September is back-to-school month, and this year Brad is going back to school in a new role. He’s teaching a brand spanking new ‘Intro to Web Design’ Class in the Visual Arts Department of Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus. For the past few weeks, in the development of a curriculum and lesson plans, we’ve been thinking about things like the balance between design and code, the importance of a foundation in web standards, and most of all, what to recommend for reading.
Here’s our ‘Intro to Web Design’ reading list for this semester’s new web designers:
- Speaking in Styles: Fundamentals of CSS for Web Designers
, Jason Cranford Teague
- Designing with Web Standards (3rd Edition)
, Jeffrey Zeldman and Ethan Marcotte
- Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design
, Brian Miller
- CSS: The Definitive Guide
, Eric Meyer
- HTML & XHTML Pocket Reference: Quick, Comprehensive, Indispensible (Pocket Reference (O’Reilly))
, Jennifer Niederst Robbins
Here are some additional getting-started, web-based references:
Once you’ve got the fundamentals under your belt, we recommend you dig a little deeper. Study up on CSS3, HTML5, Web Typography, and our new personal favorite, Responsive Web Design. Below are some of Brad’s top reads on these subjects:
On CSS(sometimes 3):
- Smashing CSS: Professional Techniques for Modern Layout
, Eric Meyer
- CSS3 for Web Designers, Dan Cederholm
- Handcrafted CSS: More Bulletproof Web Design
, Dan Cederholm with Ethan Marcotte
On HTML (sometimes 5!):
- HTML5 for Web Designers, Jeremy Keith
- HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide (6th Edition)
, Chuck Musciano and Bill Kennedy
On Responsive Design and Progressive Enhancement:
- Adaptive Web Design: Crafting Rich Experiences with Progressive Enhancement
, Aaron Gustafson
- Responsive Web Design, Ethan Marcotte
A few great websites: