Can you recommend any textbooks or lessons for beginners in web design? I'm not interested in the technical aspects such as HTML and CSS, or tools like Photoshop. What I'm looking for is guidance on design principles, such as object composition and form, color and font selection, usability, and creating coherent content.



First and foremost, understanding the theory is essential. It explains patterns, exceptions, and the principles of improvisation. Examples should illustrate specific design laws, rather than just being presented without explanation.

Ideally, I'd like to have both comprehensive and concise textbooks. A comprehensive one would provide detailed, step-by-step guidance for professional use. A concise one would cover key information for a basic understanding in a shorter format.

For beginners in web design who are interested in design principles rather than technical aspects, there are several textbooks and resources that can be helpful. Here are some recommendations:

1. "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug: This book focuses on usability and user experience design, providing practical advice on creating intuitive and easy-to-use websites.

2. "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams: This book introduces design concepts like layout, typography, color, and contrast in a beginner-friendly manner. It is concise and provides clear explanations of design principles.

3. "Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler: This book provides an overview of 125 design principles applicable to various fields, including web design. It offers concise explanations and visual examples.

4. "Thinking with Type" by Ellen Lupton: This book focuses on typography in design, covering topics such as font selection, hierarchy, and readability. It provides practical guidance and showcases the impact of typography on design.

5. "Seductive Interaction Design" by Stephen Anderson: This book explores the psychological and emotional aspects of design, helping designers create engaging and compelling user experiences.

Here are a few more recommendations for textbooks and resources on web design principles:

1. "The Elements of User Experience" by Jesse James Garrett: This book provides a holistic approach to user-centered design, covering topics such as information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing.

2. "Designing Web Interfaces" by Bill Scott and Theresa Neil: Focusing on interaction design, this book offers practical guidance on creating intuitive and engaging web interfaces, with a particular emphasis on patterns and best practices.

3. "Thoughtful Interaction Design" by Jonas Löwgren and Erik Stolterman: This book delves into the philosophy and theory behind interaction design, emphasizing the importance of considering the broader context and impact of design decisions.

4. "Web Form Design" by Luke Wroblewski: For designers who want to delve specifically into form design, this book provides valuable insights on creating user-friendly and effective web forms.

More recommendations for textbooks and resources on web design principles:

1. "Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability" by Steve Krug: This updated edition of Krug's classic book provides practical advice on creating intuitive and user-friendly websites, with a focus on usability testing and mobile design.

2. "Designing for the Web" by Mark Boulton: This book covers a wide range of design principles and best practices for web design, including typography, layout, color, and grid systems. It offers practical tips and examples to help you create visually pleasing and effective websites.

3. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman: Although not specific to web design, this book explores the principles of good design and usability in various everyday objects. It offers insights into human-centered design and how to create products that are intuitive and easy to use.

4. "Responsible Responsive Design" by Scott Jehl: This book focuses on responsive web design, providing guidance on creating websites that adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices. It covers topics such as performance optimization, accessibility considerations, and progressive enhancement.

5. "Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction" by Jenny Preece, Yvonne Rogers, and Helen Sharp: This comprehensive textbook covers a wide range of topics in interaction design, including user research, task analysis, prototyping, and evaluation. It offers an in-depth understanding of the field and practical guidance for designing interactive systems.

In addition to these textbooks, there are also numerous online courses and tutorials available that focus specifically on web design principles. Websites such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer a range of courses taught by industry professionals that cover design theory, user experience, and design thinking.

There are several ways to start learning web design. You can begin by taking online courses or tutorials, such as those offered by Codecademy, Udemy, or Coursera. These platforms offer structured lessons and projects to help you learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Additionally, you can practice by building your own websites from scratch or by customizing existing templates. This hands-on experience will allow you to experiment with different design elements and gain a better understanding of how websites are built.

Don't forget to explore resources like W3Schools, Mozilla Developer Network (MDN), and Stack Overflow, which provide extensive dоcumentation, examples, and community support for web development.

Suggestions to help you start learning web design:

1. Read books and articles: There are many great books available on web design principles, user experience (UX) design, and front-end development. Some popular titles include "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug, "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman, and "HTML and CSS: Design and Build Websites" by Jon Duckett. Additionally, reading blogs and articles by experts in the field can provide valuable insights and inspiration.

2. Join online communities: Participating in online communities and forums dedicated to web design, such as r/web_design on Reddit or Designer Hangout Slack community, can help you connect with other designers, seek advice, and learn from their experiences.

3. Take on real-world projects: Look for opportunities to work on real-world projects, such as creating websites for friends, family, or local businesses. This will allow you to apply what you've learned and gain practical experience that can enhance your skills.

4. Practice responsive design: In today's mobile-first world, it's crucial to understand and practice responsive design. Learn how to create websites that adapt to different screen sizes and devices using techniques like media queries and flexible grids.

5. Experiment with design tools: Familiarize yourself with popular design tools like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma. These tools can help you create visual designs, wireframes, and prototypes to bring your web design ideas to life.