Learn web design?

[mhlg]

I've been a professional career for a couple of years now, doing lot on my side projects. I feel very proficient in terms of languages and frameworks, but there's one thing I can't really grasp. Web design, and I don't mean technicalities like JS/HTML/CSS. Whenever I do an application with a we frontend, no matter how interesting it is in terms of the features, it always looks like shit.

So, HN reader, do you have any resources on learning how to design (and implement?) a web page that would not be hideous?

[ralmeida]

Depending on how much you are looking to invest, take a look at some design courses and books online. A good portion of them are targeted to developers who want to get better at design, as it seems to be your case, not only people looking at design as a career choice.

Some links to check out:

Hack Design - hackdesign.org (free)

Design and Aesthetics course on Treehouse - teamtreehouse.com (25 USD / month)

Design Lab's Design 101 - trydesignlab.com/web-design-course (299 USD, six weeks. You work through the couse with a professional designer from mostly well-known Valley companies and startups, who you send assignments to and they give you feedback. Check out their profiles pages of students, so you can see the feedback received by other students, it's a good way to learn. I'm looking to try it in the near future).

Nathan Barry's books on design - nathanbarry.com/books (39 - 249 USD, depending on if you want the videos and supporting materials too).

[shogun21]

I like checking out http://www.smashingmagazine.com/, as well as their ebooks.

The best way to learn design is looking at existing designs and what works about them or what doesn't work. http://www.awwwards.com/websites/clean/

Design is an iterative process. Do you rough out ideas on paper before starting to build them? Paper prototyping in the beginning can save hours/days of work down the line.

[cskakun]

Well here's a short story of mine going from a horrible designer to getting featured on top blogs - http://kickassinwebdesign.com/blog/featured-on-mashable/

[chpp]

For business purposes, chopping up templates gets the job done. I personally have accepted the fact I do not have the "aesthetic eye" for design.

If I wanted to get that "eye" I guess I would look at successful websites, learn about design and what catches/pleases readers. How readers see websites in general and what is appealing, then just try things.

I cant recommend taking my advice but that's what I would do if I wanted to increase my design knowledge.

[talles]

I bet there are books on the subject, but I'm not a designer myself.

Codeschool has a Fundamentals of design course, but I didn't take the course myself. But judging by the quality of their other content it's probably good material: https://www.codeschool.com/courses/fundamentals-of-design

[systemtrigger]

To build a web site that looks perfect to you, find a web site that you think looks perfect and inspect its source.