Distance Learning to become a Web Designer

[breman1972]

Has anyone here done an open university course?
I'm looking to become a freelance webpage designer , but i only know basic html at the moment and want a proper qualification.
I can't do a full time course as i still have the mortgage to pay and I have loads of free time when i'm working (coach driver's sit around a lot)

Are distance learning courses worth it?
Do they produce a recognised qualifications?
Am I wasting my time at 36 years old trying to learn something new?

Thanks in advance Breman

 

[schnipps]

Your not wasting your life learning something new but to be a good designer you NEED to be able to actually design, anyone can learn the tech stuff its the actuall layout and graphics that you are kind of born with.

I have been a web designer, now senior full time for 7 years so i like to think i know what im talking about . Nobody really cares about qualifications for web design, i for one dont. If i was to take on another junior now it would be purely portfolio based, the qualifications would help a tad but wouldnt matter that much tbh.

Its design skill i would be looking for, its something you cant learn. You either have it or dont. You will find it pretty hard to geta full time job in it at 36 if u are just starting. Doing it on the side? yeah why not. You end up being tech support for them mind as most people think anyone that does their site instantly becomes their network admin aswell

Web design is one of them things lots of people do or think they can do, and it can be done shockingly badly or really well.

 

[RandomTom]

I really don't think a qualification is the most important thing for you here, with web design trends change so fast that what you'll be learning and producing will look tosh to the current market.

And as said by schnipps you actually need a creative flair, artistic talent and a good knowledge of the potential audiences. Keep reading articles, keep playing around with html and css and you'll be able to produce some nice stuff after a while, get some small contacts and you might be able to do it on the side but unless you really do have the talent then I wouldn't go into it full time.

With quite a lot of new media formats, or updated formats such as Web Design and Photography, there are a large amount of beginner/amateur people out there who sell themselves short and those who really shouldn't consider doing it. It's quite a saturated market but once you realise that, you just need to work above the grade.

Do you think you've got it in you to be a programmer or just thinking about the designer?

 

[Bakedgoods]

There's not much else that can be said here I think.

Although you can learn to 'design' to a certain degree and without a doubt code, unless you are naturally talented you will always end up producing generic, poor and at best average websites.

In such a saturated market it's not going to really cut it.