I am planning to add web design services to the list of services that I offer. I know I have the ability to create a simple site. I want to learn more complex design too and am not really sure where to start. Currently I know basic HTML and Flash (via SwishMax). I have Arachnophilia as my HTML editor. For graphics I have Gimp and Inkscape. Most of the items I have are open source programs as I don't have the money to invest in other programs at this time. I used Homestead for my website and created my own logo. I know I need to learn CSS. Also, it seems that Joomla is very popular these days. I found w3schools.com, and they seem to have great tutorials. I just need some direction. I have considered offering my services for free or a VERY reduced cost to 2-3 new VA's in order to learn and add to my portfolio. I am not sure if this is a good idea or not. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also my Mom is trying to talk me in to doing logo design. Any insight on this thought would be helpful to. Thanks so much for your input.

-Kellie

Hi Kellie, I actually got started in design by doing a logo for a client on the fly, had to learn as I went along - I fell in love with the design process and the whole thing grew from there. Now my husband does the code for all of our sites, applications, and software, I do design...

You'll definitely want to learn CSS, it will allow you so much more freedom than the template programs like Homestead have the ability for. Those sites are ultimately extremely limiting and aren't the kind of thing a serious designer will use to create a site. Learning CSS and continuing to develop your HTML knowledge will allow you to surpass those limits.

The sites you found are great, W3 is a superb place to start.

When I was starting out with my desgn I would just spend hours and hours making sample logos and website templates so that I could have a nice portfolio to offer without giving the work away for free. It was also great for developing my skills!

We're still in the planning stages but we're actually going to start a series of chatroom events to present and teach basic, functional HTML and CSS to members of the forums here. We'll be doing HTML first, but I'm sure you'll find the CSS series very beneficial! Stay tuned for more info on that

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WHAT?!?

Oh thank you, Tess, for starting a series of chatroom for teaching HTML and CSS!!!!!!!

I hope it is all in text?? *wink wink*

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Yvonne
Office Savvy Assistant

Yes, it will all be in text

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YaY!!!!! ***Dancing a happy song!***

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Yvonne
Office Savvy Assistant

That is so exciting to hear. I would love to join in on an interactive learning experience. I look forward to hearing more about it.

-Kellie

But be sure to use the great resources you found to learn on your own in the meantime! There are also some good links for learning both HTML and CSS in our industry directory under Resources ---> Tutorials.

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Kellie,

I don't think it would hurt for you to offer the service of logo design. I have always LOVED doing logo design, but I never went to school for it. Whatever experience I had, I gained through self teaching.

So, this is what I did...I began offering logo design services. I then told my very first client that I would design 3 different logos for them. They could then provide their feedback to me to determine if I was out in left field or right on track. From there we finalized the design and they were so happy with it. For the first couple of times I did a logo design, I didn't charge the client for my time or the design until they actually picked one they liked. This was just a personal preference for me to gain further experience. I didn't have a client that didn't like the end result.
If anything, I would experiment on family, friends, or business associates that are close to you, or perhaps new VA's. Then when you are sure that you are meeting your clients needs, I would extend this service to the general public!

I hope this makes sense?

Vanessa Lindsay