The art of website design has become a crucial element for business success in almost every industry, and web development courses are the key to keeping up to date with cutting-edge trends and technologies. Our Web Design Fundamentals Program is ideal for anyone interested in creating their own website or pursuing a career as a multimedia designer, online business manager or content manager.

This course will help you understand the design principles involved and allow you to create interactive, responsive and visually impactful websites. You will also learn how to use testing tools, how to embed different media, and you’ll explore regulatory compliance and global accessibility laws. Get ready to take your website knowledge worldwide!

 

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking web development courses include:

• Learning about web design basics
• Learning about the different ways to use HTML5 for layout design
• Gaining an understanding of responsive web design
• Exploring Iframes are and how to use them
• Gaining insights into the design and build of a basic web page
• Exploring the features of CSS3
• Studying how to use JavaScript
• Studying how to embed SQL statements inside of HTML code
• Gaining an understanding of PHP commands
• Examining how to use, download and install Bootstrap
• Studying responsive web design
• Studying HTML5 input types and attributes
• Exploring NetworkInfo API
• Studying the uses of the Modernizr tool
• Exploring flexible grids and images
• Understanding how to implement a CSS3 Flexbox
• Learning how to implement the CSS3 grid layout
• Gaining insights into scalable vector images (SVG)
• Understanding HTML5 canvas and picture elements
• Exploring accessibility and design
• Understanding the role of WAI-ARIA in web design
• Exploring JavaScript toolkits and popup menus
• Studying how to use CSS3 in web design
• Understanding the value and purpose of TabIndex
• Learning about authoring tool accessibility guidelines (ATAG)
• Understanding the ATAG 2.0 principles A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, B.1, B.2, B.3 and B.4
• Learning how ATAG and WCAG relate to each other
• Exploring ATAG and WCAG requirements
• Gaining insights into ATAG 2.0 conformance
• Examining HTML5 and accessibility
• Gaining insights into HTML DOCTYPE and contrast DOCTYPE
• Understanding the purposes of SECTION, ARTICLE, ASIDE, NAV, HEADER and FOOTER
• Exploring how to use FIGURE and FIGCAPTION
• Learning how to use CSS3 with HTML5 and JavaScript for better web design
• Gaining insights into the benefits of creating accessible web sites
• Studying the various types and causes of vision impairment
• Discovering the types and causes of physical disabilities
• Gaining insights into the types and causes of cognitive disabilities
• Examining the types and causes of learning disabilities
• Gaining insights into speech synthesizer technologies
• Examining Oss, regulations and laws
• Exploring how to use OS X and iOS for a more accessible experience
• Understanding the WAI role
• Exploring accessibility laws in the US, Europe, Canada and around the globe
• Studying how to use WAI-ARIA and its mandate
• Gaining insights into accessibility standards
• Understanding the purpose of WCAG 2.0
• Learning about the differences between WCAG 1.0 and WCAG 2.0

… and more!

 

How Technology is Impacting the Australian Workforce

A recent report released by the Australian Computer Society highlights the significant impact of emerging technologies on the Australian workforce in the next 15 years. It also explains how the growth in technological capabilities is transforming supply chains, redefining jobs and reshaping the workforce. In summary, it concludes that:

• Emerging technologies are transforming all industry sectors.
• Automation is set to displace over 600,000 Australian workers by 2021.
• 7 million Australian jobs are at risk from automation over the next fifteen years, however, more than twice as many jobs can be created if Australia invests in workforce skills development.
• As jobs are augmented by technology, the tasks performed by a range of workers are evolving at an unprecedented rate, and therefore driving demand for new skillsets.
• Over the next 15 years, an additional five million jobs could be added to the Australian economy, with 25 per cent of them in technology-related roles.
• Education, re-skilling and educating the Australian workforce will be crucial to preventing rising inequality and long-term unemployment.
• On-the-job training including web development courses, real-time skills acquisition, and experienced-based knowledge transfer needs to be enabled to transition the workforce from declining to emerging opportunities.

The Top 10 Web Design Trends for 2020

As styles change and technology advances, it is invariably reflected in website design trends. This includes the massive evolution of mobile device use, with an estimated 25 per cent of people in the Western world browsing websites purely on their phones! Mobile functionality is primarily driven by consumer demand and has also resulted in some unexpected design developments — some of which you’ll discover by undertaking web development courses.

#1 – The Dark Mode

Although not necessarily ultra-modern, using the black mode in web design is not only soothing for the eyes, it allows users to concentrate on a website’s content more than anything else. Dark themes also give websites a dramatic look that’s attention-seeking, plus because they are more power-saving for OLED screens, so can help extend the longevity of devices.

#2 – A Focus On Simplicity

A shorter viewer attention span and the smaller screens of the mobile era have sparked a trend towards minimalist elements and content. Designs have become far more efficient, elegant and streamlined while websites still remain robust and impactful. Ultimately, users are rewarded with a more fluid browsing experience and web designers are choosing to say more with less

#3 – Flat Graphics

The complexity in animations and GIF files have been extremely popular over the last few years. However, in light of the prevalence of mobile phone use, flat basic designs are relacing complicated GIFS to enhance the user experience. Google and Facebook are prime examples of these, and the rest of the net seems to be following suit.

#4 – Video Backgrounds

Complementing the ‘flat’ design trend is a move toward animations and videos being used as web page backgrounds. The result causes the web browsing experience to feel more dynamic, immersive and interactive, and faster internet loading times will also enhance the experience.

#5 – Edgy Website Designs

A counterpoint to flat designs is an opposing trend toward edgy and eye-catching layouts. The use of unexpected elements is key here and include splashes of text, innovative graphics and bold pops of colour that will take websites to the next visual level.

#6 – Visual Enhancement

Graphics and image quality have taken a giant leap in the last few years, and technology has been assisting web pages to load faster. Parallax scrolling (where the foreground moves at a faster rate than the background to create the illusion of depth) has also grown in popularity. This has resulted in fresher effects and even more seamless user experience. Mobile device screens — including retina displays on Apple products — are brighter and crisper, resulting in more vivid custom graphics being created.

#7 – Typography Advancements

The rules of typography have advanced along with the evolvement of graphics and images, particularly on mobile device screens. A variety of serif fonts and extra-crisp designs are now being used to take advantage of these high-resolution retina displays. Other type trends include customising text, mixing fonts for more impact, and a move towards edgier, artsier fonts.

#8 – Google Maps

Embedding Google Maps on websites is a no-brainer these days, but they often have a generic, somewhat cookie-cutter look (think a yellow map with grey and blue lines and a red pin). This year, designers will be customising these maps by integrating them into websites in more seamless, attractive and attention-grabbing ways.

#9 – Voice-Enabled Interfaces

Siri revolutionised the mobile phone sector in terms of voice searches, followed by voice assistants like Cortana, Bixby, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. However, in 2020 and beyond incorporating voice-capable interfaces into web designs will be the norm. Essentially this means that voice commands will take the lead over the use of a keyboard or mouse.

#10 – 3D Components

Immersive 3D experiences will play a role in enhancing a website’s visuals as well as encouraging site visitors to stay longer. 3D design will also begin to replace the previous trend towards skeuomorphism, life-like to-scale textures and realistic page elements like lined notepaper. Instead, sleek geometric shapes will be used to give web design layouts perspectives, depth, and in some cases, mood and motion.

 

Gone are the days when businesses could do without a website. Our Web Design Fundamentals Program will teach you the basic technology and terminology for an exciting career in this ever-evolving industry!