The Blog Mechanics

Learning to Code

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:55:47 +0000

As I mentioned in a recent Skelliewag post, I’m beginning to learn CSS & HTML. The scary thing is, this process started back in the year 2000! I puzzled my way through a series called ‘HTML 101′. Most of what I learned then was extremely basic, and much of that is outdated now.

What I know of CSS was learnt only by trial-and-error tinkering in Wordpress and, from a while back, Blogger. I changed numbers and hex values, reloaded the site and waited to see if it changed what I wanted. If not, I’d restore the old value and change something else. This process allowed me to make small customizations to my blogs over several hours that would take a web developer a few minutes. Not very efficient, but I did eventually learn a few things about CSS.

My knowledge is still extremely basic, but I find myself tinkering with Wordpress so often that it really is time I learned how to do it properly!

Whenever I decide to learn a new skill my first stop is Amazon.com (though lately I’ve been using The Book Depository). I’ll buy a small stack of beginner books on the subject and resolve to work my way through them. When they arrive, I flick through them, then shelve them with the intent to pick them up when I’ve got time. Needless to say, there are a lot of very new looking ‘how to’ books in my bookshelf!

(I’ll go through them eventually… honest)

My small stack of books on HTML and CSS looks like this:

Build Your Own Website the Right Way Using HTML & CSS (currently reading)
CSS: The Missing Manual
The Ultimate CSS Reference

Since I mainly want to design and code Wordpress themes, I’m going to need to pick up a book on PHP as well. Any recommendations?

Tinkering with blog design is one of my favorite things to do. I’m wondering if I’ll enjoy it even more when I can actually code (in which case I’ll need to drop everything and become a designer!) - or if the opposite will be true. It might be that I enjoy the challenge of trying to achieve a result when I have no idea what I’m doing.

As I learn more, I’ll share my progress here. But for now, I’ll let my experts handle the real coding!

SpoonGraphics / Blog Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:39:46 +0000

The Client: Chris Spooner

Project Description: Our web designer Chris’s own popular graphic design blog.

ClearMedia / Web Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:30:49 +0000

The Client: ClearMedia

Project Description: Complete website and branding for a design firm.

livespeakr / Web Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:28:54 +0000

The Client: livespeakr

Project Description: Product website for a brand of iPod and iPod Touch speakers.

Quxian Recruitment / Web Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:25:44 +0000

The Client: Quxian Recruitment

Project Description: Business website for job recruitment service.

DigitalPhotoFrame.org.uk / Web Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:22:22 +0000

The Client: Digital Photo Frame

Project Description: Complete website and branding for digital photo frames news and reviews website.

Visibility Driving Tuition / Web Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:17:06 +0000

The Client: Visibility Driving Tuition

Project Description: Complete website and branding for UK driving school.

Vivid Ways / Logo Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:12:54 +0000

The Client: Vivid Ways blog

Project Description: Logo design for self-improvement blog with the tagline “Color in your life”.

Leading Edge / Logo Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:09:03 +0000

The Client: Leading Edge

Project Description: Typographic logo design for Leading Edge.

Visibility Driving Tuition / Logo Design

Skellie — Thu, 21 May 2009 05:06:08 +0000

The Client: Visibility Driving Tuition

Project Description: Logo design for a UK driving school.