Safari Books Online Content Team - Web Design Bibliography

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Its hard to imagine life with out the World Wide Web. In the past ten years we have seen the web transition from an informational reference to a ubiquitous influencer of daily life. Yet the Web was never intended to become ubiquitous, in fact, original goals were quite modest.

Initially designed for publishing and sharing research, the web began as a visually bland and difficult to navigate medium. Web pages were nothing more than a series of interconnected documents created using a little known technology called hypertext. This all changed in the mid-90s when the web became heavily commercialized. During this time, publicly traded companies realized having a web presence was no longer optional. Sensing opportunity, savvy graphic designers learned they could twist the rudimentary HTML coding into visually pleasing websites.

During this boom of the late 1990s, being a web designer was akin to being a rock star. If you were a professional, chances are you worked at a ludicrously funded DOT-COM startup, flew first class and had people awe over your fast-lane lifestyle. This of course didnt last.

The floor fell out from under the DOT-COM era in 2001 and the celebrity designer lifestyle was over. Yet despite the deflating economy, designers remained in high demand. Since then, the web has made an unending rally that continues to integrate with daily life. Every day more people adopt the Web and more uses for this technology are discovered. This has created an overwhelming demand for designers, specifically ones who can craft beautiful, usable and emotionally engaging websites.

Becoming a great web designer is no easy task however. Rock star is no longer an accurate description of the modern day designer; Renaissance man (or woman) is more fitting. Fast evolving industries often require a wide range of capabilities and web design is no exception. Web designers need dozens of skills beyond graphical comprehension.

Arguably most important is an understanding of the technology driving the web. Knowing the capabilities and limitations of HTML, CSS and Javascript allow you to push the boundaries of whats possible with out crossing them. But this is just the beginning. All websites are created for a reason (often business driven,) therefor you must also understand the business side of the web. This includes the psychology of human computer interaction, usability, planning and digital marketing. Its the combination of these skills that make the most effective web designer, hence the need to be a Renaissance Person.

Safari Books Online provides full access to all of the resources in this bibliography. A subscription to our cloud library gives you unlimited use of more than 28,000 books and videos. For a free trial, go to http://www.safaribooksonline.com/bibliography.

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Acquiring a breadth of web design knowledge is just the beginning. The web continues to evolve at breakneck speed with no signs of slowing down, recently demonstrated by the widespread adoption of HTML5 and CSS3. Designers who fail to stay current quickly fall out of demand as their skills become obsolete. This first happened with designers who failed to transition from table-based layouts to CSS, and will continue to happen as better ways of designing for the web are discovered. In short, even the designer who knows everything only does so for a short period of time.

This bibliography is your guide to tackling the breadth of topics required to become or stay the Renaissance Person. Safari has the latest web design books and videos, enabling aspiring designers to grow their knowledge and established designers to stay on top of their game.

We have selected the most relevant resources and segmented them by subject. As you read through them you will learn, refresh or update your knowledge of design fundamentals, website planning, design tools, web coding, usability, imagery and illustration, advanced design concepts, the business and lifestyle of design, mobile web design and content management systems.

If you love designing the web you will find these books indispensible. Even the subjects that fall outside the realm of your passion will inform your practice and transform your capabilities as a designer.

Chapter 2. Web Design Fundamentals

Responsive Web Design

By Ethan Marcotte

A Book Apart, May 2011

ISBN: 9780133053029

160 pages, $31.99

From mobile browsers to netbooks and tablets, users are visiting your sites from an increasing array of devices and browsers. In this book you will learn how to think beyond the desktop and craft beautiful designs that anticipate and respond to your users needs. The author will explore CSS techniques and design principles, including fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries, demonstrating how you can deliver a quality experience to your users no matter how large (or small) their display.

Read it on Safari Books Online (http://bit.ly/Z2Dl8K)

The Non-Designers Design Book, Third Edition

By Robin Williams

Peachpit Press, February 2008

ISBN: 9780321563088

208 pages, $34.99

A lot has happened in the world of digital design since the first edition was published, but one thing remains true: There is an ever-growing number of people attempting to design pages with no formal training. This book is the one place they can turn to find quick, non-intimidating, excellent design help from trusted design instructor Robin Williams. This revised classic now in full color includes a new section on the hot topic of Color itself. If you follow the clearly explained concepts in this book, you will produce more sophisticated and professional pages immediately.

Read it on Safari Books Online (http://bit.ly/112QXLn)

Learning Web Design, 4th Edition

By Jennifer Niederst Robbins

OReilly Media, Inc., August 2012

ISBN: 9781449337513

624 pages, $28.49

Do you want to build web pages, but have no previous experience? This friendly guide is the perfect place to start. Youll begin at square one, learning how the Web and web pages work, and then steadily build from there. Learn how to use the latest techniques, best practices, and current web standards including HTML5 and CSS3. By the end of the book, youll have the skills to create a simple site with multi-column pages that adapt for mobile devices.