Welcome to Bootiebike Web Design!
Who this course is for
Imagine being able to create a webpage from scratch, using not much more than a text editor. Creating interesting designs that not only convey information but draw in and delight the viewer. And making changes whenever you feel inspired.
If that sounds like fun, then this course may be for you. Compare it to painting a picture – It will teach you how to use your ‘brushes’ – what you then paint is up to you.
Who it is not for
If all you want is to create a website then this course is not for you. There are quicker ways. For example, you could use an HTML editor such as Dreamweaver, a content management system such as Wordpress, or a website builder such as Wix.
What you will achieve by completing this course
This course does not promise to make you a professional web designer. This is what you can expect:
- You will learn the fundamentals of standards-compliant web design
- You will be able to create a simple website
- You will know enough to seek and find answers to develop your skills
- You will have a new hobby and creative outlet.
By the time you have completed the course you will have created a simple website that you can add to and develop as your skills progress.
What makes this course different
This course is different because it has been created by one who began by knowing more about information presentation and Plain English than web design. It also differs in covering topics often found in too great a depth to be readily accessible, or difficult to learn about completely without reference to multiple sources.
What you need to get started
Here are the things you'll need to get started.
- A special text editor, such as Notepad++ or Brackets. These are a free download. Notepad++ is basic, simple and easy to learn. Brackets has all the bells and whistles. There are several other text editors available too. Do not confuse ‘Notepad++’ with the ‘Notepad’ that comes with Windows.
- Browsers to test your work. The more the better.
Designing for different browsers
Each standards-compliant browser displays webpages slightly differently to the others. This is not a problem. The important thing is to test in a range of browsers to make sure there are no major differences and everything works as intended.
Conventions
Here are a few conventions to remember:
- Use lower case in your code.
- The file extension for HTML files can be either htm or html. Here it is htm.
- Use "double" quotemarks, not 'single', in your code.
- Use 'color' in your code, not 'colour'.
- The terms 'CSS file' and 'stylesheet' are used interchangeably.
Comments
You will notice 'comments' in the code examples used throughout the course. These are written in the code but not displayed by the browser. Within the code, comments look like this:
- <!-- html comment example -->
- /* css comment example */
You will find out more about comments in Lesson 27.
Thank you
The author thanks those behind the many superb online web design resources. Frequent reference has been made to these resources and this work would not have been possible without them. Particular thanks are due to the following:
Thank you to Tipuesearch for their great search plugin. And thank you to Wikimedia for some images and content used in the practical exercises.