Advanced Styling with Responsive Design from Coursera

It used to be the case that everyone viewed web pages on about the same size screen - a desktop computer. But now it is just as likely that someone will be using a smart phone, tablet, or assistive technology to access the Internet. Therefore, people viewing your site will now expect that it will perform regardless of the device (smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer, or screen reader) AND take into account some common personal settings such as color schemes. This ability to respond to any platform and user preferences is called Responsive Design.

This course will expand upon the basic knowledge of CSS3 to include topics such as wireframes, fluid design, media queries, and the use of existing styling paradigms. After the course, learners will be able to:

** Explain the mobile-first paradigm and the importance of wireframes in the design phase

** Create sites that behave across a range of platforms

** Recognize existing design frameworks such as Bootstrap

A basic understanding of HTML and CSS is expected when you enroll in this class, so it can be taken third or fourth in the Web Design for Everybody specialization. Additional courses focus on adding interactivity with the JavaScript Programming Language and completing a capstone project.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week One: Style with Responsive Design

What does it mean to have responsive design for your site? How can you tell if your existing site is responsive? This week we will begin with the theories behind the "mobile-first paradigm" - the idea that your mobile site should provide everything needed, not a pared-down version of a good page. We end the week by taking the first concrete step of using fluid measurements in your CSS.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores responsive design, which is standard in web design

Develops skills for responsive web design, which is core for web developers

Prerequisite knowledge of HTML and CSS is required

Covers wireframes, fluid design, media queries, and styling paradigms

Introduces existing design frameworks such as Bootstrap

Part of a specialization in Web Design for Everybody

Reviews summary

Responsive web design with bootstrap intro

According to students, this course provides a solid foundation in responsive web design, covering essential topics like media queries, Flexbox and Grid layouts, and the mobile-first approach. Learners found the core concepts explained clearly, particularly appreciating the instructor's style. The course also offers a useful introduction to the Bootstrap framework. While many found it practical and hands-on, some felt the content, particularly the Bootstrap section, might be slightly outdated and that the "Advanced" title might be misleading for those with existing experience, suggesting it's better suited for intermediate learners building upon basic HTML/CSS skills. Overall, it's seen as a valuable step in the specialization.

Suited for intermediate learners, not advanced.

"Good course if you have basic CSS but aren't already doing responsive design regularly."

"As an experienced developer, I found this too basic for the 'Advanced' title mentioned."

"Perfect difficulty level after the introductory HTML/CSS courses in the specialization."

Useful introduction to using the Bootstrap framework.

"The final week on Bootstrap was a great bonus and gave a good starting point."

"I got a solid understanding of how to use Bootstrap quickly for responsive layouts."

"Useful to see how frameworks like Bootstrap simplify responsive design tasks significantly."

Strong focus on practical Grid and Flexbox use.

"Hands-on exercises for Grid and Flexbox were really helpful and solidified my understanding."

"Learning Grid and Flex was the most valuable part for me; I can immediately use this."

"The assignments let you practice applying responsive layouts to real-world examples."

Concepts are explained simply and effectively.

"The instructor does a great job explaining mobile-first and media queries in simple terms."

"I finally understand how flexbox works thanks to the clear demos and examples provided."

"Lectures broke down complex ideas into understandable chunks, making learning much easier."

Core principles are solid, some details outdated.

"The Bootstrap version used seems a bit old now, which is a shame for a course titled 'Advanced'."

"Wished they covered more modern CSS techniques alongside the basics presented."

"Content is good for fundamentals but needs updates for current responsive practices."

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 Advanced Styling with Responsive Design with these activities:

Organize Course Notes and Resources

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Consolidate your notes, assignments, and other course materials to enhance your understanding and retention.

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Gather all the materials you have accumulated throughout the course.
Sort and organize the materials by topic or week.
Review and summarize key concepts from each material.

Connect with Responsive Design Professionals

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Build relationships with experienced web designers who can provide guidance and support in your responsive design journey.

Browse courses on Responsive Design

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Identify individuals in the field who specialize in responsive design.
Reach out to them via LinkedIn or email to express your interest in connecting.
Ask for advice, feedback, or opportunities to collaborate.

Attend a Responsive Design Workshop

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Participate in a workshop or seminar to learn from experts in the field of responsive design.

Browse courses on Responsive Design

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Research and find a relevant workshop or event.
Register and attend the workshop.
Take notes and actively participate in discussions.

Five other activities

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Wireframe a Responsive Website

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Create a visual representation of your website's layout and content, considering different screen sizes and devices.

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Sketch out the basic structure and elements of your website.
Use a wireframing tool or software to create a more detailed visual representation.
Consider how the layout and content will adapt to different screen sizes.

Guided Tutorials to Master Media Queries

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Practice applying media queries to control the layout and appearance of your web pages across different devices and screen sizes.

Browse courses on Media Queries

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Explore online tutorials on media queries.
Experiment with different media query syntax and values.
Create a simple web page and apply media queries to adjust its layout based on screen size.

Responsive Design Coding Challenges

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Challenge yourself with coding exercises that test your understanding of responsive design principles and techniques.

Browse courses on Media Queries

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Find online coding challenges or quizzes on responsive design.
Attempt to solve the challenges using the concepts learned in the course.
Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.

Design and Deploy a Bootstrap Website

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Build a functional website using Bootstrap, a popular framework for developing responsive web pages.

Browse courses on Bootstrap

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Familiarize yourself with Bootstrap's components and features.
Design and create the layout of your website using Bootstrap.
Add content and style to your website.
Test your website on different devices and browsers.

Contribute to Responsive Design Open-Source Projects

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the responsive design community by working on open-source projects.

Browse courses on Responsive Design

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Find open-source projects related to responsive design.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Identify areas where you can contribute.
Submit pull requests to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Styling with Responsive Design will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Web Designer

As a Web Designer, you will take existing design specifications and turn them into a website, web application, or web page. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design is useful because web design often requires implementation of responsive design. The techniques in this course can be put to work immediately, helping you to stand out among other candidates for positions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

Web Developer

Web Developers are in charge of implementing all the components of a web design to build a website. You will implement code for interactive web applications and other features. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design is useful because some development environments and programming languages require an understanding of responsive design techniques to ensure that the product functions properly when deployed. Adding this course to your resume and skillset will show employers that you are ready to work with popular development frameworks and coding languages.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

UI Designer

UI Designers are in charge of setting the look and feel of an application or website, creating a sense of style while ensuring that the site is also usable. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because you will gain a strong understanding of media queries and how they affect how a user will interact with a site. This will allow you to design a site that will be not only visually appealing but also effective and easy to navigate.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI Designer

UX Designer

The work of a UX Designer is to improve the overall experience of interacting with a website or web application. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because you will gain an understanding of the user experience and how this is affected by how a website looks and functions on different platforms. This grounding will help you to design user-friendly interfaces that are appealing and accessible on a wide range of platforms and devices.

See salaries and explore the career path for UX Designer

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer is in charge of designing visual concepts and overseeing the production of marketing materials ranging from web pages to brochures. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design is useful because it will teach you about how design choices affect the user experience. By understanding different types of users and their preferences, you can create more effective and engaging designs.

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Front-End Engineer

Front-End Engineers are in charge of the design and implementation of the front-facing aspects of a website. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design is useful because it will teach you about how to build and manage the styling of a website. By understanding the different styling techniques and how they affect the user experience, you can create more engaging and interactive front-end designs.

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Software Developer

Software Developers implement computer software to solve business or consumer problems. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it can help you to understand the different styling techniques and how they affect the user experience. This will allow you to create more user-friendly and engaging software applications.

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Information Architect

Information Architects create conceptual frameworks to organize, structure, and label web content in order to make it easier for users to find and access information. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design is useful because it will help you to understand the importance of structuring content in a way that is easy for users to navigate and understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers are in charge of designing the user experience for digital products. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it provides insight into the different ways that users interact with websites and applications. This knowledge can help you to create more engaging and interactive experiences that meet the needs of users.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Product Designer

Product Designers are in charge of the design and development of a product from its inception to its launch. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it will teach you about the different aspects of product design, including user experience, interface design, and styling. This knowledge will help you to create more innovative and successful products.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, reference guides, and other documentation to help users understand and use technical products. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it will teach you about the different elements of technical writing and how to create documentation that is clear and easy to understand.

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User Experience Researcher

User Experience Researchers conduct research to understand the needs and behaviors of users. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it will teach you about the different methods of user research and how to use this information to create more user-friendly products.

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Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual aspects of a project, including the design and implementation of branding, marketing materials, and other creative content. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it will teach you about the different elements of visual design and how to create cohesive and visually appealing content.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns to promote products and services. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it will teach you about the different elements of marketing and how to create effective marketing campaigns that reach your target audience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses understand their customers and make better decisions. Advanced Styling with Responsive Design may be useful because it can help you to understand the different types of data and how to use data to solve business problems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst