Top 8 resources for web designers & developers
One of the best parts of entering the web design field is the community of experts who are eager to help you. From podcasts with career advice to books to help you break into the field, there are always opportunities to learn more and develop your skills. More importantly, it’s critical that you’re always learning as a professional in this field.
To stay innovative, competitive and at the top of your game, you must be learning new skills and having varying experiences. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options for continuing your education so that you can maximize your earning potential.
Among the thousands of options available for you to explore, there are a few stand-out resources for budding web designers and developers. Check out some of our top picks and make sure to subscribe, buy, and follow them!
Top Blog: Smashing Magazine
Founded in 2006, Smashing magazine provides news and insight to web designers and developers. They have more than three million monthly pageviews and two million unique visitors. They pride themselves on sharing actionable insight and valuable tips for designers in the field. Follow this blog to resolve your own pain points and learn about the challenges other designers face.
Top Twitter Account: @GoodWebDesign
If you’re looking to add some web design content to your Twitter feed, check out the @GoodWebDesign account. The creators behind this handle post multiple times each day, always sharing the top blog posts and stories related to web design. As such, you get the benefit of following multiple blogs without overwhelming your account. This is also a good way to discover other blogs to read, users to follow, and podcasts to listen to.
Top Instagram Account: @Welovewebdesign
If you want to see some of the coolest designs on the web, follow @Welovewebdesign on Instagram. They share inspiring websites and tag the teams who create them. Through this channel, you can discover agencies that you want to work for and get ideas for your own work. Who knows, you might be even featured there someday!
Top YouTube Channel: DesignCourse
With more than 739k subscribers, DesignCourse is one of the most widely-followed web design YouTube channels. The account is led by Gary Simon, who has more than two decades of full-stack development experience. One of the great things about this channel is the variety it offers. You can watch a six-minute video on how to troubleshoot a contact form or enjoy a two-hour tutorial on Adobe XD. You choose how much time you spend engaging with the content and what topics you want to dig into.
Top Podcast: Developer Tea
Developer Tea is an award-winning podcast that publishes new episodes a few times per week, so there’s always something new to listen to. The content is catered to developers and web engineers who want to become more effective at their jobs. Listen to interviews with industry leaders and enjoy discussions around relevant topics. Each podcast is about 20 minutes long, perfect for listening during your tea break.
Top Conference: Awwwards Digital Thinkers Conference
One of the most widely recognized conferences for UX/UI designers is the Awwwards Digital Thinkers Conference. This conference is notable because there isn’t one singular event that occurs just once a year. There are Awwwards conferences across the globe (from Amsterdam to Los Angeles to Tokyo) held at all different times throughout the year. Find a city that has this conference near you and mark your calendar.
If you can’t attend one of the conferences, there are a series of Talks on the Awwwards website as well. Check out a few of these to get to know some of the best designers out there and hear what they have to say.
Top Book: Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
The first edition of Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability was first published in 2000. However, you can pick up its third edition, which was published in 2014 with updated information and crucial information for web designers. This book is considered the most popular introduction to web design, but is easy to read with illustrations and an approachable tone. It’s an essential starting point for any web designer.
If you enjoy Krug’s writing, you can follow him on Twitter (@SKrug) to keep up with his blog posts. His updates have a similar tone as his book, making him an approachable resource for new designers.
Top Developer: Sara Soueidan
Sara Soueidan is one of the biggest names in UI and design right now. Based in Lebanon, she has worked on projects for Netflix, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, WebMD, and BOSCH. Soueidan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and regularly blogs about design principles and challenges. She is a must-follow online and a must-see if she is speaking at a conference you plan to attend.
Top Designer: Ethan Marcotte
As a pioneer of responsive web design, Ethan Marcotte is one of the most well-known and knowledgeable designers today. The release of his book, Responsive Web Design, in 2011 was groundbreaking and changed the way designers think about design in our modern, multi-device world. He’s a global speaker and his client roster includes big names like New York Magazine, the Sundance Film Festival, People Magazine, The Today Show, and Google.
Top Course: Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML & CSS
While there are many courses available to learn more about design and development, Web Design for Beginners: Real World Coding in HTML and CSS stands out because it helps you become a better designer and developer using real-world examples you can take right to your client work or job. The course has 4.6 stars on Udemy with more than 15K reviews and 54K students and costs just $59.99 as of February 2021.
Find Your Favorite Learning Medium
Everyone has their own way of learning and developing new skills and ideas. Whether you enjoy listening to podcasts or learning new programming languages during your breaks, or you'd rather attend a conference to immerse yourself, there are options for every web designer and developer. Use our guide as a jumping-off point for discovering some of the best web designers and developers out there.
