Babi Web Design

beautiful
clean
web site
this is my promise

As I mentioned on the home page, I have learned everything from books or online resources. What follows is a short list of the ones that have defined my path in web design.

• Head First HTML5 Programming

  Wow!!! What a book! I have just finished it and all I can tell you it is worth getting and working your way through it. If you are looking for an HTML introduction this is not the place to start.

  I love the way the authors get you into programming – they make it look so effortless and fun, you don’t even notice. The exercises are actual (something you would do if you were to build a web application today) and leave the door open to make you explore some more.

  Geolocation, Canvas – so much fun and if you are confused about video formats this is the best explanation I have ever seen.

  I got a bit lost at the Fractal app (it is amazing by the way), but it shows the power of JavaScript.

• The Non-Designer’s PhotoShop Book

  “The Non-Designer’s PhotoShop Book” (Robin Williams and John Tollett), is so far the best book on PhotoShop I’ve seen. Clear, easy to read material, with great examples, just like the rest of the series. I love it.

• Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design

  This book has shown me some aspects of web design I could never put my finger on. It was also a good refresher of web design basics and I am glad I read it.

• Hardboiled Web Design

  This is one of the must haves.

• HTML5 For Web Designers

  I read this e-book before Hardboiled Web Design. It is great to grasp the essence of the new technology.

  See the rounded corners on this page?! [OK, I know it doesn’t look good with this design, but that’s not the point] It only took a few lines of code to obtain them. Isn’t this cool?! Of course it only works with the browsers that support it :-(

  It has a drawback, though–CSS3 doesn’t validate now.

• Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML

  I consider “Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML” the most significant book I have read on the subject. Not only because it was the very first one I have read apart from the textbooks during my course, but it introduces the reader into the subject in the least painful way (it was actually rather funny and enjoyable).

  This book has inspired me to register www.starbuzzcoffee.info, which I since use for uploading the sites I currently work on. It’s my testing site.

  Since then, I have purchased another seven Head First books, all aces.

• The Zen of CSS Design: Visual Enlightenment for the Web

  “The Zen of CSS Design: Visual Enlightenment for the Web”—this book is falling apart, I used it as a reference, inspiration, serious study material. The notes and tips in the sidebar are simply great; they sometimes send you to check out books, sites for further reading. It was (and still is) an invaluable tool.

  Also, this was the book that pointed me to other very important resources, such as “The PC is Not a Typewriter” (Robin Williams) and from that point there was no turning back—I simply got hooked on design and type and couldn’t get enough of the Non-designer series.

  Before and after reading “The Zen of CSS Design: Visual Enlightenment for the Web” I had studied the designs on CSS Zen Garden, I have learned a lot from others’ coding.

• Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design

  “Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design” is another book that is falling apart, I’ve turned those pages so many times. It’s a material that makes you say “Wow!!! If I have known this earlier!!” Besides the rich content, it has references to other books and sites—again, great reading and great reference, I couldn’t wait to apply the techniques I have learned from it.

• Bulletproof Web Design

  “Bulletproof Web Design” (Dan Cederholm) was the next book that made me realise things can be done in a different way and much smarter. I liked the case studies and their improved solution.

• The Non-Designer’s Design Book

  “The Non-Designer’s Design Book” (Robin Williams), was a real turning point for me. Since I have read it (and the rest of the Non-designer books) I cannot look at a printed matter the same way as before. I would notice the type, whether the elements are aligned properly, the contrast, the repetitive elemnents, their proximity…

• The Non-Designer’s Type Book

  “The Non-Designer’s Type Book” is a gem. It’s inspirational and teaches different aspects of professional typography.

• The Non-Designer’s Scan and Print Book

  “The Non-Designer’s Scan and Print Book” is full-on: the amount of information it contains is amazing. I found it a bit technical but very useful.

• Head First Web Design

  “Head First Web Design” has taught me a few new things in relation to web design/development project work. Like all the Head First books, it was fun reading.

• Robin Williams Design Workshop

  “Robin Williams Design Workshop”—I simply loved it! I already had the basics from the Non-designer series, so I could focus on the more sophisticated stuff. Full of brilliant ideas, this book really opens up one’s eyes.

• A List Apart Website

  “A List Apart” website is one of the resources I turn when something doesn’t work and I look for a solution or I am just curious about a topic.

• w3schools Website

  w3schools Website is a great reference site and covers the basics for many areas. It’s simple and I like the testing, too.