It seems like many of the people on this forum are quite knowledgeable about tech related stuff. I was wondering if any of you would like to share some insights into learning some things that are, at the moment, beyond me.

Specifically I would like to become reasonably well versed in HTML5 and CSS3. However if anyone has any experience learning JQuiry, AJAX, Photoshop, or Illustrator, I would like to hear opinions on those as well.

I was wondering if anybody knows of some good sites/tools that would be a good starting point for a complete beginner? I have a basic understanding of computers and CAD/CAM and CNC experience but I want to be able to do things like make websites from scratch and be able to manage them. With regard to Photoshop and Illustrator, I would like to be able to make professional looking logos and banners.

I want to be able to apply for a website or graphic design job in about 2-3 years time. I'm not sure where to start. Is Photoshop the easiest to start on? Does it matter if I learn on a similar program to Photoshop, even though most jobs specifically ask for Photoshop experience?

Any help would be appreciated

http://www.codecademy.com/ This site is not bad its a good starter to get you understanding code it can teach you html 5 and Javascript (which will be important to know). https://www.youtube.com/user/thenewboston/playlists This site always has a lot of good tutorials on AJAX, photoshop, HTML 5 and a LOT others. Its just a start I hope it helps.

If you don't mind spending a minimal, and I do mean minimal amount of money. Lifehacker is running a pay-what-you-want sale on stack social for various coding things. There is something like 8 courses 2 of them are from $1 dollar, the other 6 are beat the average, which is something around $13.

I'm not too interesyed in coding but it ends up being like a 99.5% discount, so I figured why not?

https://stacksocial.com/sales/the-name-y...ode-bundle

Saiga Wrote:I want to be able to apply for a website or graphic design job in about 2-3 years time.

Most of what was supplied already (above) is a good start. I just want to add the obvious which is, don't forget the portfolio of your work. If you aim is graphic design on websites, you'll want to have a few really good sites on the net that you can show off. Maybe have one for your self, a profile page that sells yourself, and maybe something for a friend or a business. Freelance it (got a bar/store you go to with an outdated website? Make something up and then take it to them and offer to give it to them if they will let you put your name on the site as "Designed by X").

I've worked in the industry, first as a developer, team manager, upper management, etc., for the past 13 years. I'd recommend focusing on either the design aspect, or the coding aspect and getting really good at one, rather than OK at both. If you're looking to code, I'd also recommend learning SQL as well as a server side language (php,asp,etc.).

As for learning, there are some good resources listed. My recommendation would be to start your own project as soon as you can, and learn by doing, rather than just reading through programming / design books, and following along with tutorials / prebuilt projects.

When it comes time to get a job, your knowledge and portfolio should speak louder than any diploma. I have a degree in computer science and have never actually had it come up in any of my interviews / applications. Likewise, I never really pay attention to that on a resume when I'm interviewing developer candidates.

I'll just share my favorite resources on web programming:

For an introductory look into HTML and CSS, the goto book is HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites. http://www.htmlandcssbook.com/ If money isn't too big an issue for you, you should get it just to go over it once, look into the examples and links it provides, etc. but without trying to actually memorize things. It has a nice, newbie friendly take on things, but it's not a solid "textbook". You will need something more detailed before you can actually start doing serious work with HTML5 and CSS3.

For a more serious, but still newbie friendly introduction, there's a book you should actually study from: O'Reilly's Learning Web Design 4th Edition, by Jennifer Niederst Robbins. If you do all the examples, and study the book carefully, then you can pretty much just start learning by doing, from that point on. You should of course still read the popular blogs and articles, to learn all the newest tips and tricks, but when it comes to web design, you generally have to learn by doing. You can even work for money, on various online freelance sites. Even if you don't have experience, there's always someone willing to pay a few bucks for stuff that doesn't require fancy skills.

This is Html5 and CSS3 only, of course. The second book has an introduction to Javascript, but you should just skip that part. For Javascript, PHP, Ajax, etc. there are other books dedicated to those particular subject matters. You can just use google to get reviews and pick a couple of books that come recommended. After you finish the Javascript book you picked, make sure to also check out these videos: http://www.yuiblog.com/crockford/. They're great, well worth the 6-8 hours it takes to watch them all.

Also, if you're up to it, there's a complete, free Harvard Extension School course on web design, here: https://www.cs75.net/Main_Page It's not about design, it's about the technical aspects of website development (html, css, javascript, PHP, SQL, Ajax, basic website security, and the MVC pattern I believe). It's a complete college course, with lectures, sections, projects, recommended resources, an online discussion group, etc. All freely available. But it's not an easy course. It can be frustrating to try and do the projects if you don't pay attention to the videos, or if you don't go over all the external resources they recommend.

P.S. I fully agree with the post above mine: you should pick what you want to focus on. Not right away, but fairly early on. In fact, there are three different main categories:
1. designer, someone who basically just works with Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. maybe a little HTML and CSS on occasion
2. front-end developer, someone who actually builds those designs with HTML, CSS, Javascript, JQuery (this is all markup/code that is interpreted by the browser, on a website visitor's computer)
3. back-end developer, someone who writes PHP, works with the database (SQL), Ajax, etc. (this is all code that is interpreted by the server, on the website owner/provider's computer system - well, Ajax is a special category, but there's no point in going into that here)

At least pick a general direction, and focus either on the first two, or the second two. Learning both Photoshop and PHP/SQL/Ajax is pretty much like learning two entirely different professions. They're very far removed from each other.

If you want to be mostly a designer, the furthest you should go into the programming side is a little Javascript. And maybe someone else can help you with resources for Photoshop and other design tools (many designers think that Photoshop isn't the right tool for the job, btw.) Don't bother with the Harvard course I recommended, that's for programmers. However, if you want to be a programmer (of either kind), all the resources I listed are useful.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful replies.

@ Stansfield123, I think I will focus on the first two categories you mentioned. From the job listings I've been looking at I just need to have a rudimentary understanding of back-end stuff like PHP and Ajax. Mostly i'm wanting to do the front-end work (make the site and banners look pretty) and Photoshop and Illustrator would be just for modifying pictures of products and putting them into banner ads.

I agree that I need to be able to show any potential employer something tangible that demonstrates my skills. It's the same thing in machining. Qualifications are nice but show me something complex you've machined.
It's just mind boggling to me to look at all the fantastic websites out there and wonder how in the world someone made that.