The answer to this question really comes down to, what do you want to do?
If you just want to get content like text, images, & videos onto the web using non-coding techniques online mainly for your own purposes, then working with WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, is certainly possible, but there is still a unique learning curve for each one.
The most important reason for learning HTML/CSS is if you want to get a job with a company working on web design and development. You won’t be able to rely on non-coding skills (like working with WordPress) to manage the majority of their needs.
These are what other designer and developers have to say:
“Once I learned HTML/CSS, I realized how much faster it was to build websites for myself and clients vs the slow process of working with WordPress where I was constantly trying to figure out how to manage different themes."
“There were so many times when I was working with WordPress something broke and I had no idea how to fix it, where with HTML/CSS, it has been so much easier and faster for me to build these websites myself!”
“I learned the hard way - I built a WordPress website for a client before I knew HTML/CSS, and WordPress automatically updated their security, which then broke their website, and although the issue was with a plugin, I had no idea how to fix it. After rebuilding their website in HTML/CSS, I don’t have any of those security worries anymore, and I don’t have to worry about updates either.”
This is certainly true for those that have time and are comfortable testing with a lot of trial and error over various lessons found online. Obtaining these new skills is kind of like wandering a desert and this is where having a guide can be very valuable! Those that enroll in our classes are paying for the individualized support & guidance learning all these new skills throughout the entire class.
It’s really common to get stuck with a question you can’t find online or have an error in your code you simply can’t get anyone online to help you with in a timely fashion. You’ll have an instructor and the course developer (Matthew Leach) available throughout the week to answer questions, review your code, and help get you over any and all hurdles. Plus, you’ll be connected with other classmates that are working through the same problems. Working together will certainly help you understand all this new material even better.
From a guidance standpoint, there is so much free information online that it can be really difficult for beginners to know how to filter it all. We will provide you a clear path to tackling all these new skills. When you have additional ideas and questions, we’ll help you figure out how to research, select, and apply those new materials with your existing skillset.
Once you learn the basics of HTML/CSS, you’ll be able to:
It is extremely useful to get as comfortable as possible with HTML/CSS by building various projects. In some cases, you may have a number of personal websites you wish to create or even projects for friends and/or family. It is certainly possible to get paid for your time building these projects for the right client.
If you wish to work in this industry full-time, you can start looking for entry-level junior developer jobs. Every company may have different needs, and HTML/CSS are the foundational skills for nearly any designer/developer job out there.
And there are so many additional skills that can be added onto HTML/CSS. If you want to focus on:
Design: Learn Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator and create more customized graphical elements in combination to the design elements that are possible using CSS.
Layout: Learn UX (User Experience) processes to break down complex ideas into more manageable elements within a web page.
Code: Learn JS (JavaScript) to learn how to make your web pages even more interactive.
As you get to work with your instructor, they’ll be able to help direct you to the next steps that best fit your needs.
Please contact us if you have any questions and we'll be happy to help.