Getting Started - Looking for Direction

[Wackedd]

Greetings,

I’m currently 22 years old, and my dream is to be a web designer, and I am asking for your help.

I am currently attending a local college to cover my basic academic needs, and my plan is to transfer somewhere to begin my career as a web designer. I have only dabbled in the design field, I love designing and I consider myself pretty good with Photoshop. I’m looking to get myself a jump start on school and teach myself what I can, but I don’t know where to get started.

Everything that I know as of today is self taught. I have put together a few websites of my own, but they were all through websites like Forumotion and other sites that provided the template for me to fill in. I’ve attempted to put sites together from scratch but had trouble figuring out the process of hosting it to the public.

So as an absolute beginner, I’m turning to you guys to ask: Where do I begin? What’s a good way for me to get started? What should I focus on? Where did you get started?

TL;DR - Newbie asking for help. Decent grasp on Photoshop, but new to the web design world and looking for direction.

Your time is greatly appreciated,

Thanks!

[Gandalf]

Hi there Wackedd. There are some great Christmas offers at the Sitepoint shop.

[NHTom]

Hi. I just joined a couple of hours ago.

Have you gotten the direction you’re looking for?

In your shoes I’d be pestering your professors. They’re supposed to teach you how to learn - which is exactly what you want.

Talk to one prof and if s/he doesn’t know, s/he’ll likely point you to another prof who might. That next prof will probably know who to talk to - maybe someone off campus - who might want to hire you.

Self directed learning. You’ll go far.

Oh, yeah. When you get the direction and finally get started, write an article and publish it here on Sitepoint.