Web Design Forums

TimG88 · 15-11-2006, 21:12

Hey I was wondering if I could get some of your guy's opinions? Im wanting to go to college for Web Design...I know some of your basic HTML and im pretty decent with photoshop but could use some work on the HTML part. I was wondering if it's worth going for a associate's degree or just go for the certificate. Im looking to get into a entry level posistion for now. I appreciate the feedback.

jase1000 · 15-11-2006, 22:52

You need to learn a lot more than HTML (the basics in an evening) to be a marketable prospect. Do you want to be a designer,a coder or both?

To be a coder:

XHTML / CSS / Javascript / PHP / MySQL / XML / Flash (maybe)

And if you're not any good at design then you'll still need to be working with a designer:

Photoshop / Illustrator and also HTML / CSS (you need to know that what you're designing can be built)...

Not wanting to sound like a wet blanket but just be aware that this web design malarky isn't the cakewalk it might first appear.

freelancr · 16-11-2006, 04:48

Tbh with you if you want to get a grounding in web design/development, then a college course might be a good idea if it is just for like a year or something.

But don't waste 2 years at college, and 3 years at uni, and a shit load of money learning a load of crap about tables and ASP, that won't be of much use to you when you get into the industry.

If you want to be a developer, ditch the college idea all together. Do a bit of research and get some books. The web development side of things is moving far too quickly for a lot of people to keep up with, never mind the colleges & universities.

mike_m · 16-11-2006, 05:36

Quote:

Not wanting to sound like a wet blanket but just be aware that this web design malarky isn't the cakewalk it might first appear.

Too true.

From my experience, any degree centred on 'web design' will be total shit. Anything you learn will be outdated even before you start, because the lecturers don't actively work in the industry. Those than can, do, those... etc.

You're better off learning the languages and software you need in your spare time, and doing a degree that will be useful for a whole host of careers, not just web centred.

are you better at the art/creative side - in which case, do an art or design degree, or the development/programming side? Do a computer studies degree. Do you like the business aspect? Do a business studies course. Mix some other subject's modules in, and try and make it as rounded as possible.

drag20 · 19-11-2006, 10:48

I would completely agree guys. Do not take any degree nor the course. I would just add that you don't need to know all the stuff to be either a coder or a designer and you can be more successful compared to some of the designers who understand all of it.

Dusteh · 19-11-2006, 14:27

You can get away with bodging things, because theres a good chance the client won't notice, at least not until after hes paid the bill.

Oh wait... sorry, drag20 already said that :p

timotool · 22-11-2006, 19:10

There are plenty of big companies favor applicants with college degree. It's not all about being book smart. Your boss would like to know if you can function as a valued member of society. They want to know if you can communicate, write reports, and make presentations. The fastest way of proving that quality is a diploma.

Let's say there are two guys applying for the same job.
Let's say they are virtually identical in all aspects except one has a high school diploma and the other has a university diploma. Which one would you hire?

I know some of you will say "I would prefer high school grad" just to make your point.

bigperm · 24-11-2006, 22:58

a degree will only be worth its weight in gold if you want to design for a corporate design job. If you have no personality you will need one as well. It may sound harsh, but a designer with a good portfolio that shows their good personality will get a job over some life-less body with a degree and no skills.

If you are motivated teach yourself and hunt down a job, network and get going, the sky is the limit!

hawken · 28-11-2006, 01:00

I just thought I'd chime in and agree that webdesign courses are a waste of your time and money.

If you really want to do something useful, take an interactive multimedia course and learn markup in your spare time, this way you'll still be on top when it comes to design, but have the code knowhow to back it up.

wavereel · 03-02-2007, 15:13

Don't ever go to college to find out how to do this web design stuff, I highly recommend getting a book and studying it yourself, I went to college for an advertising degree and I got a minor in graphic arts and what I learned just studying web design by myself was so much more valuable.

15-11-2006, 21:12	#1 (permalink)
TimG88 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	Web Design Certificate?? Hey I was wondering if I could get some of your guy's opinions? Im wanting to go to college for Web Design...I know some of your basic HTML and im pretty decent with photoshop but could use some work on the HTML part. I was wondering if it's worth going for a associate's degree or just go for the certificate. Im looking to get into a entry level posistion for now. I appreciate the feedback.

15-11-2006, 22:52	#2 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,162	You need to learn a lot more than HTML (the basics in an evening) to be a marketable prospect. Do you want to be a designer,a coder or both? To be a coder: XHTML / CSS / Javascript / PHP / MySQL / XML / Flash (maybe) And if you're not any good at design then you'll still need to be working with a designer: Photoshop / Illustrator and also HTML / CSS (you need to know that what you're designing can be built)... Not wanting to sound like a wet blanket but just be aware that this web design malarky isn't the cakewalk it might first appear. __________________ Stand Free

28-11-2006, 01:00	#9 (permalink)
hawken Cornish Pasty Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 2,711	I just thought I'd chime in and agree that webdesign courses are a waste of your time and money. If you really want to do something useful, take an interactive multimedia course and learn markup in your spare time, this way you'll still be on top when it comes to design, but have the code knowhow to back it up. __________________ my blog & portfolio sexy combined package

03-02-2007, 15:13	#10 (permalink)
wavereel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 16	Don't ever go to college! Don't ever go to college to find out how to do this web design stuff, I highly recommend getting a book and studying it yourself, I went to college for an advertising degree and I got a minor in graphic arts and what I learned just studying web design by myself was so much more valuable.

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16-11-2006, 04:48	#3 (permalink)
freelancr Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,180	Tbh with you if you want to get a grounding in web design/development, then a college course might be a good idea if it is just for like a year or something. But don't waste 2 years at college, and 3 years at uni, and a shit load of money learning a load of crap about tables and ASP, that won't be of much use to you when you get into the industry. If you want to be a developer, ditch the college idea all together. Do a bit of research and get some books. The web development side of things is moving far too quickly for a lot of people to keep up with, never mind the colleges & universities.

19-11-2006, 10:48	#5 (permalink)
drag20 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	I would completely agree guys. Do not take any degree nor the course. I would just add that you don't need to know all the stuff to be either a coder or a designer and you can be more successful compared to some of the designers who understand all of it.

19-11-2006, 14:27	#6 (permalink)
Dusteh Sir digby chicken caesar Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 4,853	You can get away with bodging things, because theres a good chance the client won't notice, at least not until after hes paid the bill. Oh wait... sorry, drag20 already said that :p

22-11-2006, 19:10	#7 (permalink)
timotool Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	There are plenty of big companies favor applicants with college degree. It's not all about being book smart. Your boss would like to know if you can function as a valued member of society. They want to know if you can communicate, write reports, and make presentations. The fastest way of proving that quality is a diploma. Let's say there are two guys applying for the same job. Let's say they are virtually identical in all aspects except one has a high school diploma and the other has a university diploma. Which one would you hire? I know some of you will say "I would prefer high school grad" just to make your point.

24-11-2006, 22:58	#8 (permalink)
bigperm Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 30	a degree will only be worth its weight in gold if you want to design for a corporate design job. If you have no personality you will need one as well. It may sound harsh, but a designer with a good portfolio that shows their good personality will get a job over some life-less body with a degree and no skills. If you are motivated teach yourself and hunt down a job, network and get going, the sky is the limit!

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