Creating Basic Web Layouts from Coursera

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Syllabus

Layout on the Web

Welcome to the course! In this module, we will start exploring the history of layout on the web. By layout, I mean specifically how the visual space of the webpage can be used, and how different elements can be arranged within that space. We will discuss the history of techniques that have been used to create layouts on the web, and dive into the complexities and challenges associated with creating layouts on the web. Let's get started!

Flexbox

Welcome to the second lesson in our course on basic web layout. In this lesson you will learn about and practice a limited set of initial features that accompany the flexbox CSS layout module. You will create simple layouts using these features and get a hint of what is to come, as we get deeper into understanding how flexbox works to help us create layouts for our web pages.

Responsive Web Design

Welcome to the third lesson in our course on basic web layout. In this lesson you will learn about responsive web design, including how the term was coined and the history associated with the challenges of managing layouts across many possible screen sizes. You will learn specific techniques that you can use to build a responsive web page. We will discuss mobile first development and why it is important to make your designs work on the smallest, least capable devices first, then progressively enhance those designs for users with larger screens and more resources.

Example Project

Welcome to the fourth lesson in our course on basic web layout. In this lesson you will learn about more of the flexbox properties that will help you create a variety of web layouts. This set of properties compliments the techniques learned in the previous lesson about responsive design, as they will help you further control the design of your website across a wide variety of screen sizes. At the end of this module, you will have the opportunity to use everything you have learned to create a simple, mini portfolio website and deploy it to GitHub to share with your friends, family and colleagues.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides hands-on experience with Flexbox CSS, a powerful tool for creating flexible and responsive web layouts, which is essential for modern web development

Explores responsive web design principles, enabling learners to build websites that adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes, which is crucial for reaching a wider audience

Includes a project where learners create a mini portfolio website and deploy it on GitHub, providing practical experience and a tangible demonstration of their skills

Introduces mobile-first development, which is a modern approach to web design that prioritizes the user experience on smaller devices, ensuring accessibility and performance

Presented by the University of California, Davis, which is known for its computer science programs and contributions to web technologies

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Creating Basic Web Layouts with these activities:

Review Basic HTML and CSS

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Reinforce your understanding of HTML and CSS fundamentals to better grasp Flexbox concepts.

Browse courses on HTML

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Review HTML structure and common tags.
Practice basic CSS styling and selectors.
Build a simple webpage using HTML and CSS.

Read 'Don't Make Me Think, Revisited'

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Improve your understanding of user-centered design principles to create more effective and intuitive web layouts.

View Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key usability principles.
Apply the principles to your web layout projects.

Read 'CSS: The Definitive Guide'

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Deepen your understanding of CSS properties and how they interact to create complex layouts.

View CSS: The Definitive Guide: Web Layout and... on Amazon

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Read chapters related to Flexbox and responsive design.
Experiment with the examples provided in the book.

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Follow Flexbox Tutorial on CSS-Tricks

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Practice using Flexbox properties through interactive examples and real-world scenarios.

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Go through the complete guide to Flexbox on CSS-Tricks.
Try out the examples and modify them to understand the properties better.
Apply the concepts learned to a small personal project.

Build a Responsive Navigation Bar

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Apply Flexbox and responsive design principles to create a practical and reusable component.

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Plan the structure and design of the navigation bar.
Implement the navigation bar using HTML and CSS with Flexbox.
Make the navigation bar responsive using media queries.
Test the navigation bar on different screen sizes.

Write a Blog Post on Flexbox vs. Grid

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Solidify your understanding of layout techniques by comparing and contrasting Flexbox with CSS Grid.

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Research the differences between Flexbox and CSS Grid.
Outline the blog post with clear sections and examples.
Write the blog post, explaining the pros and cons of each layout method.
Include code examples to illustrate the concepts.
Publish the blog post on a personal website or platform like Medium.

Contribute to a Flexbox-based Open Source Project

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by working on a real-world project that utilizes Flexbox.

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Find an open-source project that uses Flexbox for layout.
Explore the codebase and identify areas for improvement or new features.
Contribute code, documentation, or bug fixes to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Creating Basic Web Layouts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Frontend Developer

A frontend developer builds the user-facing parts of websites and applications, focusing on visual layout and user interaction. This course helps a frontend developer understand how to create flexible and responsive designs, especially with the usage of Flexbox CSS, as well as mobile first development. The course teaches how to manage layouts across different screen sizes and create a mini portfolio website which they can use to demonstrate their skills. Frontend developers should take this course to master basic layout skills vital to frontend web development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Frontend Developer

Web Designer

Web designers create the look and feel of websites, focusing on aesthetics, user experience and visual presentation. This course helps a web designer by teaching important layout techniques. The course covers the history of web layouts, the use of Flexbox CSS, and the principles of responsive web design, all of which are essential for creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites. By understanding mobile first development web designers can ensure their designs work seamlessly across a variety of screen sizes. This course is a great fit for web designer to build a strong foundation in web layout

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

UI Designer

A user interface, or UI designer, crafts the interactive elements of digital products, focusing on making interfaces intuitive and easy to use. This course helps a UI designer by building an understanding of how to create web layouts using Flexbox and ensure they are adaptable across multiple screen sizes. UI designers can use this course to understand basic principles of responsive web design and mobile first development which is important for creating usable interfaces. UI designers should take this course to learn how to create their designs with a practical understanding of the underlying code.

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Web Developer

A web developer is responsible for building and maintaining websites. This course helps a web developer build a foundation in basic web layout techniques including the use of Flexbox CSS. Understanding responsive web design is vital for a web developer and this course teaches the principles and techniques needed to create websites that adapt to various screen sizes. This course will help web developers create their own mini portfolio website to highlight their skill. Web Developers should take this course to solidify their understanding of core web design concepts.

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UX Designer

A User experience, or UX designer, focuses on the overall experience a user has with a product including the website's usability and accessibility. This course may be useful to UX designers by ensuring they develop designs that account for different screen sizes and layout flexibility. The understanding of Flexbox CSS taught in this course can help a UX designer to understand how the layout of a website can be practically implemented. This is why a UX designer should take this course to enhance their practical knowledge of web development.

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Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital marketing specialists implement digital marketing strategies to promote products and services online. This course may be useful to a digital marketing specialist who wants to understand how website design impacts the user experience and how to effectively communicate with their web development teams. They will get to understand the complexities of mobile first design. This allows them to plan campaigns more effectively and communicate necessary design changes. Digital marketing specialists should take this course to help improve their understanding of website design.

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Content Creator

A content creator produces engaging material for websites and other digital platforms. While content creation is primarily about written words, images, video and other media, this course may be useful to them by providing a foundational understanding of web layout principles, and how content is presented on the web. They'll also learn Flexbox CSS and responsive web design. A content creator should understand the challenges of layouts across multiple screens. This may help them design content that is compatible with various web platforms, which is why they should consider this course.

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Project Manager

Project managers oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of projects, often including website development. While project managers don't need to be proficient in coding, this course may be useful because it provides them with an understanding of the technical aspects of web design and development. They'll learn about responsive design and mobile first development as well as understand challenges when managing layouts across multiple screens. This technical understanding helps them to better manage project expectations. This is why a project manager should take this course to be a more effective project manager.

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Technical Writer

Technical writers create documentation for technical products and services, and this course may be useful to them. The techniques offered here, including understanding layout across platforms using Flexbox CSS and responsive design, helps them to understand how to layout technical documentations online. The course also offers an example project of creating a mini portfolio, which allows them to learn how websites may be built in the real world. This course may be helpful for technical writers looking to expand their understanding of the web.

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Information Architect

Information architects organize and structure content on websites and applications so they are user-friendly. This course may be useful for information architects as it helps their understanding of how the elements they plan are translated into visual layouts. The course explores Flexbox CSS and responsive web design, and this foundation in web layout can inform their decisions about content presentation. Information architects should take this course to better translate their designs into a technical framework.

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Web Content Manager

Web content managers are responsible for creating, updating, and maintaining content on websites, and this course may be useful to them. While they may not need to code, understanding web layout using Flexbox CSS and responsive web design can allow them to be more effective when managing content. This course helps them better understand how content is presented to users across devices, and helps them communicate with their development teams. Using mobile first development that is taught in the course, they'll be thinking about all users. This is why web content managers should take this course.

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Product Manager

Product managers guide the strategy, roadmap, and execution of a product, and may find this course helpful for a high-level understanding of web layout. Though direct coding is not typically a job function of a product manager, the principles of responsive design and working with Flexbox CSS can be valuable to them when they are conceptualizing website features. With mobile first design, product managers will be planning for all users. A product manager might take this course to enhance their product design and planning.

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Marketing Manager

A marketing manager develops and executes marketing strategies to promote products and services, and this course may be useful to them. While they may not directly build websites, understanding the principles of web layout using Flexbox CSS and responsive web design can help them in campaign planning. They may also want to understand how users interact with the website. A marketing manager may take this course to be more effective when planning marketing strategies.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional designers create educational materials and training programs, and this course may be useful for them. This course may provide them with a foundation in web layout, especially using Flexbox CSS and responsive web design that can inform their design of online courses. Mobile first design means that online learning can be made available to all. This course may be useful for instructional designers interested in learning more about delivering content on the web.

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Online Educator

Online educators teach courses through digital platforms, and this course may be useful to them for improving their digital teaching strategy. Having a practical knowledge of web layout, including Flexbox CSS and responsive design, can assist them in understanding the technical aspects of online course delivery. The course will equip them with a better understanding of how digital material is consumed by students. Online educators can use this knowledge to enhance the experience of their students, and this course may be useful for that purpose.

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Creating Basic Web Layouts

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