What do I need to learn to begin doing web design?

[Crafty]

Hi, I want to get into web design but I have no idea were where to start. I would like to teach myself, but like i have already said I have know idea where where to start. Do I have to start by learning html first or something else, or can i just get a program like Dream Weaver and learn that? What do you guys think? What program should I get and what should I study first? Thanks!!

[reddevilggg]

Personally, i found learning html using notepad++ a benefit, before using Dreamweaver, because once you have a basic knowledge of html you can understand what Dreamwaver is doing and be able to be more precise in your web design.

[Geek-9pm]

What have you already tried?
Have you seen this?
http://www.100best-free-web-space.com/
I do not endorse any of these. This is for information. Some of these will offer you a free web site and simple toots to build and manage your site.

If you are willing to pay some money, try Netfirms.
http://www.netfirms.com/
Recommended by intelligent people.

[experimentaltech]

Many websites offer lessons on web design. Just search on the net.
Also, there are a lot of books, but don't take one which is too old.

[Crafty]

Thankyou for all the replies so so far, but I just need to know one last thing from you guys. I have decided I want to learn html first because I was told it is quite easy to learn. However, there seems to be an awful lot of html tags and other things for me to try and remember from what i have been looking at so far. So could someone tell me if this is the right way to go about learning html, by trying to memorise it all? Or should I just be aware of what it does and copy and paste parts? I am totally stumped and would appreciacte some more help. Thankyou!!

[Geek-9pm]

You have answered your own question. Either way you will learn. Here is a tool that may help you.
http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
It is a browser like to old Netscape. It is a simple 3-in-1 tool. You can view a page written in HTML either as source editor or the WYSIWYG editor. Or as how it will look is most browsers. I like it for making a quick page and doing a few quick modes to get what I want.

[reddevilggg]

There are only about 70 ish html tags and i dont think you will use them all at the beginning stage.

Why dont you just start learning it and, erm..........learn it as you go along. Would you start reading a book by memorizing all the words in the dictionary first? No, as you come to a word then you learn it, as you go along.

Alot of html can be copy and paste.

[gluxon]

I recommend learning at w3schools.com

Remember to always check your creations for compliance with the w3c validator tool

[Caliban]

I'll throw my $.02 worth in:

As you're surfing the 'net and you come across a website that you like, or if a site displays something you're interested in, look at the code!

Simply right-click on a page, and in the context menu click 'View Source' (if you're using IE) or 'View Page Source' (if using Firefox) - you will then be presented with a separate browser page showing all of the tricks used by the website's author.

Great way to learn, because you can correlate what you see with how it's written.