Greetings, I am kind of interested into practicing web design, but sometimes I just feel like "how should I practice" or "what should I practice on"...So I decided to make this thread for you as web designers, what methods you use to improve your skills? Thank you for sharing your knowledge and methods.
Personally, I like to re-make other's work... with my own style, it faster for me this way. And I do it almost everyday, I dedicate few hours of my free time to learn new things.
If you mind me asking, do you try to re-create the whole website or do you create just a specific area that you would like to improve upon.
One of the best ways to keep your hand in is to just go to forum areas like this one and help others with their problems... do a few free rewrites for people just starting out or that are stuck on a few minor issues -- or even major issues and flawed methodologies.
Wow! I never thought of that. Not only will that help me stay on track for what I know, I will also be able to give value to others while doing that as well. In some way that's like a win win situation, thank you for mentioning this really.
There's even more to it than that -- coming up with 'test cases' to learn how to do something, or to think in different directions is hard. A LOT of times people want things on their sites that I'd never even think of trying; giving me something new to think about. You can also further hone your craft through interaction with others trying to help -- never assume there's nothing new to learn or some newer better way of doing things... or something different you could do on a page. I also like steering people away from bad methodologies and things that IMHO don't belong on websites; the more people you give an earful the more likely it is the quality and usability of websites will improve... though admittedly being an old school New England Yankee I have the nasty habit of telling people what they need to hear with no regards to emotional involvement... but that's a Yankee in spades, we'll walk up to a homeless person in winter, call them a sleazy unwashed bum who should get a **** job... while at the same time giving them the winter jacket off our backs and a twenty. Unlike most of the places around the world I've visited who'll give you a fake smile, blow rainbows and sunshine up yer arse, and then walk away as if that fixed everything.
I usually practice every week. I take my time when I design things. I love to make everything simple and easy to use. Im also a great coder, if I do say so myself