Coding for Designers

LEARN HOW TO BE A WEB DESIGNER THAT DEVELOPERS LOVE

Students will learn how to translate graphic design to the web; about common pitfalls many print designers face when moving to the web; the basics of how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work together; how to prototype designs into working web pages; and how to troubleshoot layout and code problems when they come up.

COURSE OUTLINE

Lesson 1: How Web Design Is Different From Print Design

An introduction to design principles on the web. We’ll explore examples and discuss context, but won’t begin coding yet.

Lesson 2: “Hello World,” Coding Pages, And Fixing Problems

An introduction to coding HTML5 and CSS. We’ll set up our tools and start building pages.

Lesson 3: Page Layout And Color With CSS

A deep-dive into CSS and how to merge visual design with website language. We’ll cover layout boxes, shapes, color, and the basics of page layout.

Lesson 4: Typography On The Web

A focused introduction to what can (and can’t) be done with type on web pages. We’ll cover typefaces and licensing, sizing type, leading and kerning, and drop shadows.

Lesson 5: Create A Mobile Website

The “mobile first” philosophy and why it’s useful for web designers. We’ll cover buttons, links, and scrolling layouts.

Lesson 6: Create A Complete Website With Twitter Bootstrap

It’s time to apply for the final project: building a desktop website from a comp with the help of the very popular Twitter Bootstrap framework.

PREREQUISITES

5+ Years professional graphic/web design experience (page layout, color, typography, visual communication).
Expertise with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, or equivalent graphic design software.
No coding experience required (in fact, if you know how to code, you might be bored).