Course Outline

Course Title: Web Design for Beginners: Build Your First Website

Course Duration: 6 Weeks (3-4 hours per week)

Prerequisites: No prior experience required. This course is designed for beginners with no web design or coding knowledge.

Course Overview:

This course will introduce you to the world of web design and guide you step-by-step through creating your first website. You'll learn the essential skills needed to design and develop simple, beautiful, and functional websites. By the end of the course, you'll have a strong understanding of HTML, CSS, and basic web design principles, and you’ll be able to create your own fully functional website.

Module 1: Introduction to Web Design

• Lesson 1.1: What is Web Design?

  • Understanding the role of a web designer vs. a web developer

  • Key skills needed for web design (creativity, problem-solving, user experience)

  • Overview of web design tools and technologies

• Lesson 1.2: Web Design vs. Web Development

  • The difference between front-end and back-end development

  • Understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in web design

  • Introduction to content management systems (CMS) like WordPress

• Lesson 1.3: Getting Started with Your Web Design Project

  • Defining the purpose of your website (personal blog, portfolio, business site)

  • Sketching a basic wireframe: Layout, navigation, and content structure

  • Understanding the importance of responsive design

Module 2: Introduction to HTML (HyperText Markup Language)

• Lesson 2.1: Understanding HTML Basics

  • What is HTML and how does it work?

  • Overview of HTML tags, elements, and attributes

  • Building your first basic HTML page (adding headings, paragraphs, and links)

• Lesson 2.2: Structuring Content with HTML

  • Creating lists, images, and links

  • Understanding the structure of a webpage (head, body, footer)

  • Using divs and sections to organize content

• Lesson 2.3: Working with Forms and Inputs

  • Creating contact forms, search bars, and user input fields

  • Understanding form tags and attributes (input, textarea, button)

  • Basic validation and setting form actions

Module 3: Styling Your Website with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)

• Lesson 3.1: Introduction to CSS

  • What is CSS and how does it control the design of a website?

  • Understanding CSS syntax: Selectors, properties, and values

  • Styling text, colors, and backgrounds

• Lesson 3.2: Layout Techniques in CSS

  • The CSS Box Model: Understanding margins, padding, borders, and content

  • Positioning elements: static, relative, absolute, and fixed positioning

  • Creating simple layouts with Flexbox and CSS Grid

• Lesson 3.3: Responsive Design with CSS

  • Introduction to responsive web design

  • Using media queries to adapt your website for different screen sizes

  • Making a website mobile-friendly: Best practices for mobile-first design

Module 4: Enhancing Your Website’s Design

• Lesson 4.1: Typography and Color Theory

  • Choosing web-safe fonts and font pairing

  • Understanding typography for readability and aesthetic appeal

  • Using color theory to create harmonious color schemes

• Lesson 4.2: Adding Images and Media

  • Best practices for image sizes and formats (JPEG, PNG, SVG)

  • Adding images, icons, and videos to your website

  • Optimizing media for faster loading times

• Lesson 4.3: Navigation and User Experience (UX) Design

  • Designing effective navigation menus: Horizontal vs. vertical menus

  • Understanding UX principles: Simplicity, consistency, and accessibility

  • Using links and buttons for better user interaction

Module 5: Introduction to Web Design Tools and Prototyping

• Lesson 5.1: Introduction to Design Tools

  • Overview of popular web design tools: Figma, Adobe XD, and Canva

  • How to use Figma for wireframing and prototyping your website

  • Creating a simple website mockup and turning it into a live website

• Lesson 5.2: Working with Templates and Frameworks

  • Using website templates to speed up your design process

  • Introduction to Bootstrap: A responsive front-end framework

  • Customizing templates with HTML and CSS

• Lesson 5.3: Testing and Refining Your Website

  • Testing your website on different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

  • Debugging common issues (broken links, layout problems, responsiveness)

  • Getting feedback and making improvements

Module 6: Launching and Maintaining Your Website

• Lesson 6.1: Hosting and Domain Names

  • Understanding website hosting and how it works

  • Choosing a domain name and setting up hosting (shared vs. dedicated hosting)

  • Uploading your website to a web server (using FTP or cPanel)

• Lesson 6.2: Website Optimization for Speed and SEO

  • Best practices for optimizing images, CSS, and JavaScript

  • Introduction to SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Meta tags, alt text, and keywords

  • Tools for testing website speed (Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix)

• Lesson 6.3: Maintaining and Updating Your Website

  • Regular updates: Content, security, and design tweaks

  • Monitoring website performance and traffic using Google Analytics

  • Keeping your website secure and backed up

Final Project: Build Your Own Website

• Lesson 7.1: Planning Your Website

  • Defining the goals of your website (portfolio, personal blog, small business)

  • Creating a wireframe and sitemap to organize your content

• Lesson 7.2: Designing and Developing the Website

  • Applying HTML and CSS skills to build your website

  • Implementing responsive design principles

  • Adding images, text, and other media

• Lesson 7.3: Final Review and Launch

  • Final testing and debugging of your website

  • Preparing for launch: Uploading the site and going live

  • Sharing your website and receiving feedback

Course Wrap-up and Certification

• Review and Reflection

  • Recap of the key concepts and skills learned throughout the course

  • Final feedback and improvements on student projects

• Certification of Completion

  • Receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course and final project

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the basics of web design and how the web works.

• Build a simple, responsive website using HTML and CSS.

• Design websites with a focus on user experience and aesthetics.

• Apply basic web design principles such as color theory, typography, and layout.

• Launch and maintain a personal or business website.

• Create and customize web pages using free design tools and templates.

This Web Design for Beginners course is ideal for anyone who wants to start their journey into the world of web design. Whether you’re interested in building a personal portfolio, a business website, or just learning a new skill, this course will equip you with the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience to design and develop functional, visually appealing websites.