The best way to learn web design depends on what you want to build. If you want to understand how websites work and be able to fix and adjust them, start with the foundations: HTML for structure, CSS for layout and style, and a grounding in design principles such as grids, typography and colour. If you simply need a good looking site for a business quickly, a book or course on a specific platform such as WordPress or Shopify will get you there faster.
Books and video courses do different jobs. A good book explains the reasons behind design decisions and stays useful for years when it covers principles. A video course is better for following along step by step with a specific tool, but it dates quickly when that tool changes.
Most people learn best by combining the two: one solid book on design principles and one current course on the tool they will actually use. You can browse both in the web design range.
What to learn first
A sensible order for a beginner looks like this:
- HTML: headings, paragraphs, links, images, lists and forms, and why the right element matters for search engines and screen readers.
- CSS: colours, fonts, spacing, and modern layout with Flexbox and Grid.
- Responsive design: making pages work on phones, tablets and desktops with flexible layouts and media queries.
- Design basics: grids, visual hierarchy, typography, white space and colour contrast.
- Accessibility: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) published by the W3C. Version 2.2 became a W3C Recommendation in October 2023.
- A platform or tool: WordPress, Shopify, a site builder, or a design tool for mock-ups.
- JavaScript basics, if you want interactive elements or plan to move into front end development.
You do not need to master each step before moving on, but skipping HTML and CSS entirely makes every later problem harder to solve.
Books or online courses
| Books | Video courses | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Principles, theory, reference | Following along with a specific tool |
| Shelf life | Long for design principles, short for software how-tos | Often short; tools and interfaces change |
| Pace | Your own, easy to reread | Your own, but harder to skim |
| Practice | You set up exercises yourself | Usually includes projects and files |
| Price | Often low for used or older editions | Varies; frequent discounts on large platforms |
Books on grids, layout and typography age well: the principles in a book like Khoi Vinh’s Ordering Disorder still apply even though the tools have changed. Software books are different. A book on an older version of Photoshop or WordPress can still teach the basics, but menus and features will have moved, so pair it with current documentation.
On course platforms such as Udemy, check the date of the last update, the course length, the list of lectures and whether there are project files. Udemy offers refunds within 30 days of purchase for most individual courses, subject to its refund policy, which reduces the risk of trying one.
How to judge a book or course before you buy
- Publication or update date. For anything tool specific, aim for material from the last two or three years.
- Version numbers. Check which version of the software is covered, for example a specific Photoshop or WordPress release.
- Table of contents. Does it cover the topics in the order above, or only a narrow trick?
- Author or instructor background. Look for people who have built real sites or worked in design and development.
- Exercises and projects. You learn web design by building, so material with real projects is worth more than passive reading.
- Level. Titles that promise everything for beginners and experts at once often serve neither well.
Be wary of titles that promise traffic, income or rankings in a short time. Good material explains methods; it does not promise results.
Choosing a platform
- WordPress powers a large share of websites and suits blogs, company sites and, with plugins, shops. A WordPress book or course should cover themes, the block editor, plugins, updates and backups.
- Shopify is a hosted shop platform. Design work happens in themes, and Shopify themes use the Liquid template language, which is worth learning if you want to customise more than colours and fonts.
- Site builders let you design visually with little code. They are quick, but you have less control and moving the site elsewhere later can be hard.
- Design tools such as Figma or Adobe applications are used to plan layouts before building. Photoshop is still used for image editing, while interface design has largely moved to dedicated tools.
If your goal is attracting visitors as well as building pages, pair web design material with a book from the content marketing or digital marketing ranges or the social media marketing books and courses, and read the guide to choosing a social media marketing course.
Free resources worth knowing
Paid books and courses are easier to follow, but some of the best reference material is free. MDN Web Docs, maintained by Mozilla and partners, documents HTML, CSS and JavaScript in detail. The W3C publishes the WCAG guidelines and introductory material on accessibility. Use these alongside a book or course to check details and look things up.
Quick checklist
- Decide what you want to build before you choose material.
- Learn HTML and CSS basics first, even for platform work.
- One principles book plus one current tool course.
- Check publication dates and software versions.
- Prefer material with real projects.
- Learn accessibility basics from the start.
- Keep free documentation open while you learn.
Common questions
Do I need to learn to code to design websites?
Not to get started, since site builders and themes remove most of the code. Knowing basic HTML and CSS still helps you fix problems, adjust layouts and work with developers, so it is worth learning even if you mainly use a platform.
Is an old web design book still worth reading?
Yes, if it is about principles such as grids, typography and hierarchy. Software tutorials from older editions are less useful because the tools change, so check the version they cover.
How long does it take to learn web design?
It depends on your goal and time. Building a simple site with a platform can take days. Becoming confident with HTML, CSS and design principles usually takes months of regular practice on real projects.
