So you want to be a web designer? Great! But how do you learn the basics, and turn your designs into functional websites?
The internet is full of introductory web design courses — but which is right for you?
What to look for in online web design courses
There are thousands of web design courses online — it can be hard to know which is right for you! When shopping around for a course, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Curriculum: Ensure the course covers fundamental and advanced topics like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, UX/UI principles, and relevant tools.
- Hands-on projects: Look for courses with practical assignments and projects so you can build a strong portfolio while learning.
- Industry-relevant skills: Check to see if the course teaches current industry trends, tools, and technologies to keep you up-to-date with the evolving field of web design.
- Experienced instructors: Opt for courses led by instructors with a background in web design or related fields.
- Flexibility: Choose a course that accommodates your schedule, whether it's a self-paced program or one with flexible class timings.
- Interactive and community-based learning: Seek courses that incorporate interactive elements such as forums, discussions, and Q&A sessions, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
- Feedback and support: Choose a course that provides constructive feedback on your work.
- Real-world applications: Look for courses that emphasize real-world applications, teaching you how to solve practical design challenges encountered in professional settings.
In this blog, we’ll list the top 12 best web design courses for beginners, including some of their most notable features and offerings. From UX fundamental classes to learning to design with Webflow, this article will help you choose the right online web design course for you.
12 web design courses for beginners (free + paid)
1. Webflow University
Platforms like Webflow University make it incredibly easy to learn web design. Webflow’s free web design training offers self-paced learning for crucial concepts like typography, page design, and UI design — and how they all work together.
One of the most comprehensive courses, Webflow’s Ultimate web design course boasts over 100 videos. Starting with beginner concepts like HTML basics and CSS classes and subclasses, the course leads to more advanced design concepts like sophisticated animations and interactions.
By the end of the course, you will be able to construct a page design with elements like containers, divs, flexboxes, and grids, as well as use Webflow's most powerful feature — the CMS — to create dynamic blogs.
Along with these fundamental web design skills, you’ll also learn about SEO: how organic and paid searches work, how to set up Google Analytics, and how to optimize your website for search engines.
Even if you know nothing about HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, Webflow gives you everything you need to create responsive websites. Webflow University courses break down the basics with step-by-step instructions that will transform you into the designer you always wanted to be.
2. Creating a Clean & Simple Website with Webflow
Jan Losert, a talented Czech designer, has put together a comprehensive online web design course with Creating a Clean & Simple Website with Webflow.
This class teaches the basics through a step-by-step guide to designing and building a startup community website — and makes the entire website available to clone, for free. This hands-on project lets you see how various elements come together in a page design, making the concepts much easier to understand and learn.
These lessons cover the important design principles everyone should know, including building navigation, creating calls to action (CTAs), using div blocks, and understanding SEO and responsive web design.
Completely free and perfect for both beginners and more knowledgeable web designers, Jan’s Creating a Clean & Simple Website with Webflow offers a straightforward project for learning new skills and developing others.
3. The Webflow Masterclass
Ran Segall, founder of Flux Academy, embodies all that it means to be an independent web designer. Ran, someone who knows visual design, what it takes to work with clients, and run the business side of things, brings both experience and expertise to the course. His premium Webflow Masterclass synthesizes all of his smarts for a course that’s both enlightening and inspiring for any aspiring web developer.
The entrepreneurial spirit is the underlying thread running through this coursework. Developing the skills to create customized websites not only makes you a better designer, it also makes you someone who can charge a premium for what you do. Along with tutorials on web design and Webflow, Ran teaches the fundamentals of running a freelance business, like understanding how to price your own work.
This mix of design skills and other aspects of the web design career makes this a well-rounded course — no matter where you are in your journey.
4. Memorisely
User experience (UX) shapes someone’s general experience on a website, while user interface (UI) involves the controls and pathways to maneuver through it. Both disciplines take the raw materials of a page design and structure them to create a positive user experience — and you can learn both with Memorisely.
Memorisely offers several multi-week self-paced and live boot camps. The live bootcamps, one of their more popular offerings, offer access to a community of other enrolled students through Slack as well as the opportunity for project feedback from peer groups.
Trusted by over 500,000 designers and developers, Memorisely is a great fit for those who want to learn the basics, launch careers in UX design, or just gain some web design inspiration from other community members and mentors.
5. Design + Code
There is no shortage of interesting web design classes on Design+Code. Whether you want to learn React, Vue, After Effects, or Webflow, there’s something for you on this platform. There are a ton of educational materials to help you learn some of the best web design tools. Plus, the platform offers several exciting classes for mastering other creative skills like sound design, video editing, app design, and game creation.
For those who just want to learn how to build a website, their free Webflow class is a comprehensive course that takes you through building a functional website with fully fleshed-out web design, multiple pages, CMS data, and payment processing. The class provides students with Webflow lessons which makes it easy to follow and learn.
This online course puts extra emphasis on conversions. It teaches how content, CTAs, and customer feedback can enhance the user experience — all of which web designers often overlook.
6. Design. Build. Launch.
There’s a lot to love about Caler Edwards’ Design. Build. Launch YouTube series about designing with Webflow. Not only do users learn the fundamentals of web design like navigation and responsive web design, they also end up with their own portfolio website.
One of the strongest features of this web series is that it begins the design process with the free-to-download Adobe XD app. Once you download the app, Caler teaches you how to wireframe as well as some of the basics of UX and UI design. Then, Caler touches on SEO, how to use Webflow to add title tags, meta descriptions, and how open graph systems work for social media.
7. Learn UI/UX
Learnux.io offers a range of web design courses. The HTML/CSS lessons in particular are well-suited for new designers who want to understand and apply the complexities of CSS.
From the basics of UX, usability, and prototyping, to the final handoff, these classes teach every part of the design process so you can leave feeling confident in creating your first website.
8. Udemy
Udemy offers a wide range of self-paced web design courses catering to various skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. The platform offers dozens of courses on subjects like responsive web design, WordPress, Figma, and even Webflow websites.
Perfect for beginners, Udemy includes practical exercises and projects to help learners build their skills in web design, no matter what kind of web design they're interested in. Courses on Udemy are often priced affordably, making them accessible to all budgets. Plus, when users purchase a course on Udemy, they typically get lifetime access to the course content. This access means you can revisit the material, get updates, and review lessons whenever you need to, even after completing the course.
9. LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning provides high-quality courses on a variety of topics, including web design. The courses are created by industry experts and professionals, ensuring that the content is accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with industry standards.
The platform offers a diverse range of self-paced and flexible web design courses suitable for different skill levels, from beginners to advanced users. Topics range from Adobe XD training to Webflow training, so users can become experts no matter what kind of web design they are interested in.
One of the unique benefits of LinkedIn learning is its integration with personal LinkedIn profiles. As you complete courses, you can showcase your certifications on your LinkedIn profile, enhancing your professional credibility. Plus, LinkedIn Learning provides opportunities for community engagement. Learners can participate in discussions, connect with other professionals, and expand their network within the web design community.
10. Skillshare
Skillshare is an affordable subscription-based learning platform that emphasizes project-based learning, allowing learners to apply teachings and concepts to real projects. This platform offers a diverse range of web design from the fundamentals of UX design to learning how to create a Webflow website. Skillshare’s entry-level course on Webflow is a great option for new web designers who want a hands-on approach to designing and launching a website.
One of the unique benefits of Skillshare is the platform’s huge community. Enrolled students get access to class discussions and can interact with instructors and fellow students to share insights and receive feedback, creating a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
11. Udacity
Udacity courses are great tools for beginners, and are packed with interactive quizzes and assessments so users can track and monitor their progress. Their course, Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS, is specifically beneficial for beginners and focuses on the fundamentals of HTML and CSS. The course includes interactive quizzes and projects to reinforce concepts and provide hands-on experience. Users can also learn Javascript, UX design, and how to design rest APIs.
Udacity’s hands-on approach ensures that beginners not only understand the concepts but also gain practical skills in coding and designing web pages.
12. edX
EdX offers dozens of beginner-friendly web design courses, including courses for learning JavaScript to enhance the interactivity of websites and create dynamic content. The course includes hands-on labs for practical application.
Like other web design courses, edX courses are affordable, online, and self-paced so anyone can learn web design on their own time. Plus, their course offerings are far ranging and diverse, so web designer beginners can not only learn the basics, but progress to a more advanced level right within the platform.
Become a web designer with Webflow
Learning the basics of web design — like UI and UX, CSS, HTML5, responsive web design, and more — can be overwhelming. But with the right courses, anyone can become a master of website design.
With Webflow, anyone — beginner or advanced — can customize and launch their own website. With self-paced, in-depth courses, users can access a community of over 85,000 other aspiring web designers, and learn everything they need to craft and publish a complete digital experience like a pro.
