Well, I have been into web programming for a few years now, and am just now getting into it very seriously. My problem is... I have no concept of design. I want to make visually stunning websites.

I am planning on taking a college course on this within the next few quarters, but I don't want to wait. I have bought a few graphic design books, but most of them suck. I have Photoshop CS3. Does anyone have suggestions on how to get started? I want to know why things look good, and acquire the specific skill sets to make them happen.

Thanks for your help.

I suggest you start with simple tutorials. There are lots of photoshop tutorial sites out there and I personally like www.good-tutorials.com.

Not a bad idea. I have looked at and completed a few tutorials here and there, and I know how to use photoshop, I just don't understand the design concepts. Anyone else?

there are many ways to enhance your design concept.....just take some basic web tutorials like what they say! practice makes perfect...

1. do some photoshop tutorials.
2. read about web 2.0 design standards. even if you do not use that kind of graphics it it's good to know about them
3. explore the internet and be aware of good-looking websites. explore their design
4. try sketching a website with photoshop until you have a design that will please you

Good Luck

Try this one :
http://www.forwebdesigners.com/

this is a huge resources to start making a web design

I want to know why things look good, and acquire the specific skill sets to make them happen.

That's a tall order for a forum like this. Photoshop tutorials will show you how to achieve an effect, or use PS CS3, however, that cannot make you a "designer".

Please don't take this the wrong way but... you can take all the classes there are for design principles and graphic design, color theory, etc. (you can't do that in a few months either), but at the very basic level you either have a TALENT for design or you don't. I know some very talented programmers, but they couldn't DESIGN a paper bag, let alone produce a 'visually stunning' web site.

Are you creative in other ways ?? It's been my experience that the logical thinkers - which tends to be the heavy programming types - tend not to be all that creative in other ways.

No offense taken, thanks for the response! I am really not the college type and I don't expect to get much out of an art class. As a matter of fact, this is my first quarter. I am a creative person, but it always had more to do with music than art. You could say that I am just now realizing my "artistic potential." I definitely have a desire to do better, and I would be stupid to not try.

Have a look at brochures, leaflets and all printed advertisements. Try to remake it in Photoshop. Little by little you will start to think in the way designers do. You have to look for different angle of the things, try to see what others don't see and implement it in your work.

First of all I want to say that I admire your wanting to learn the right way of designing. Anyone can go to a tutorial and step by step it, but it requires something to be able to be creative and do it yourself. Which I am still a student of. But here is what I would do, it might sound silly but get a basic art book of colors. And really learn colors; which ones work together, which ones are in right now (this is a big one), and so on and so on. Believe me this will help. Good luck.

Check out this site http://www.colourlovers.com/ its a pretty good site for finding out colour combinations to go with when constructing websites and graphic design work also check out this portfolio this is a dude that creates some pretty awesome stuff using photoshop http://www.shinybinary.com/.

awesome Links

Thanks for your help everyone. Definitely one of the better forums on the web.

phppoddotcom makes a very good point. When I started out designing, I did pretty much the same thing, but I did it with CD's and DVD covers.

What helped me, and might help you, is to analyse designs that you really like the look of, and ask yourself why you like them - what is it about the image that appeals? Is it the colour / tone, style, how the image is put together, the message that the image is saying, etc.

Then try to emulate it, while being mindful of the things you like about your favourite designs. That's a good place to start, I think.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/category/tutorials/


Go to that link for Very Good tutorials

www.pixel2life.com.

I disagree with some of the others, and think that tutorials can only go so far.

Start making a note of every website you come across with good design, and also look to other sources for inspiration - graphic design in print, design magazines, blogs, etc. If your really organised, keep a notebook of what you like about all the designs.

The hard part is knowing what looks good, recreating it or expanding upon it is the easy bit.

http://www.forwebdesigners.com/ is an amazing site. Check it out!

wish you all the best bro!

Originally Posted by Magic Monkey

phppoddotcom makes a very good point. When I started out designing, I did pretty much the same thing, but I did it with CD's and DVD covers.

What helped me, and might help you, is to analyse designs that you really like the look of, and ask yourself why you like them - what is it about the image that appeals? Is it the colour / tone, style, how the image is put together, the message that the image is saying, etc.

Then try to emulate it, while being mindful of the things you like about your favourite designs. That's a good place to start, I think.

Exactly what i was going to say!