DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEARN WEB DESIGN · BiZmarrow Technologies Limited

There is recession in Nigeria, people are loosing jobs in millions, its now clear to you that learning a skill is the best way to go, so you decided to dive head first into the exciting and wondrous world of web design! You’re able and willing to drop everything and get your hands dirty right away! You can hardly stop yourself from jumping to your feet and getting creative, designing the most fabulous websites the world has ever seen! There’s just this annoying little thought that keeps niggling and nagging from out of the corner of your eye…how do you actually get started?

To simplify your start, I’m going to give you an overview of different ways how to learn web design, this can help you make a choice and get started however, you can mix and match them as much as you like. So let’s start!

READING BLOGS

Reading blogs is a way to learn web design that certainly requires time and good nerves, as you will have to deal with rather unstructured pieces and bits of information. There are loads of blogs either writing about how to do web design directly or compiling links to other online resources. They are free, which is a great thing, and they are all over the Internet, which means that you have to go looking for them (use Google, for instance). However, if you are a self-educator and enjoy roaming the web, jumping from one interesting link to another, this could be just the thing for you.

Pros

It’s free
Lots of information available
Up to date

Cons

Time-consuming
Bits and pieces
No continuous structure

GOING TO UNIVERSITY

If you’d rather get a formal education on web design, you always have the choice to enroll at a university and study for a degree. Universities all over the world do offer classes about web design, allowing you to do a bachelor or even a master degree in this field. If you choose this option, you will be taught by professionals who know what they are doing, but keep in mind that tuition fees can be substantial. You also might run into trouble if you’re already past the age of your run-off-the-mill university student or if you’re trying to combine your studies with your job.

Pros

Formal education with degree
Taught by professional teachers
Structured approach

Cons

Expensive
Application process
Takes several years
Most Nigerian universities don’t have much to offer, infact practical is almost zero, and you cant be good in erbsite design without practicals

ONLINE COURSES

Online courses offer the benefit of having a structured course plan with not having to go out of the house for your class. There are different types of online courses, such as live teachers to skype with, courses that consist of videos and homework you have to send back or courses that are just a series of articles. Some of them are free and some of them will cost you money, so you have to decide which style you would like to go for. Make sure to check some online reviews on the course in case it’s paid, so you get value for your money.

Pros

Structured classes
No need to go out of the house
Possibly free
Study according to your schedule

Cons

Quality might differ
Possibly fraudulent
Learn may not continue over time
you may not feel your trainer and ask deep questions
there is no relationship between you and your trainer which help you to learn faster and better

BUY THE BOOK

A recent e-book by Site Point called Wicked WordPress Themes is a great book that also allows you to make money directly from your designs.

Pros

Structured, approved content
Study at home or anywhere else
Mark, underline and make notes to your hearts content

Cons

Nobody to ask questions to
Content may be outdated – check publication date!
you are not motivated to continue
you may read for 3 years without having any thing to show for it

TRAINING CENTRES (Schools)

Training centres are a the best choice if you want to hit the right balance between professional teachers, hands-on experience and affordable prices. Most training centres take on students of all ages, so this would also be the right place for adult learners. As you will have face-to-face contact with your teachers, there will always be a person to ask questions to. You want to have a look for the quality of the school, which you can do by checking out their website, looking at former trainees’ work or just sending them a mail with your questions. Classes taught will consist of considerably less people than college or university classes, and most training centres will also give you a certificate after completing a class. biZmarrow Computer training school is a good place to start with

Pros

Structured classes
Professional teachers
Certificate
Clear timeframe
Evening classes can be studied after work
there is a relationship between trainers and trainees which help fast learning
you will finish your training
since they are into website design services, they learn from hands on experience
you are motivated to keep learning

Cons

You need to invest some money
Your schedule has to fit the class times

DOING AN INTERNSHIP

An internship gives you a great possibility to gather hands-on experience in the field of web design. Whether you choose a web design agency, a web design training centre or any other place is entirely up to you and your learning aims, so make sure you know what they are before applying to any position. Some companies announce internship opportunities on their website, others don’t, but you always have the possibility to write to them or call and ask. Of course an internship period of several months gives you more time to learn and improve, but even a few weeks can help you to get a foothold in the world of webdesign.

Pros

Professional environment
Hands-on experience
Steep learning curve
You might even earn some money

Cons

Getting an internship position might take some time
Some companies require previous experience

In conclusion

So after giving you an overview of different ways to learn web design, I really hope that I was able to help you making your decision where to start. I’m sure that one of these ways is the right one for you to make a successful start in learning web design. Once you’ve started, you will see that many more possibilities will open up to you, so just kick things off and always remember: Web design is for everybody, and everybody can learn web design!