Web Design Transitions Certificate Program
Characteristics Of This Class:
In this accelerated certificate program you will learn how to design a simple website including preparing the user interface design in Photoshop, building standards compliant pages using HTML, CSS and Adobe Dreamweaver. These skills will enable you to create basic professional websites.
Program Description
This program is the perfect way to get your professional web design career started. You'll learn from an industry veteran by building an actual sample website from the ground up using best practices. An engaging combination of lectures, hands-on learning and guided practice time will guide you through the process, from preparing the user interface to writing HTML and CSS and even Search Engine Optimization.
Many people start in web development doing things the wrong way or learn antiquated layout methods, such as using tables. We teach you the right way so that your code is clean, manageable, semantic and search engine friendly right from the beginning.
Read more about what makes our Transitions Certificate Programs unique.
Prerequisites
You should have a basic understanding of the web, be comfortable using Photoshop, and feel able to learn a reasonably technical skill set. This class will focus on professional web development methodologies and tools rather than relying on visual or WYSIWYG editors, though Adobe Dreamweaver will be used for the HTML and CSS coding.
We recommend taking Fundamentals of Web Design and/or Getting Started with Adobe Photoshop if you need more of the basics first.
There will be ample practice time to begin designing and developing your own website if so desired. Come prepared with a concept and any graphic and content material to best make use of your time.
Equipment
BDA provides an iMac workstation when necessary, but you may prefer to bring your own computer. If you do, you will need:
- Windows XP/Vista/7 or Mac OS X
- Dreamweaver CS6
- Photoshop CS6
- Mozilla Firefox
- On Windows: Microsoft Internet Explorer
- On Mac: Safari
- Optional: Google Chrome
- Optional: Filezilla FTP client
After You Register
BDA is committed to making learning process as enjoyable as possible and making sure that you can focus on your learning. After you register you will be contacted by our staff who answer questions you might have and assist you with any logistical and travel concerns.
Schedule
This certificate program is offered in two formats to accommodate the busy schedules of our students; weekdays for one full week (Monday through Friday), or two evenings per week for five weeks. To see a complete description of what will be covered in each class session, please choose the schedule you prefer below.
Please choose your preferred format above to see the schedule for the program.
Weekday Format Schedule
Monday
9am - 10pm: Introductions and Class OverviewWe'll kick off with some networking; who's who, what you know, why you're here. Then we'll go over what the class will cover, the structure and methodology.
10am - 11am: Website Design and Production WorkflowDiscussion of best practices regarding Planning, Design, and Production of websites. Where to start, design considerations for the web as a medium, and how to proceed with creating assets and pages for a website. We'll deconstruct a couple websites to see how the pieces fit together.
11am - 12pm: Image Formats for the Web, Color, and OptimizationBefore jumping into design, we'll discuss the different image formats for the web and do some exercises showing how to properly optimize them. We'll also talk about hexadecimal color codes and web safeness.
12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break
1pm - 3pm: Photoshop for the WebWorking with a premade visual layout for a sample website, we'll go through some basic Photoshop techniques and tools (canvas/image size, layers, shapes, text, image adjustments, batch processing.) Exporting techniques and slicing to generate individual images ready to use in HTML/CSS will be the focus of this lesson.
3pm - 5pm: Practice TimeInteract with Photoshop with the instructor available to answer questions and offer guidance. You may wish to start designing your own website, creating graphic elements and preparing image content.
Tuesday
9am - 2pm: Introduction to HTML and Document StructureWe'll start out with a quick discussion on available software tools including text-editors, WYSIWYG editors, and FTP applications. Next, using Dreamweaver as our code editor, you'll learn how to create Hypertext Markup Language structure with tags, including simple content formatting, links, and using images. During these exercises you'll also be introduced to architectural-level SEO principals such as the use of keyword-rich "title tags", "alt attributes", headings, etc. as part of creating clean, logical, semantic code.
12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break
2pm - 4pm: Introduction to CSS and FormattingCascading Style Sheets: what separates the pros from the amateurs. Here you'll learn the correct way to create CSS styles that will format your basic HTML content and allow you to control it in the most efficient way.
4pm - 5pm: Practice TimeWork on HTML and CSS with the instructor available to answer questions and offer guidance.
Wednesday
9am - 4pm: CSS Layout & TipsUnderstanding CSS layout is a crucial skill for the professional web designer. During this all-day session, you'll learn the techniques necessary to accomplish any type of page layout, including designing for tablet and mobile devices and printer friendliness. You'll bring it all together to recreate your Photoshop layout from day 1. Along the way you'll learn tips and tricks gleaned from years of experience and be shown examples of common mistakes, browser quirks, and their fixes. Tools to help you deconstruct and troubleshoot CSS will also be covered.
12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break
4pm - 5pm: Practice TimeDuring this time you may want to delve deeper into CSS layout practice, with the instructor available to answer questions and help you hone your troubleshooting skills!
Thursday
9am - 11am: Building Out the SiteNow that you've gotten a handle on page structure and layout, we'll focus on building out the rest of the site. Dreamweaver Templates and server-side includes will allow you to create a consistent, easy to manage website of any size. Methods of accommodating different layouts with templates will also be discussed.
11am - 12pm: Search Engine Optimization and AnalyticsDuring this session, we'll discuss best practices in making your website friendly to search engines, aka Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We'll also talk about how to submit your site and about website traffic statistics software such as Google Analytics.
12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break
1pm - 3pm: Introduction to JavaScriptJavaScript is a programming language supported by modern web browsers that can provide enhanced user interactivity such as drop-down menus, slideshows, and integrating content from other sources. We'll take a look at what JavaScript is currently used for in websites, and how to go about integrating scripts and programming it yourself.
3pm - 4pm: Overview of PHP and Content Management SystemsPHP is a powerful server-side scripting language for web development. You'll learn what it takes to work with PHP and what it can do for you. A PHP-based CMS such as Wordpress or Joomla is an easy and flexible way of building a website that allows you and your clients control over content and functionality without having to dig directly into code. We'll take a look at how a CMS works and talk about how to customize one to fit your needs.
4pm - 5pm: Deployment and Web HostingWe'll discuss choosing a web host, domain name registration and other server-side concerns. Using Dreamweaver as our File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program, we'll see how uploading/publishing to a web server works.
Friday
9am - 5pm: Practice DayYou have learned a lot in short period of time. Today is the day to make sure that all the pieces are coming together and that you understand the process. Throughout this day you are free to work at your own pace to test your newfound skills however you see fit.
You may wish to start from scratch with a new layout, taking it all the way through HTML and CSS production into a full-blown site. Or, if you have an existing site, you may wish to bring your your own files to class and work on improving a current site and redoing it the right way. The instructor will be available all day to help you with your questions and guide you when you get stuck. By the end of the day you'll feel a lot more confident about your skills!
12pm - 1pm: Lunch Break
Evening Format Schedule
Week 1 Session 1
6pm - 7pm: Introductions and Class OverviewWe'll kick off with some networking; who's who, what you know, why you're here. Then we'll go over what the class will cover, the structure and methodology.
7pm - 8pm: Website Design and Production WorkflowDiscussion of best practices regarding Planning, Design, and Production of websites. Where to start, design considerations for the web as a medium, and how to proceed with creating assets and pages for a website. We'll deconstruct a couple websites to see how the pieces fit together.
8pm - 9:30pm: Image Formats for the Web, Color, and OptimizationBefore jumping into design, we'll discuss the different image formats for the web and do some exercises showing how to properly optimize them. We'll also talk about hexadecimal color codes and web safeness.
Week 1 Session 2
6pm - 8pm: Photoshop for the WebWorking with a premade visual layout for a sample website, we'll go through some basic Photoshop techniques and tools (canvas/image size, layers, shapes, text, image adjustments, batch processing.) Exporting techniques and slicing to generate individual images ready to use in HTML/CSS will be the focus of this lesson.
8pm - 9:30pm: Practice TimeInteract with Photoshop with the instructor available to answer questions and offer guidance. You may wish to start designing your own website, creating graphic elements and preparing image content.
Week 2 Session 1
6pm - 9:30pm: Introduction to HTML and Document StructureWe'll start out with a quick discussion on available software tools including text-editors, WYSIWYG editors, and FTP applications. Next, using Dreamweaver as our code editor, you'll learn how to create Hypertext Markup Language structure with tags, including simple content formatting, links, and using images.
During these exercises you'll also be introduced to architectural-level SEO principals such as the use of keyword-rich "title tags", "alt attributes", headings, etc. as part of creating clean, logical, semantic code.
Week 2 Session 2
6pm - 8:30pm: Introduction to CSS and FormattingCascading Style Sheets: what separates the pros from the amateurs. Here you’ll learn the correct way to create CSS styles that will format your basic HTML content and allow you to control it in the most efficient way.
8:30pm - 9:30pm: Practice TimeWork on XHTML and CSS code with the instructor available to answer questions and offer guidance.
Week 3 Session 1
6pm - 9:30pm: CSS Layout & TipsUnderstanding CSS layout is a crucial skill for the professional web designer. During this session you'll learn the techniques necessary to accomplish page layout, bringing it all together to recreate your Photoshop layout from the first week. You'll learn tips and tricks gleaned from years of experience and be shown examples of common mistakes, browser quirks, and their fixes. Tools to help you deconstruct and troubleshoot CSS will also be covered.
Week 3 Session 2
6pm - 8:30pm: Building Out the SiteNow that you've gotten a handle on page structure and layout, we'll focus on building out the rest of the site. Dreamweaver Templates, server-side and PHP includes will allow you to create a consistent, easy to manage website of any size. Methods of accommodating different layouts with templates will also be discussed.
8:30pm - 9:30pm: Practice TimeDuring this time you may want to delve deeper into CSS layout practice, with the instructor available to answer questions and help you hone your troubleshooting skills!
Week 4 Session 1
6pm - 9:30pm: Practice DayYou have learned a lot in short period of time. Today is the day to make sure that all the pieces are coming together and that you understand the process. Throughout this day you are free to work at your own pace to test your newfound skills however you see fit.
You may wish to start from scratch with a new layout, taking it all the way through HTML and CSS production into a full-blown site. Or, if you have an existing site, you may wish to bring your your own files to class and work on improving a current site and redoing it the right way. The instructor will be available all day to help you with your questions and guide you when you get stuck. By the end of the day you'll feel a lot more confident about your skills!
Week 4 Session 2
6pm - 7pm: Integrating 3rd Party ContentMaking a great website is one thing, but how do you tie in your blog, Facebook page, or YouTube video? We'll take a look at the different ways that 3rd party content can be integrated into your site.
7pm - 9:30pm: Introduction to JavaScriptJavaScript is a programming language supported by modern web browsers that can provide enhanced user interactivity. We’ll take a look at what JavaScript is currently used for in websites, and how to go about integrating scripts and programming it yourself.
Week 5 Final Session: All-Day Lab
9am - 10am: Search Engine Optimization and AnalyticsDuring this session we'll discuss best practices in making your website friendly to search engines, aka Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We'll also talk about how to submit your site and about website traffic statistics software such as Google Analytics.
10am - 11am: Overview of Content Management SystemsA CMS such as Wordpress or Joomla is a powerful and flexible way of building a website that allows you and your clients control over content and functionality without having to dig directly into code. We'll take a look at how a CMS works and talk about how to customize one to fit your needs.
11am - 12:30pm: Deployment and Web HostingWe'll discuss choosing a web host, domain name registration and other server-side concerns. Using Dreamweaver as our File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program, we'll see how uploading/publishing to a web server works.
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch Break
1:30pm - 5pm: Final Work Time and Wrap-upIt's been an information-packed 5 weeks. If you have any questions or need some last-minute guided help, this is the time.
Instructor
Brian Shaffer is a seasoned web developer and Internet marketer. Over the past eight years, Brian has designed, developed, and marketed over 70 sites that are growing and thriving today. As an HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP expert, Brian builds on all major open source platforms, including WordPress and BigCommerce, to provide companies with sites that they can maintain without knowing how to program. Over the past few years, Brian has taken a liking to Twilio, and has built many phone and text message applications for clients using their platform. Take a look at some of the demos at Brian Shaffer's blog.
Mentoring
BDA is committed to providing the best learning experience possible. One of the distinctive benefits of our Transitions Certificate Programs is the evening mentoring session for the week-long program. Mentors, like the class instructors, are working professionals in the industry offering you a broader perspective and a great opportunity get particular questions answered or simply hang out with peers and exchange ideas and conversation.
Location
This certificate program will be held in the Boulder Digital Arts Arapahoe Studio classroom.
Brian Shaffer
Brian Shaffer is a seasoned web developer and Internet marketer. Over the past eight years, Brian has designed, developed, and marketed over 70 sites that are growing and thriving today. As an HTML, CSS, Javascript, and PHP expert, Brian builds on all major open source platforms, including WordPress and BigCommerce, to provide companies with sites that they can maintain without knowing how to program. Over the past few years, Brian has taken a liking to Twilio, and has built many phone and text message applications for clients using their platform. Take a look at some of the demos at Brian Shaffer's blog.
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming, but it was very helpful and informative.
Steven, 10/25/2012
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming but it was very helpful and informative.
Steven, 10/24/2012
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming, but it was very helpful and informative.
Steven, 10/24/2012
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming but it was very helpful and informative.
Steven, 10/24/2012
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming, but it was very helpful and informative
Steven, 10/24/2012
This class moves fast and covers a lot of group for beginners new to programming but it was very helpful and informative.
Steven, 10/24/2012
Extremely Happy. [The Instructor was] very knowledgeable and helpful.
Susanna, 8/17/2012
[The instructor] is the quintessential website designer. The master of tech and art.
Rebecca, 6/22/2012
Excellent overview of the many features and possibilities.
Marni, 5/2/2012
I feel like I learned a huge amount in a very short time. This class was full to the brim with valuable & current web design information. The instructors real-world experience and advice was extremely valuable. He was also very good at explaining complex techniques in a way understandable to a novice.
Heather, 5/2/2012
SO much information in one short class!
Iris Sela, 5/2/2012
Condensed, concise tour of the components needed and available for web design. Handouts will be very valuable for future development. Instructor was very knowledgeable and experienced, providing us with best practices. Covered a huge amount of information, providing us with a great foundation to do website design development.
Deborah, 2/10/2012
This program was invaluable. I now have qualifications to forward my career. Kelly's knowledge is so vast that it is rote for him!
Tracy [Theresa] A, 2/10/2012
I learned a great deal - enough to continue on my own. The instructor was very knowledgeable and patient.
Kate, 1/13/2012
I had a little knowledge of several topics - this class connected the dots. Kelly's knowledge is extraordinary!
Jill M, 1/13/2012
Very informative with the latest available information. Great handouts for reference. I like instructors who are currently working in the field. Very knowledgeable.
Jennifer, 11/9/2011
Leaned a lot!
James, 8/12/2011
Practical instruction, skillfully delivered. A home run!
Jearld Greg, 8/12/2011
This class was great! A lot of material was covered. It was a great introduction to web design and I feel as if I have a good foundation upon which to build my skills.
Shelby, 3/10/2011
Accomplished building a large part of my website. All the classes are well run.
Gregg, 11/12/2010
Fabulous overview of Adobe web apps and basic intro to internet design and strategy. BDA is fantastic, so glad to discover it! I'll be back!
Cynthia, 11/12/2010
Great hands on training, well worth the money. Kelly is very informative and knows a lot!
Kyle, 10/11/2010
I can now read and create CSS!! This will drastically improve the quality on my work life, and decrease my stress level. The instructor is knowledgeable, clever, and very patient.
Lea, 10/11/2010
The combination of instruction and hands on helps build understanding and confidence to build your own sites.
Jessica, 10/11/2010
Related Classes & Workshops
Below is a list of classes & workshops that are related to the one you are reading about now. We also encourage you to take a look at our "help me choose" page for much more information on choosing which BDA program is right for you.
Optional Payment Plan for Transitions Certificate Programs:
We want to make our training as accessible as possible so we offer a simple payment plan for our Transitions Certificate Programs. Each of the 4 payments is 25% of the total registration fee with no finance charges or other costs. The first payment will be taken when you register and the remaining 3 payments are paid every month for the following 3 months (detailed payment information in the table below). It's easy to take advantage of this option and we encourage you to sign up early since these programs often fill up fast! If you're interested, don't register online. Instead, please contact BDA staff at 303-800-4647 or email us with the name and start date of the program you wish to attend (info@boulderdigitalarts.com) and we'll get you setup, take your first payment, and confirm your registration.
Payment Program Details
| BDA Member | Non-Member | |
| Payment 1 Paid at time of registration. |
$252.25 | $277.25 |
| Payment 2 Due one month after registration. |
$252.25 | $277.25 |
| Payment 3 Due two months after registration. |
$252.25 | $277.25 |
| Payment 4 Due three months after registration. |
$252.25 | $277.25 |
| Note: registrants using the payment plan are not eligible for the early registration discount and always pay the standard registration fee ($1,009.00 for BDA members and $1,109.00 for non-members). | ||
Registration Fees
BDA Members: $999.00
Non-Members: $1,099.00
Registration Discount Applied
You save $10.00 by registering before midnight on 8/22/2013. Standard registration fees for this program are $1,009.00 for members and $1,109.00 for non-members.
Schedule
Starts:
August 26, 2013
Ends:
August 30, 2013
Weekday Format Schedule
Complete Schedule:
Monday, August 26, 2013
9am - 5pm
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
9am - 5pm
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
9am - 5pm
Thursday, August 29, 2013
9am - 5pm
Friday, August 30, 2013
9am - 5pm
BDA Arapahoe Studio (Details)
Starts:
November 11, 2013
Ends:
November 15, 2013
Weekday Format Schedule
Complete Schedule:
Monday, November 11, 2013
9am - 5pm
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
9am - 5pm
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
9am - 5pm
Thursday, November 14, 2013
9am - 5pm
Friday, November 15, 2013
9am - 5pm
BDA Arapahoe Studio (Details)
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I have a much better understanding of CSS and HTML. [Kelly] was very organized and easy to follow and understand. [He] went through the most information he could in a short time, very helpful.
Tiffany, 3/29/2013