The need for quarantine and self-isolation drove most people home, and if some professions involve the ability to work remotely, then there is a category of workers who would not be hindered by additional earnings. In our article, we'll help you find the best online web design courses for 2020.
Content
What is web design
Web design is the offshoot of web development that is responsible for the interface of a website or application. That is, this type of development does not concern the appearance or arrangement of pictures, it regulates the convenience of the user interaction with the site's functionality. Accordingly, a web designer is a developer who is engaged in structuring the page, logically presenting information and artistically decorating the interface. In order to become a sought-after developer, you do not need to have special skills, you just need to have developed logic and taste for the design of the page. And a novice designer will need perseverance and a desire to constantly learn and explore new trends and programs for web design.
Also, the developer should consider the constant need to communicate with customers. It is not always possible to find a common language with another person, so the performer needs psychological stability and elementary ability to conduct a dialogue.
Where to study
This profession is quite young, so it will be almost impossible to get an appropriate education at a university or college. However, a diploma for successful work is not required at all; both a self-taught teenager and a user of various training courses and programs can achieve recognition and good earnings. It is he who will discuss them in this article. There are free and paid courses, there are training options from scratch and courses to improve the skills of an experienced developer - you just need to choose the most suitable from the presented products. Of course, online courses are more than convenient, especially during the quarantine period, but you should take into account the fact that training can take a whole year. To carry out a full-fledged professional activity, you will have to spend almost all your free time.
In addition, there are books on web design and development, however, they are rather needed to get you into the profession.
Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
As in most cases, web design and the activities associated with it have a number of advantages and disadvantages, in fact, like any other chosen profession. What are the typical advantages?
- in view of the global use of computers and similar gadgets, the profession will be popular for many decades;
- the ability to work remotely in a comfortable home environment;
- the opportunity to communicate with employers from different countries;
- good earnings even for beginners;
- prospects for professional growth and development;
- you can take any initiative and embody absolutely any ideas, this will not require any financial costs.
Disadvantages:
- takes a lot of personal time, you may even have to radically change your professional activity;
- requires good knowledge of English;
- ideas do not always coincide with the customer's requirement.
Course format
Learning through courses can take two directions. It all depends on the skills and characteristics of the student.
Self-study
Courses involve the presentation of information, the execution of tests and assignments without the help of an expert. That is, the user will have to study the information received, master and process it independently. At the same time, it is highly likely that you will have to search for additional data on the network. Of course, most of the questions have their own answers; someone has already encountered many difficulties. However, this training format takes a lot of time, and it is also not suitable for those who do not know how to correctly formulate queries in Google. In addition, the student will need to increase his vocabulary in English, without which to do almost it in programming, web design and website development.
The advantage of this methodology is that most of the information and training itself does not require financial investments, almost all data can be obtained free of charge. The disadvantages include the too long growth of a beginner into a professional, since there is no assistant nearby, indicating all the shortcomings and wrong actions.
Study with a mentor
A very convenient format, along the entire path of preparation you will have a competent specialist who can explain all the subtleties and nuances of the profession, explain in detail and present information.
Classes most often involve studying at the most suitable time, they are built with comfort for a future specialist, a student can always be asked a question and quickly get an answer to it. Constant supervision by a mentor will allow you to avoid mistakes and quickly grow into a professional.
The disadvantages of this method are that you can run into a dropout charlatan who will take advantage of the trust and pull out a round amount of money. In addition, the teacher may be far from practice, in which case the value of his information decreases.
Ranking of the Best Free Web Design Courses for 2020
Youtube
The most accessible platform is capable of not only playing funny videos and music videos, but also giving the user a lot of useful and invaluable information, in addition, it is absolutely free.
There are many successful programmers and developers who are ready to share their experience and knowledge, introduce them into the profession, and explain in an accessible and clear way what steps should be taken.
When watching the relevant videos, do not forget to look through the comments that will help you navigate and understand whether you should trust this blogger.
Advantages:
- a lot of useful content;
- large selection of information;
- availability;
- there is no need to download and install additional programs;
- you can practice and follow the mentor at the same time.
Disadvantages:
- an effort must be made to find a worthy teacher.
HTML Academy
An interesting course that allows you to study web design without financial costs at any convenient time for the user. The training period is unlimited, in this case the speed depends only on the user's desire.
The block includes 480 exercises; to move from one chapter to the next, you need to pass tests and final tasks. However, it should be noted that the course does not provide a complete understanding of the design and structure of work.
Advantages:
- is free;
- interesting learning process;
- you can quickly learn how to create websites from scratch.
Disadvantages:
- useless for beginners;
- there is paid content;
- does not provide a complete understanding of web design.
Tilda puplishing
This course is more about theory than practice, but the user gets a good tutorial on how to create sites on the Tilda Puplishing platform. Undoubtedly, the development of the acquired knowledge in the form of remote sensing is available, but there is no one to evaluate and check these works.
Information flows in a stream, it is enough for the student to simply repeat and analyze all the actions behind the course author.However, the narrow focus of training will not give scope for professional activity and the creation of programs and applications.
Advantages:
- is free;
- conveniently;
- the work of competitors is analyzed.
Disadvantages:
- you can create sites only on the Tilda Puplishing platform;
- a lot of theory, little practice.
WayUP
The course includes 3 hours of presentation of lecture material and 7 hours of practical training. This training is not aimed at creating a ready-to-work specialist. Rather, it is an introduction to web design for those who have not yet decided what they want to do.
A big plus will be the certificate, which is issued at the end of the course, and the author also gives a discount for further, more detailed training. In addition, information processing and practical training takes place under the supervision of a curator in a personal user account. Such a course is very convenient, since it provides an individual approach to each student.
Advantages:
- is free;
- supervision of the curator;
- discount on paid content.
Disadvantages:
- these are only initial courses, not getting started.
Web skillers
Classes in the form of 9 lectures are suitable for users with basic experience and knowledge. The course will completely immerse you in the profession, teach all the basics and basics. The video is accompanied by voice design from the creator, it is difficult to find fault with the very quality of sound and picture. But the absence of any additional materials, practical skills development and the possibility of feedback significantly reduces the value of training.
Advantages:
- is free;
- interesting presentation of the material.
Disadvantages:
- no certificate is issued;
- there is no practical component.
Loft Blog
A short course aimed at sketching the design of a Photoshop website. This skill will allow you to create a skeleton of a site, design its header and structure links and design. This course is very useful, because it allows you to create a "face" of the site, attracting the user's interest. In addition, the student will learn the design of the mobile version, which will significantly increase its demand in the labor market. The disadvantages include the fact that the course ends there. Interface development, the ability to communicate and attract customers - none of this is available.
The presence of a number of useful additional materials will be a pleasant bonus in your studies.
Advantages:
- useful information;
- positive reviews.
Disadvantages:
- very short course - only 4 lessons;
- not enough for full work.
Rating of the best paid courses
SkillBox
One of the most popular information products nowadays. A 2-year course is designed for beginners without basic knowledge and the slightest experience, and training is also suitable for inexperienced specialists planning to become masters of their craft.
A big plus will be the fact that the company guarantees all users who have successfully completed the training, many orders and permanent work. In addition, it only takes six months for initial earnings. What will you receive upon completion of your studies? Firstly, a portfolio with a number of works, secondly, a well-written resume, and thirdly, this is a diploma. All this will make the user a qualified specialist and will allow to recoup the money spent on training for a couple of orders.
Advantages:
- payment by installments is possible;
- full and unlimited access to all information;
- the first payment is only after six months of training;
- professional approach;
- guaranteed employment;
- a number of bonuses in the form of additional webinars, virtual tours and real-life meetings.
Disadvantages:
- high price;
- the need to complete mandatory homework assignments that take mentors a long time to check;
- you cannot proceed to the next block without completing the previous one. This requires passing tests;
- feedback is slow;
- training takes two years, so the course is intended for people who seriously decided to take up web design.
The cost is 270,000 Russian rubles.
GeekBrains
A budget option for beginners, novice designers, as well as for specialists in related professions to broaden their horizons and better understand the process.The company offers clear and accessible webinars and interesting lectures in video format for training. At the end of the course, the user can count on a permanent job, and he will also be guaranteed a portfolio. A big plus will be the free study of English for three months.
Advantages:
- portfolio work;
- employment;
- English language training;
- the course lasts only 8 months.
Disadvantages:
- not entirely thought out course, there are flaws in the organization of lectures and remote sensing checks;
- there are not enough blocks dedicated to professional nuances.
The cost is 63,200 Russian rubles.
Netology
And one more short-lived, but slightly more expensive course. The cost of training is approaching 100,000 rubles, but the company constantly conducts discount promotions, and also offers to pay in installments.
The course is intended for developers with specific skills in website design, as well as for programmers who want to delve into web design and layout. Among other things, HTML and CSS are studied, without them it will be difficult to make a turnkey website. The recruitment of students occurs in streams, that is, it is not so easy to enroll in classes, you have to wait for the opening of the course. Upon graduation, the developer is guaranteed support for career growth, and informative materials can be used for another 12 months. All lectures are held in the evening, but if it is not possible to participate, you can view them in recording format.
Advantages:
- the course lasts 9 months;
- learning HTML and CSS;
- all lectures are held at 18.00-19.00 hours, which is very convenient for most students.
Disadvantages:
- training is not entirely organized, teachers change frequently;
- not suitable for beginners;
- some of the nuances are considered only in theory.
The cost is 93,500 Russian rubles.
Photoshop Master
A very short course for those who don't want to wait. In addition, the company promises to reimburse the cost of training if the user does not fit the format of the information product.
The training is suitable not only for users with minimal knowledge of information, but also for beginners. There are not many classes, they include 52 lectures and 12 practices. At the same time, time is devoted to all aspects of the profession, there are also a number of bonuses that illuminate all the nuances of web design. As a result, the user can count on mastering the profession of a web designer, and also guaranteed assistance in drawing up a portfolio and resume.
Advantages:
- the course is only 2 months;
- the company will return the money on demand;
- teacher support.
Disadvantages:
- not quite proven courses;
- not enough useful information.
Cost - from 12,000 to 20,000 Russian rubles, depending on the selected block.
Moscow Digital Academy
Universal courses are suitable for novice masters and users without any skills. Training takes place both online and in real time. The block consists of 45 hours of lectures and 85 hours of practice. During classes, you can ask any questions to the teacher, getting comprehensive answers to them. The first lesson, dedicated to the introduction to the profession, is absolutely free, in addition, the company gives a promotional code for a discount.
Advantages:
- the first lesson is free;
- the course does not last long - 2 months.
Disadvantages:
- not all questions are disclosed;
- there is no guarantee that the specialist will be employed.
The cost is 55,000 Russian rubles.
#VA
A very short course of just one month will immerse the student in the basics of the profession, acquaint him with basic skills and knowledge. The company provides the opportunity to study independently, and there is also a training block with a teacher.
The course is aimed at those professionals who want to get started as soon as possible, which means that it is not quite suitable for beginners. The process of classes will take place in the form of a practice game, which will allow you to immediately master all the nuances of communication with the customer.
Advantages:
- fast learning;
- interesting structure of classes.
Disadvantages:
- not suitable for students without experience in the profession;
- the author devotes a lot of time to his personal experience.
Cost - 9,000 in case of self-study, 18,000 block with a mentor.
If you have had experience of studying on the courses described in the rating, write your feedback in the comments.