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Brad Schiff

You can launch a new career in web development today by learning HTML & CSS. You don't need a computer science degree or expensive software. All you need is a computer, a bit of time, a lot of determination, and a teacher you trust. I've taught HTML and CSS to countless coworkers and held training sessions for fortune 100 companies. I am that teacher you can trust. 

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You can launch a new career in web development today by learning HTML & CSS. You don't need a computer science degree or expensive software. All you need is a computer, a bit of time, a lot of determination, and a teacher you trust. I've taught HTML and CSS to countless coworkers and held training sessions for fortune 100 companies. I am that teacher you can trust. 

Don't limit yourself by creating websites with some cheesy “site-builder" tool. This course teaches you how to take 100% control over your webpages by using the same concepts that every professional website is created with.

This course does not assume any prior experience. We start at square one and learn together bit by bit. By the end of the course you will have created (by hand) a website that looks great on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops alike.

In the summer of 2020 the course has received a new section where we push our website live up onto the web using the free GitHub Pages service; this means you'll be able to share a link to what you've created with your friends, family, colleagues and the world.

I have helped over 100,000 students and have received the following feedback:   

“…A fantastic course… clear, definite and engaging."

“…Presentation is concise without being tedious… you honestly feel that you have a thorough understanding of the subject."

“…[Brad] explained the process. Not memorize this or that, he explained the process. If you're looking to take a course to understand the foundations of creating websites, look no further."

“Brad definitely has some of the best techniques to embed the lesson into your mind… hands down these are the best tutorials I have had the opportunity to view."

“I found this course really helpful and I highly recommend it… all things you learn are seen in action instantly."

“Brad has put together a great foundation for any body wishing to get a good understanding with front end web-development."

“…I would definitely recommend this course to most folks I know who want to learn web design."

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Create any website layout you can imagine
  • Support any device size with responsive (mobile-friendly) design
  • Add tasteful animations and effects with css3
  • Use common vocabulary from the design industry

Syllabus

Welcome!
Course Introduction
Big Picture Overview of Course (What To Expect)
HTML Essentials
Read more
Why HTML is Exciting
First Look at HTML
The Easiest Way to Get Started
Hands On! Create your First HTML File
Russian Stacking Dolls: Bulleted Lists
HTML Document Structure
First Look at Attributes: Linking Pages Together
Section 1 Review
Adding Media to a Web Page

In this lesson we learn how to insert an image into a webpage. If you want to edit or resize an image before placing it on your webpage and you do not have access to Adobe Photoshop I recommend the free image editing software named GIMP.

Image Exercise

In this lesson we learn about the "<audio>" element which allows us to include audio clips on our pages.  Download the supplementary material .zip file for a working demo of the audio element.

In this lesson we learn about the "<video>" element which allows us to natively include video clips on our pages. However, we learn that there are several factors which make including video on our pages without the help of third party services quite tricky.

Vector Graphics & Illustrations (SVG & Figma)
Text Basics
Headings
Lists
Bold & Italic

For a larger list of available HTML special characters visit this Wikipedia page.

Also please note that in the video lesson I incorrectly referred to the "&" symbol as "ampersands" (plural). In this case the correct phrase would be simply "ampersand."

Semantics & Organization
Semantic Structural Elements
Navigation
Non-semantic Elements ("div" and "span")
HTML Comments
The "Section" Element
Forms
Different Types of Inputs
Choosing Between a set of options
Tables
How to Create a Table of Data
Do Not Use Tables for Layout
CSS Essentials
CSS Introduction
CSS Selectors
The Cascade
Box Model
Quick Note About CSS Floats
Creating a Page Layout with Floats

Let's apply what we've learned about CSS so far to make our page easier on the eyes.

If you are looking for a color picker I recommend the free Adobe Kuler website / tool. Not only can you click on a circle in the color wheel to find color codes, but Kuler will also provide additional complimentary colors.

Intermediate CSS
Styling Navigation Menu
Overlapping Content & Transparent Backgrounds
Less Exciting Yet Still Necessary CSS Tasks
Styling Data Tables

In this lesson we learn how to customize the appearance of HTML forms. The lesson mentions third party CSS libraries you can leverage to tackle cross browser styling issues. Here are some of the most popular options in the webDev community:

Formalize

Normalize

Note that Formalize is strictly focused on forms, while Normalize helps level the playing field for all elements across all browsers (e.g. h1-h6, p, table, etc...).

CSS Typography

In the past web designer's were limited to a small handful of fonts, but in today's web we are free to use any font we desire thanks to "@font-face" technology.

My favorite free font resources are Google Fonts and Font Squirrel.

Developer Timeout!
Developer Tools | Inspect Elements
CSS Backgrounds
Background Images
Gradient Backgrounds

CSS Sprites allow our pages to load faster by combining many different graphics into a single image file. Many of the world's most popular websites use this technique.

Full Width Backgrounds - Fixed Width Content
Responsive Web Design
Chapter Introduction
Responsive Grids
Responsive Grid with Flexbox
What is Flexbox in CSS?
Flexbox (Part 1)
Flexbox (Part 2)
CSS Grid Layout
CSS Grid Part 1
CSS Grid Part 2
CSS Grid Part 3
CSS3 Special Effects
Box Shadows
Rounded Corners

The "transform" property can be used to manipulate the appearance of elements. In this lesson we learn about rotate, scale, skew, and positioning elements.

For extra credit you can explore the possibilities of 3D transforms. We don't delve into 3D transforms in this lesson because the topic demands its own five hour course but if you are interested in learning about 3D effects in the web browser the brilliant David DeSandro has created a freely-available must-read guide!

CSS Transitions

CSS animations allow us to add movement to any element we choose. In this lesson we learn the essentials of controlling how and when elements move.

If you're looking for inspiration regarding what types of animation / "fade-in" effects you can create or use be sure to visit the brilliant Dan Eden's "Animate.css" demo page.

Leveraging JavaScript without Writing JavaScript

In this lesson we begin to learn what JavaScript is and what it is typically used for. Even though learning how to write JavaScript code is outside the scope of this course we can still leverage existing JavaScript solutions to add new functionality to our pages.

In particular, this lesson showcases the creation of a slideshow. In the lesson we make use of the excellent "Cycle2" script written by Mike Alsup. You can find the official Cycle2 documentation page here.

Be sure to download the .zip file attached to this lesson to dissect and analyze things for yourself.

Quick note about website speed: in this lesson we include JavaScript files in the <head> section of our HTML. While this location may be simple to remember we can achieve better performance by placing JS directly before our page’s closing <body> element.

In this lesson we begin to learn what JavaScript is and what it is typically used for. Even though learning how to write JavaScript code is outside the scope of this course we can still leverage existing JavaScript solutions to add new functionality to our pages.

In particular, this lesson showcases the creation of a slideshow. In the lesson we make use of the excellent "Cycle2" script written by Mike Alsup. You can find the official Cycle2 documentation page here.

Be sure to download the .zip file attached to this lesson to dissect and analyze things for yourself.

Quick note about website speed: in this lesson we include JavaScript files in the <head> section of our HTML. While this location may be simple to remember we can achieve better performance by placing JS directly before our page’s closing <body> element.

In this lesson we learn how to initially hide bits of content and then reveal that content later by clicking / tapping on a trigger element.

Here is a link to the declarativeToggle download & documentation page.

As always, you can download the .zip file associated with this lecture to grab a copy of the finished product.

Quick note about website speed: in this lesson we include JavaScript files in the <head> section of our HTML. While this location may be simple to remember we can achieve better performance by placing JS directly before our page’s closing <body> element.

In this lesson we learn how to open images in a modal window, and also how to align thumbnail images in a strict grid.

Here is a link to the Lightbox package we leverage during the lesson.

As always, you can download the .zip associated with this lecture to grab the finished product.

Quick note about website speed: in this lesson we include JavaScript files in the <head> section of our HTML. While this location may be simple to remember we can achieve better performance by placing JS directly before our page’s closing <body> element.

What is Bootstrap?
Bootstrap (Part 1)
Bootstrap (Part 2)
Sass
Getting Started With Sass
Sass Basics

We continue to learn about Sass by reviewing Mixins and operators.

Pushing a Website Live Up Onto The Web
Going Live using GitHub Pages
Cross Browser Compatibility
Cross Browser Support & Feature Detection
Beyond This Course
Next Steps

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Taught by Brad Schiff who has taught countless coworkers and held training sessions for fortune 100 companies
Teaches students the fundamentals of web design using the same concepts that professional websites use
Helps students develop job-ready skills
Assumes no prior knowledge and begins by teaching the basics
Provides hands-on exercises to reinforce learning
Even supports devices of any size through responsive design

Save this course

Save Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS to your list so you can find it easily later:
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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 Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS with these activities:
Brush up on HTML and CSS fundamentals
Start by reviewing the basics of HTML and CSS. This will help refresh your memory and ensure you're on solid ground before diving deeper into the course material.
Browse courses on HTML
Show steps
  • Review HTML tags and structure
  • Practice writing simple CSS styles
  • Create a basic web page using HTML and CSS
Read 'The Pragmatic Programmer'
Read this classic book on software development to gain valuable insights and best practices. It covers topics such as design, testing, debugging, and team collaboration.
Show steps
  • Purchase or borrow a copy of the book
  • Read the book and take notes
  • Apply the principles and techniques described in the book to your own projects
Attend meetups or workshops related to web development
Attend industry events to connect with other web developers, share knowledge, and stay updated on the latest trends. This will help you expand your network and stay engaged with the web development community.
Browse courses on Web Development
Show steps
  • Find local meetups or workshops on web development
  • Register for the event and attend
  • Introduce yourself to other participants and engage in conversations
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Solve coding challenges on platforms like CodeChef or HackerRank
Practice your problem-solving and coding skills by solving challenges on online platforms. This will help you improve your ability to write efficient and effective code.
Browse courses on Coding
Show steps
  • Create an account on a coding challenge platform
  • Select a challenge and attempt to solve it
  • Review your solution and learn from your mistakes
  • Repeat the process with more challenges
Mentor a junior web developer or participate in online forums to answer questions
Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring others or volunteering to answer questions online. This will help you to reinforce your understanding of web development concepts and give back to the community.
Browse courses on Mentoring
Show steps
  • Find opportunities to mentor others or participate in online forums
  • Share your knowledge and expertise in a supportive and respectful manner
  • Be patient and understanding when working with others
Build a personal portfolio website
Create a personal portfolio website to showcase your skills and projects. This will provide you with hands-on experience and help you develop a stronger understanding of web development concepts.
Browse courses on Web Development
Show steps
  • Plan the structure and design of your website
  • Develop the HTML and CSS code for your website
  • Test and debug your website
  • Deploy your website to a web hosting provider
Volunteer for a non-profit organization focused on web development or technology education
Volunteer your time and skills to help others learn about or benefit from web development. This will give you practical experience and expose you to a diverse range of projects and technologies.
Browse courses on Volunteering
Show steps
  • Find a non-profit organization that aligns with your interests
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities
  • Commit to a specific number of hours or projects
  • Volunteer your time and expertise
Create a blog or tutorial on a specific web development topic
Create a blog or tutorial to share your knowledge with others. This will help you solidify your understanding of the topic and contribute to the web development community.
Browse courses on Web Development
Show steps
  • Choose a topic you're knowledgeable about
  • Write a detailed outline for your blog or tutorial
  • Create high-quality content that is both informative and engaging
  • Publish and promote your content on various platforms

Career center

Learners who complete Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Front-End Developer
Front-End Developers focus on the user-facing side of a website, ensuring that it is visually appealing and easy to use. They work with designers and back-end developers to bring a website to life. This course teaches the essential coding languages used for front-end development, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, making it a valuable resource for aspiring Front-End Developers.
Web Developer
Web Developers create and manage websites, designing the look and feel of a website and ensuring a positive user experience. This course teaches the essential coding languages used to build websites, including HTML and CSS. As web development is a rapidly changing field, this course may help you stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies.
Web Designer
Web Designers create the visual appearance of a website, working with developers to bring the website to life. This course teaches the essential design principles and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring Web Designers.
UX Designer
UX designers focus on the user experience of a website or app, ensuring that it is easy to use and navigate. This course teaches the principles of user experience design and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring UX Designers who want to expand their skillset.
UI Designer
UI designers focus on the user interface of a website or app, creating the visual elements that users interact with. This course teaches the principles of design and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring UI Designers who want to expand their skillset.
Art Director
Art Directors oversee the visual style and concepts of a variety of projects, including websites, magazines, and advertising campaigns. This course teaches the essential design principles and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring Art Directors who want to expand their skillset.
Graphic designer
Graphic Designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. This course teaches the essential design principles and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring Graphic Designers who want to expand their skillset.
Creative Director
Creative Directors develop the overall vision and strategy for a variety of creative projects, including websites, magazines, and advertising campaigns. This course teaches the essential design principles and provides practical experience with essential design tools, making it a valuable resource for aspiring Creative Directors who want to expand their skillset.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products or services. This course may be useful for aspiring Product Managers who want to learn how to bring new products to market successfully.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts gather and analyze data to help businesses understand their strengths and weaknesses. This course may be useful for aspiring Business Analysts who want to learn how to use data to make informed decisions.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan, organize, and execute projects to achieve specific goals. This course may be useful for aspiring Project Managers who want to learn how to manage projects successfully.
Copywriter
Copywriters create written content for marketing and advertising purposes, such as slogans, taglines, and ad copy. This course may be useful for aspiring Copywriters who want to learn how to create effective and persuasive written content.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. This course may be useful for aspiring Marketing Managers who want to learn how to create and implement effective marketing strategies.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documentation to help users understand and use technical products or services. This course may be useful for aspiring Technical Writers who want to learn how to create clear and concise documentation for a variety of audiences.
Content Writer
Content Writers create written content for a variety of purposes, including websites, blogs, and social media. This course may be useful for aspiring Content Writers who want to learn how to create engaging and informative content for a variety of audiences.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS.
Provides a comprehensive overview of web development, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced web developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of responsive web design, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for web developers who want to create websites that look great on all devices.
Provides a comprehensive overview of HTML and CSS, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced web developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of web design, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of web design.
Provides a practical guide to HTML5 and CSS3, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced web developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of HTML and CSS, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced web developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of SVG, a vector graphics format. It covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques, and valuable resource for web developers who want to use SVG to create scalable and interactive graphics.
Provides a collection of CSS recipes, covering everything from the basics to advanced techniques. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced web developers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of jQuery, a popular JavaScript library. It covers everything from the basics to advanced techniques, and valuable resource for web developers who want to use jQuery to create interactive web pages.

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