Website design - future trends

Hi,

I am interested in web design and intend to become a professional web designer.

Would like to know your comments on web design future trends so I can take the appropriate training/self-learning.

Some few questions some to my mind; like, should I learn Java Scroit/PHP/Adobe tools (Cold Fusion, Flex)? What are useful to learn so I can be more productive and efficient?

What are the tools used for mobile web design? Are those the same as for PC?

Thanks and best regards,

Soujanna

Soujanna,

I have currently graduated the University of Phoenix with a degree in Multimedia and now work for a Casino in thier IT department. Dreamweaver is an excelent tool to know how to use. Along with that you must know how to create custom graphics using some form of graphics program, I use PhotoshopCS3 Extended. I have found out the hard way that Java is a must to know how to use. Almost every program will understand Javascript. I would say if you could learn Dreamweaver, Flash, Java, and Photoshop you are well on your way.

I hope this was helpful.

Joshua

Websites and mobile websites alike require basic elements. The tools can include any thing from programming languages to design platforms. What has helped me the most over the years is looking at other peoples designs. If I am stuck on a project I will look at templates to give me design ideas and I will look at award winning websites for technology ideas. I would recommend learning Photoshop, CSS, HTML, Dreamweaver and Imageready to start. If you enjoy the more technical side of things then leaning ASP .net or PHP... Mobile websites a built the same way, just a smaller less complicated fashion.

Regards,

Jeff Heveron
Badass Builders
Design and Marketing
www.badassbuilders.com 

Here is a good resource for learning mobile web: http://www.w3schools.com/wap/wap_intro.asp

I wonder why nobody mentioned about C#, ColdFusion, Flex...?

Do folks not use them?

Best regards,

Soujanna

I think you are referring to c+, c+, Cold Fusion and flex are more along the lines of application development. I am personally not a programmer I am a designer and owner of my company. To become a web designer these are not the tools I would recommend first. HTML, PHP, .NET, JAVA, are more along the lines of a web developers tools. If you are looking to build web applications then those are great languages to study. I hope this is helpful...

Regards,

Jeff
Badass Builders
www.badassbuilders.com

C# or C sharp is a good program when using Visual Studios and can give great results like Java or C+. C# is an easy language to learn and if you know Java then C# should come very easy to you.

There is quite a lot of things.  For one and the biggest thing is to learn how sites are laid out: colors, navigation, content, flash (when to use and not use), etc.  That is one of the biggest things.  Two, I would start designing some mockups first to get yourself "learned up" on how others designed sites.  As per language or software, sites are typically in Java, ASP.NET, PHP, or traditional HTML.  I would learn one and learn it well.  I would also find other people who can develop certain aspects and hire them on as contract work.  There honestly is sooooooooo much to learn to do great and professional custom development.

Yep, agreed. Social Media is definitely the way to in 2008. For new blogs and websites, social media has opened up a door to webmasters that hasn't been open since 2003... quick traffic.

I've been developing and designing websites since 2001.

I recommend you become familiar with:

XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Javascript --- these are the most popular scripting languages/tools for the majority of websites today.

You will also want to learn Photoshop, Illustrator - some form of graphic design.

I took Coldfusion, perl/cgi and the likes but have never had to use them.

Good luck!

You received some great tips with the comments here. However one question that was not hit on was the learning part. For some great tutorials check out www.lynda.com and www.totaltraining.com.

My recomendation to yoiu is to find a niche and work at it. You will find that if you do not keep yourself grounded you will find yourself getting nothing done because of information overload.

Dreamweaver is your best friend for all your website development needs. Combinded with Fireworks, Photoshop and Illustrator you will be setup with most everything you need to design and develop great sites. Allwasy use the validation tools to keep your sites in good standings.

I definitly agree www.lynda.com has some awesome tutorials and lessons.  I learned allot from that site when I  first  started.

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Kevin | Caught in the Web

www.caughtinthewebb.com

Popularity for iPhones and netbooks are increasing.  So it is important to design websites for smaller devices also.  

Also social media is growing at rapid pace, so it is also important to integrate snippets from twitter, facebook etc to the website.

Gari

Seems all sites are moving to CMS, with the most popular becoming WordPress.

Rob for Relocation to Atlanta

Why WordPress, because it is free and people don't have to deal with "headaches" of finding a host.  I like Sitefinity myself.