'd like to share a suggestion of my own. What I'm doing to learn is to help volunteer organizations in making website, which could be taking over existing site or making a new one. Can be just something simple and then add to it over time, but gives a real life content to code real life structure to help learn. Take things from blogs, tutorials, looking at web source to practice on test pages and then add to site. Also a way to see if you like doing web site work.

[mlwebco]

@MegF142857 Nice, great ideas for learning. Thanks for sharing.

[Ihit2run2]

I take a basic introduction to graphic design in my high school. Its pretty much the basics to adobe photoshop and illustrator. I knew slightly more then the basic info for illustrator and photoshop. I thought the class was going to be a joke because we started off drawing shapes and using the pen tool in illustrator. I would get it done in like 2 minutes but it took others the entire class (90 min.) but I have learned so much from that class, and i also have learned a lot on my own

[sagesdragon]

I had a very personable PS instructor who really knew his stuff...

But he had never taught a class before and spent most of his time talking about the Huskers from Nebraska(?)

I live about 72 miles one way from the college and my 1st class was at 8am - 9am. I had to stay until 6pm for the Web Graphics/Photoshop class and it ended at10pm.

He also graded on attendance for 80% of the grade. Projects 20% & no tests.

I Bought CS5 with my student discount so I did get something out of it!...lol!

[deeinkc]

@sagesdragon That's exactly what I got out of my classes -- a student discount on CS5!

[sagesdragon]

@deeinkc Add the cost of the class to the price of the CS5 software and I'm getting awfully close to the original cost of the software...lol.

But you have to admit...Photoshop ROCKS!. I love all the Adobe software so far.

Later

[deeinkc]

I really appreciate your honesty in saying that you're not a naturally creative person. It's great to learn from someone who is humble enough to admit that. Keep up the great work and thanks for all of the information you share.

[mlwebco]

@deeinkc Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

[Gogorostudios]

Your videoes are grate and realy helpfull! and this is comming from a student in norway studying WebDesign!

[mlwebco]

@Gogorostudios Much appreciated. Glad you enjoy my videos.

[sagesdragon]

I just finished a 2 years associates at State Fair Community College in

Sedalia Missouri. (Open book testing and just get us thru attitude)

I can't find a job now because I don't know enough.

I am very disappointed in what I was taught .

I found your site and just wanted to thank you for your passion and drive.

You've rekindled a spark for what I love doing and let me know it's ok to go thru college for the basics.

It's just up to me to follow my dream thru other means.

Thank You

Sage

[deeinkc]

@sagesdragon I have a similar experience having just finished a couple of community college classes in HTML and Photoshop. I can say from experience learning from folks like Michael and Lynda.com that I've learned much more on my own than in a formal classroom setting. I think it all boils down to your instructor when you're in a class...and you can't always control that. e.g. there's only one PS teacher @ my college and he sucked! I wish more companies would accept self learners as legit.

[McKinleyMediaGroup]

Great vid...... Passion, Practice & Patience.

Passion is key!!!

[NahJuskiddin]

What do you think is the best way to learn webdesign. In my school we use photoshop and dreamweaver.

but when I heard of fireworks everything seemed easier to do, instead of having issues with different sizes and such, I could just paint everything there like in photoshop and then just convert to dreamweaver

[Maxmus050]

silly and easy question but what is the standard pixel/size to make a youtube background theme for my channel?

If your working with photoshop for example.

[Fmlad]

So weird that you mentioned working in mcDonalds until you can make that move into a new profession. I have been doing webdesign (front-end & backend)

for 8 Years now.. after a year working at mcdonalds i got asked by a media studio to join them.

Worked there for 4 years and the company went bust :( I have been trying to do freelance on the side, I have only had one client, could you possible give me some advice on places that its acceptable to promote yourself as a web-d to get noticed?

[WallyBhoy]

Great!!!

[MBdigitalworld]

Mike thank you for this video!!you are a big help in difficult moments and also a big inspiration!Keep up the great work!

Thank you again..

Mario :)

[Ridder7NO]

Thumbs up! I love watching your videos. Keep up the good work! ;-)