Date: July 2001
Subject: Web Design
From: Greg

Can you identify the most demanding design packages out there that are necessary for a Web designer to know? I am currently investing considerable time in learning HTML, JavaScript, Photoshop, Flash, and Director, but there seems to be so much more to learn with every job spec I see. What duties are really expected of Web designers?

Thanks!

Greg

Hi Greg,

I'm the Web designer for oreilly.com and have been asked to respond to your question. It's our philosophy to keep things simple on oreilly.com. Adding things like JavaScript and Flash to Web sites creates barriers to entry (often requiring people to install plug-ins or requiring that people have the latest version of a browser). The last thing you want is to drive people away from your site with JavaScript errors. A clean, functional, and focused design is what you should strive for.

It's important to have a very solid understanding of HTML. I urge people to stay away from WYSIWYG HTML editors. Though I have heard that DreamWeaver isn't bad, WYSIWYG HTML editors often load pages down with tons of junk code. For image editing you can't go wrong with Photoshop. I've also heard that PaintShop Pro is a good alternative (and much less expensive).

Building a complete Web site requires programming knowledge; for example, creating dynamic pages that are driven from a database can be accomplished with a number of programming languages. Tim addresses the difficult question of what programming language to choose in a recent Ask Tim column in which someone asks, "Where do I begin?" For balance, though, you should also read a column by our editor in chief, Frank Willison, titled Web Design Languages.

If you're just getting started in Web design, I'd highly recommend our Learning Web Design by Jennifer Niederst. Web Design in a Nutshell, also by Jennifer, is a great resource, too.

I hope this was helpful.

Best of luck,
Laura

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