The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Learning Web Design - For the bookshelf Major Keary |
This is the second edition of O'Reilly's Learning Web Design, which is one of
three excellent titles on Web design (the other two are Designing Web Audio and
Designing with JavaScript). The format departs from the traditional O'Reilly
design, making extensive use of graphics and a larger (248 x 205 mm) page
layout.
The visual approach can be most effective, and it can degenerate into something
that resembles a comic-book. Not all publishers do it well, relying heavily on
colour and minimising the amount of text. In this instance the book is mainly
monochrome (spot colour is used to good effect, and there is a small (16-page)
'gallery' that uses colour illustrations to explain colour-related processes.
There is no skimping on textual content, which is extensive and very well
written for the book's purpose: to provide a guide to Web design for beginners.
Jennifer Niederst was the designer of the first commercial Web site, O'Reilly's
Global Network Navigator; she is a Web design consultant, a teacher of Web
design, an established author on the subject, and is well-known as a speaker at
design and Internet events.
In this title she begins at the beginning with a chapter entitled, Where Do I
Start?. The first part of the book explains what you need to learn in order to
design Web pages, the kind of tools you will need, how the Web works, how to get
a page onto the Web, and the design process. A chapter discusses the important
differences between Web and print design.
The second part of the book is a tutorial-style introduction to HTML that takes
the reader through the basics to advanced topics such as specifying colours,
using tables, adding links, and formatting with style sheets.
The third part deals with graphics, explaining the common formats, animation
techniques, and slicing and rollovers.
The fourth part, Form and Function, shows how to apply various design techniques
(from bulleted lists to pop-up windows); discusses building usable sites; takes
the reader through list of Web design 'dos and don'ts'; and includes an
informative FAQ style chapter, How'd They Do That.
The tutorial style uses exercises (with necessary material on a companion CD),
and the book is supported by a companion Web site. Throughout there are
self-test questions (with answers in an appendix).
This is an excellent learning tool for anyone who wants to explore Web design.
There are various reasons for such an interest: Web design as a career; as part
of a skills 'portfolio'; setting up a site for oneself or a small community
group; or being drafted for the job in a small to medium business. For those
with professional aspirations, but little knowledge, it is an excellent starting
point. For those who want to set up a personal Web page this is probably all one
will need. For those who have been drafted to set up a Web site it is a life
saver.
A companion Win/Mac CD contains material for the book's exercises and trial
versions of design-related applications.
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Jennifer Niederst: Learning Web Design 2/e ISBN 0-596-00484-2 Published by O'Reilly, 454 pp. + CD, RRP $85.00 incl. GST. |
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Reprinted from the November 2003 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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