Web design is an increasingly growing profession accelerated by businesses' desire to reach prospective customers through online channels. If you're interested in becoming a web designer but don't know where to start, a professional web design certificate would be your best bet.
And luckily, you can pursue a certificate program in web design from the comfort of your home, thanks to the availability of high-quality online learning platforms that offer these courses. In addition, best Full-stack Developer courses are also very sought after.
So, what are the best online web design certificate programs to help you kickstart a career in this field? That's precisely what we cover in this guide, so stick around!
3 Top Best Ways to Get an Excel VBA Certification
[Best Overall]
1. Ultimate Web Designer & Web Developer Course - Udemy
The program introduces you to the foundations of web design and how to use web design tools to deliver the best possible user experience.
4.9/5
[Best for the Money]
2. Grow Your Web Development Skills - PluralSight
PluralSight offers several certificates in web design programs that you can pick from based on your experience level and learning goals.
4.8/5
[Best For Beginners]
3. Responsive Web Design Essentials - HTML5 CSS3 Bootstrap - SkillShare
It offers a practical, responsive web design experience with several projects that students can upload for instructor and peer feedback.
4.8/5
Best Online Web Design Certificate Courses Reviews
[Best Overall]
1. Ultimate Web Designer & Web Developer Course - Udemy
4.9/5
If there's one course on the internet that delivers a complete web design and development learning experience, it'd be the "Ultimate Web Designer & Web Developer Course" course.
The program introduces you to the foundations of web design and how to use web design tools to deliver the best possible user experience.
What's more, you'll understand how to code in HTML, JavaScript, PHP, and CSS and use them to create custom websites with beautiful designs.
On top of that, you'll be able to use Adobe Photoshop to create visually appealing website layouts. This online course will also teach you the basics of designing and managing databases using MySQL.
Throughout this program, you'll get the opportunity to work on more than 23 projects that test your ability in applying the concepts you've learned and help you gain real work experience, which includes:
- Building custom dynamic websites
- Designing graphics with Photoshop
- Building web applications
- Creating a simple WordPress Plugin
The program is perfect for complete beginners who have no previous coding or certificate in web design yet. It even walks you through everything you need to know about starting your own freelance business in web development and design.
What's Included:
- 31.5 hours of video sessions
- 1 article
- 42 downloadable learning materials
- Lifetime access
- 23+ hands-on projects
- Mobile and TV access
- Certificate of completion
Learning Outcomes:
- Write code in HTML5 and CSS3
- Get clued up about the principles of web design
- Build custom websites from scratch
- Create basic PHP applications
- Know how to make your web page responsive
- Establish the fundamentals of UI and UX design
- Get familiar with popular web design tools
- Set up a new site and get a domain name register it with a web hosting service
- Get acquainted with the essentials of graphic design software like Adobe Photoshop, Figma, and Adobe XD
Pros
Cons
[Best For The Money]
2. Grow Your Web Development Skills - PluralSight
4.8/5
PluralSight offers several certificates in web design programs that you can pick from based on your experience level and learning goals.
For starters, you can choose to either enroll in a full web design learning path consisting of several courses or take one course at a time. When it comes to learning paths, you have two options, which are:
The first path teaches you everything you need to know about writing code in the Ruby on Rails programming language, how you can add a user resource and authenticate users, test applications, and create APIs. The program isn't meant for beginners, though, since you need to have prior knowledge in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
The second path is all about creating websites that everyone can use, including those with special needs. However, you need to take a course or 2 in HTML and CSS before enrolling in this learning path.
Learning paths are great for those who're ready to commit to a long-term web design learning journey and are 100% sure that they're interested in building a web design career.
Alternatively, you can pick one of the available web design and development online courses and take it slow. Some of the best ones that the platform offers include "Hands-on Responsive Web Design" and "Introduction to Web Development". Both courses are beginner-friendly, and you don't need any prerequisites to start learning.
It's worth noting that since this is a membership-based platform, you'll be able to access all of the web design and development learning paths and courses once you subscribe. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to give it a shot first.
What's Included:
- A full library of learning paths and courses
- Certificate(s) of completion
- Self-paced learning experience
- Hands-on projects (not included in all programs)
Learning Outcomes:
- Establish the fundamentals of website design and development
- Design user-friendly websites
- Understand how to write code in a variety of programming languages
Pros
Cons
[Best For Beginners]
3. Responsive Web Design Essentials - HTML5 CSS3 Bootstrap - SkillShare
4.8/5
The "Responsive Web Design Essentials" course on SkillShare offers a practical, responsive web design experience with several projects that students can upload for instructor and peer feedback.
In the first few lessons of this online course, you'll get introduced to the basics of web page design and the ins and outs of coding in CSS and HTML. You'll also use Bootstrap extensively throughout the program. Once you grasp the foundations, you'll understand how to put everything together and create visually appealing and responsive websites that can be viewed on any internet-enabled device with a display.
After each module, there's a project that tests your understanding of the lessons and gives you the chance to get practical experience. By the end of the program, you'll have built 4 websites, which include:
- A restaurant website
- A website for bike repair
- A responsive website for portfolio creation
- A Bootstrap website
This is an excellent opportunity for you to start building your professional web design portfolio before you even get a job in the field.
What's Included:
- 17 hours of video sessions
- 127 lessons
- Exercise Files
- 5 hands-on projects
- Full access
- Offline learning with the SkillShare app
- Certificate of completion
Learning Outcomes:
- Code in CSS and HTML
- Use Bootstrap 4
- Learn the basics of typography
- Create web forms
- Get familiar with responsive icons and images
Pros
Cons
4.7/5
The "Web Design for Everybody" is a specialization offered by the University of Michigan on Coursera. It's designed for beginners who want to get started with web page design. The specialization consists of 5 courses, which include:
The first course teaches you how to write code in HTML5, the most popular markup language used in web development. Next, you'll learn how to make your website prettier with CSS3 and play with colors, typography, and other elements. In the third course, you'll get familiar with creating interactive websites with JS.
Then, in the "Advanced Styling with Responsive Design" course, you'll learn how to build responsive websites that can be viewed on devices with various screen sizes and resolutions, including desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets.
The final course is where all the magic happens; you'll get the chance to apply everything you've learned in the past 4 courses in building websites for 3 different platforms from scratch.
On a side note, the program should take you around 6 months to complete if you dedicate 3 hours per week to watch the videos, read the articles, and take the quizzes.
What's Included:
- 5 individual courses with hands-on projects
- Video sessions
- Readings
- Graded quizzes and assignments with peer feedback
- Graded Programming Assignments
- Certificates of completion (for the courses and the full specialization)
Learning Outcomes:
- Build and maintain websites by combining CSS and HTML
- Make your websites interactive with JavaScript
- Learn the fundamentals of responsive design
Pros
Cons
5. Web Design Courses - edX
4.7/5
edX offers web design education in two forms: courses and professional certificates. The online courses usually cover a particular area of web design and development.
For example, the "HTML and CSS Fundamentals" course will give you the basics of coding in these 2 languages and teach you how to use them in building websites, but it won't be enough for you to become a web developer. You'll need to enroll in other courses on the platform, such as "CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript" and "Programming for the Web with JavaScript".
Other courses that niche into more specialized design topics, like the "Introduction to Web Accessibility" course, teach you how to make your websites accessible to users with special needs. Likewise, the "UX Design and Evaluation" course focuses on delivering an outstanding user experience for your website's visitors.
On the other hand, professional web design certificates provide a more comprehensive experience with several courses that lay the groundwork for the student to become a professional web designer.
One professional certificate worth checking out is the "Computer Science for Web Programming" certificate by HarvardX. It focuses on teaching you the programming languages you need to become a web designer, and it's not just limited to CSS and HTML; you'll learn how to code in Python, SQL, and JavaScript, too.
In addition to courses and professional certificates, edX offers Micromasters programs that consist of several college-level courses. These programs have transferable credit hours that qualify you to pursue a college degree in one of the universities that offer them.
Currently, the only Micromasters program related to the web design learning path is the "UX Design and Evaluation" program. However, it generically teaches UX design steps, not specifically its web design applications.
What's Included:
- Courses, professional certificates, and Micromasters programs
- Graded quizzes, assignments, and hands-on projects
- Online discussion forums
- Certificate(s) of completion
Learning Outcomes:
- Write code in CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript
- Learn the foundations of UX design
- Learn how to create a responsive web page
- Understand how to design your websites for better user accessibility
Pros
Cons
6. Web Design Courses - LinkedIn Learning
4.6/5
LinkedIn Learning offers many courses in the web design and development field for beginners, intermediates, and advanced professionals. When you search for a course, you can filter the search results by specifying course type, duration, experience level, and software.
One of the best courses for beginners who want to get a quick idea about what it's like to be a web designer is the "The Accidental Web Designer" course.
The course assumes that you've been "accidentally" put into a situation at work where you had to do some web designing and teaches you some necessary web design skills to get you through the day.
Alternatively, you can enroll in the "Designing a First Website with Dreamweaver CC" if you want something a bit more sophisticated with a real hands-on web design project.
On top of that, there are 6 learning paths that provide a more comprehensive learning experience and a broader scope.
Our favorite one is the "Become a Web Designer" learning path. It consists of 11 courses that cover the fundamentals of web design from A to Z. First, you'll be introduced to web design and development with a quick introductory course and figure out how to write code in HTML and CSS.
Then, you'll start learning more specialized topics, like web design aesthetics, User Experience (UX) design, and mapping the modern web design process.
What's more, you'll learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create visually appealing websites. Additionally, you'll know the ins and outs of responsive design with 3 dedicated courses: "Learning Responsive Web Design in the Browser", "Responsive Images", and "Responsive Typography Techniques".
There's definitely something for everyone on LinkedIn Learning, and the best part is that the courses get regularly updated in compliance with the latest web design trends. It provides an outstanding learning experience overall.
What's Included:
- Over 190 courses and 6 learning paths
- Chapter quizzes
- Hands-on projects
- Phone and tablet access
- Certificate(s) of completion
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop the foundational knowledge of web design
- Build your own websites using web programming languages
- Learn how to use graphic design software programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Get familiar with how responsive design works
- Learn all about User Experience (UX) design for web
Pros
Cons
7. Web Design Courses - TreeHouse
4.5/5
TreeHouse offers a wide variety of web design certification programs with variable lengths and levels of difficulty. The "Web Design Process" course gives you a brief overview of web design basics so you can continue learning more in other courses, if you felt intrigued enough, of course.
And just like many other learning platforms, TreeHouse offers dedicated web design tracks that consist of 5+ courses. These programs are great for those who're really interested in web design as a career.
For instance, the "Web Design Track" comprises 20 short courses that take you from the ABC of HTML5 and CSS3 coding all the way up to advanced topics like Bootstrap 4, responsive design, prototyping, and CSS style sheets.
Another track that caught our eyes is the "Designer Primer Track", which places a higher emphasis on design thinking and the visual aspects of web design. You'll learn how to rewire your brain and develop creative designs, then use Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator to make your pieces of art come to life.
What's Included:
- Dozens of web design and development courses
- Specialized web design learning tracks
- 7-day free trial
- Certificate(s) of completion
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn the basics of design thinking
- Write code in CSS, HTML, and JavaScript
- Get clued up about responsive design principles and creating mobile-friendly web pages
- Be familiar with the Bootstrap 4 library and its applications in web development and design
- Use creative design programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Pros
Cons
How to Pick the Right Online Certificate in Web Design for You
Choosing to pursue a professional certificate in web design isn't supposed to be a one-minute decision. You need to keep in mind a few things if you want to enroll in a certificate program that's more than just a piece of paper on your CV.
Professional Goals
Web design courses range from short crash courses all the way up to professional learning paths. Picking a suitable program to start with is based on your professional goals and what you plan to do after completing the course.
For instance, if you only want to learn about web design just for fun or out of curiosity, quick introductory-level courses would be your best bet. These courses are also suitable for those who already work in other related jobs but want to learn web design basics for more effective communication with web designers in the team.
On the other side of the coin, if you're serious about pursuing a web design career, a full program consisting of multiple courses would be a great starting point. However, these programs usually cost more, which is just another reason they're more suitable for those who've decided to become professional web designers.
Nevertheless, you can check whether you're eligible for financial aid on whichever platform you pick.
Learning Approach
When deciding which web design certificate to take, check its content to see how the materials are presented. Some web design courses use videos extensively, while others go for a 50-50 approach and provide a hybrid video and text learning experience.
You should also keep in mind that showing your potential employer an online certificate in web design isn't enough for them to decide you're the perfect candidate. You must be able to demonstrate the skills you've learned and know how to apply them, and you'll only know how to do that if you actually applied what you've learned with some projects.
That's why you need to ensure that the course includes some hands-on practice that lets you try for yourself.
Related Questions
Is a Certificate in Web Design Worth It?
A certificate in web design can open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. You don't even need to go to college for a computer science degree to become a web designer. As a matter of fact, many web designers are self-taught. Just make sure to research each web design certification carefully to decide whether the web page certificate programs can help you start or advance your career.
Is It Hard to Be a Web Designer?
Starting a career in a new specialization can be quite challenging, and web design is no exception. However, if you invest time and effort, you'll be qualified to take on entry-level web design job roles.
Here are some of the most in-demand website design skills that employers look for when hiring a web designer, whether it's a full-time, part-time, or freelance job:
- Awareness of the basic principles of visual design
- Responsive design skills
- Fluency in CSS and HTML programming languages
- UI and UX design best practices
- Data visualization
- Basic understanding of Information Architecture
- Foundational graphic design skills
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Familiarity with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Are Web Designers in High Demand?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, web design and development career growth is projected to be 13% from 2018 to 2028. That's actually higher than average compared to other professions.
However, expect the demand to vary depending on location, but since many companies worldwide hire remote web designers, your location shouldn't be restricting your career options.
How Much Do Web Designers Earn?
According to Glassdoor.com, the average annual pay for web designers in the United States is $52,691. Salaries vary based on several factors, like years of experience, location, industry, and skill set. It also depends on whether you work in a full-time position or on a freelance basis. Freelance web designers who have a continuous flow of projects usually earn more than full-time web designers.
What's the Difference Between Web Design and Development?
Web designers and web developers work together on the same projects, but their input is vastly different. To put it simply, a web designer's role is to create a visually appealing website by optimizing its layout to deliver the best possible user experience.
On the other hand, web developers are more concerned with the coding and functionality of a website. There are 3 types of web development specializations: full-stack, back-end, and front-end web development.
On a side note, this doesn't mean that web designers don't code. Many web designers are familiar with several website programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JS and even use them on a regular basis. It's just that web developers get into the more technical details that make the website functional.
Are Online Web Design Courses Better Than Classroom Courses?
The debate between online courses and classroom learning has been going on for many years now. In the case of web design, both classroom-based learning and online learning can be quite effective. Why? Because web design is actually a job that can be done remotely, so there's no reason why that wouldn't apply to learning it too.
One of the main advantages of online web design courses is that many of them give you the luxury of setting your study hours. Also, you get the chance to retake the lessons as many times as you want in case you didn't fully comprehend the materials.
Not to mention, taking online degree programs is a great way to show your potential employers that you're a self-disciplined person who doesn't need supervision to get things done.
On the other hand, students who favor classroom learning argue that communicating with colleagues and instructors is much easier and more effective in classroom settings than in Zoom meetings. Online programs compensate for that by maintaining online collaborative communities for students.
Final Thoughts
Kicking off a career in web development and design will be much easier once you get certified. You just need to take a few moments to think about whether a particular web design certificate would suit your current experience level and career goals.
It's also worth noting that the best way to learn web design is by doing, not watching. You'll never become a web designer if you spend your whole day skimming through video lectures. Even if the program you picked includes real-world projects, it'd be best if you worked on other side projects to develop your skills further.
And remember, becoming a web developer or designer isn't that something that can be done overnight. Be patient with your learning journey and grasp any new learning opportunities that come across your way to enhance your skills. A certificate in web design is only the beginning!
