How long will it take to become a web designer?

If I start today from scratch and study every single day, how long it will take me to learn HTML, CSS, PHP, photoshop?

 

Depending on your skills, you may be able to take off in just a few months if you feel that you'd enjoy learning to do.
Again, that is the best possible scenario, I hate to disappoint but it could as well take years if you aren't up for it.

 

Depends on how fast you learn.
If you enjoy and like what you learn and you've got some freelance projects to sharpen your skills, I think it won't be long.

 

the answer is YOU.

depend on how hard you can go to learn this HTML, CSS, PHP, Photoshop and don't give up

good luck oliveri

 

Thanks to all. One more question arises: What's the minimum of tools to study if I want to work freelance? For example: Is PHP indispensable?

 

ITs All upon how quickly u give up ( no )

 

Start making a website, and when you are able to complete it, then you will become webmaster.
Start from HTML.

 

Probably 1-3 years. The coding part is easier, the design part talks about experience, so even if you CAN design and develop as a web designer in 2 to 3 years, it won't be still as good as those really good ones.


XHTML/CSS probably only takes you 2-3 weeks to be familiar at it, PHP maybe 2 weeks if you're already familiar with other programming languages like C#. Designing will take longer. It's the best if you have a group of friends all interested in this field so you can harness your design and programming skills tgt. (I'm building up a group similar to this, as in a real group with my classmates where we'll probably meet up on weekends to up our knowledge and tackle freelance jobs for experience)

 

As Sapphiro mentioned, it is the designing that will take a long time to get the hang of rather than the coding itself. With some decent tutorials such as those on w3schools.com you can really pick up the basics quite quickly, especially if you have the determination and motivation to practice it every day.

Learning how to get good at Photoshop though and making designs that stand out from a very busy crowd is quite a difficult skill to get good at. However, there are many things out there that can help such as great content management systems like Wordpress for which many people have already created some incredible themes that you can use. Or of course the option of actually paying someone to design a site for you in Photoshop which you could then create the code for.

I wish you every success in it anyway and do start with HTML, that's the best language to learn to grasp the basics in web design. Good luck! Oh and if you do spend time every day learning I'm sure people here would be interested to see the answer to your question in practice so keep us up to date with how it goes.

Bex

 

The only way to learn to be a good webdesigner is to practise. Find something you want to create a website about and learn through doing. You might need to pick up a couple of books or learn a few things from websites. For example w3schools.com is a really good starting place. Realistically you never stop learning because technologies are constantly changing.

 

I think 3 years is enough to learn what you want.You have to start first website design with Photoshop then you can learn HTML & CSS at a time.It is depending on your skill, i had taken only six months on both & my sugession is must visit w3 schools to learn these.PHP, it is programming part it may take 1 years.

 

Taking in consideration that I'm a newbie, I am wondering:
Isn't it enough to use Wordpress templates instead of creating an original design? If so, wouldn't this "kill" the job of web designers?

 

The design part can be easier if this is what you enjoy doing (like me!). I still ain't got a grasp on PHP - I outsource this. But all said, I'd plan for 3 years from newbie start, then 1.5 years to see, feel, and learn what's really good design.

Who do you think designed those WP themes? Besides, WP doesn't have internet domination. There are several other platforms, and then there's plain static HTML. Website designers will ALWAYS be in demand.

 

Oh, maybe we can exchange pointers heh, you got twitter?
For PHP, I only took 4 days to learn everything from w3schools, I definitely don't think it'll take you 3 years!

If you want, you can use good WP templates if you're looking for a temporary solution. (Or not too serious on developing your website).

But you see, if you're serious in developing a good website that retains visitors with good first impressions, then a unique and good-looking web design is a must.

(But if you're just planning to build many small website for affiliate marketing etc, then I think you shouldn't waste too much resources on having a good and unique design, just go for simple design in that case. )

 

It seems to me that things couldn't be so simple in terms of the technical part. I see on the Internet what some people create: contact forms, dynamic sites, administrative panels... Is it really far too complicated and intricate?

 

I've been a webmaster for 14 years, give or take. It's important to realize that it's a continuous process. There is always something new to learn or practice. I've been a webmaster forever, but I still have to learn html5, for example.

Being a webmaster is not so much an achievement as it is (dare I say) a lifestyle.

 

There is no time limit, coz each day a developer gets new challenge and each day better solution...

Technology Has No End

 

It all depends on how hard you study... It also takes a desire to learn. If you want to start from scratch buy a domain get some web software, and start making a site. Theirs plenty of tutorials out their to.

 

Took me 5 seconds:

Client that I host: I need you to create a website for me and I'll pay you.

Me: OK....

I learn as I go. If I discover that I don't know something, I search to find the answer, read it, and understand it. It's an ongoing task.

 

If you like what your doing then it wont take long. Start reading tutorials and making sites. The more your practice the faster you learn how to make better sites. Good luck!