Web Design & Coding
Working notes on HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP — written from the desk of a self-taught designer who learns by building.
How the skills were built
The author describes himself as a hybrid content author and web designer with no formal training in computer science. HTML and CSS were honed over the years through trial and error, repetition, books, online courses, and by tapping the expertise of colleagues.
That path leaves gaps as well as strengths. Reading unfamiliar code, lifting the part that is needed and adapting it is routine work — provided the change stays small and the intent of the original markup is clear.
| Area | Working level |
|---|---|
| HTML & CSS | Strongest ground; learned by repetition and by rebuilding the same layouts. |
| JavaScript | Limited — comfortable deploying a jQuery plugin and adjusting its parameters. |
| PHP | Enough to get by, and enough to get into trouble. |
For many who grew up flipping through coloring books, the simple act of filling a blank outline with color remains a small anchor of calm. There is something quietly satisfying about choosing a shade, staying just inside the line, and watching a black-and-white page turn into something personal. That same sense of deliberate creation carries over into digital spaces, where online coloring games and printable pages offer the same low-pressure joy. Whether working with crayons on paper or tapping a screen, the process invites focus without demanding perfection. It is a reminder that making something does not always require advanced skill—just the willingness to begin.
The shift from coloring on paper to building on a screen is not as wide as it might seem. Both involve layering, choosing combinations, and stepping back to see how the whole comes together. For a self-taught designer, that background in picking palettes and filling shapes translates naturally into layout work, spacing decisions, and choosing type that fits a mood. Even the patience learned from finishing a detailed page carries over into debugging a layout or tweaking a style sheet. The hands-on approach that starts with crayons and markers can evolve into HTML and CSS, with the same trial-and-error rhythm guiding the way.
Learning to code without a formal computer science background means building a personal toolkit one piece at a time. Books, online courses, and conversations with more experienced colleagues fill in some gaps, while repeated practice covers others. The result is a working knowledge that may not follow a textbook path but is deeply practical. Reading unfamiliar code, lifting the section that applies, and adapting it to a new context becomes a routine part of the workflow. That process mirrors the way many people learn to draw or color—by studying examples, borrowing techniques, and eventually developing a style that feels like their own.
Coloring pages have a way of bringing people together around a shared, quiet activity. Parents print sheets for rainy afternoons, teachers use them for classroom breaks, and adults rediscover them as a low-stakes creative outlet. The variety is wide—from simple shapes for young children to intricate patterns for those who want more detail. Online versions add convenience, offering endless options without the need for supplies. Whether the subject is a favorite character, a seasonal theme, or an abstract design, the appeal stays the same: a blank space waiting to be filled, with no wrong answers and no pressure to impress.
The dark, minimal backdrop of a personal portfolio site can feel like a blank page in its own right. Against a near-black background, light text and a single thin accent color draw the eye exactly where the designer intends. That restrained palette is a deliberate choice, letting content breathe without visual clutter. It echoes the philosophy behind a well-made coloring page: provide clear outlines, leave room for interpretation, and trust the viewer to find their own focus. In both cases, the structure supports creativity rather than competing with it. A clean foundation, whether on paper or on screen, lets the work speak for itself.
The four languages in the workflow
HTML
Structure first. Most posts here start with a markup problem rather than a styling one.
CSS
The layer where repetition pays off — selectors, cascade and layout habits that stick.
JavaScript
The hardest of the set. jQuery plugins get deployed and their parameters fiddled with.
PHP
Practical, partial knowledge, alongside data capturing and MySQL work on the side.
Learning to code in the browser
Codecademy came up repeatedly as a way to remedy a shallow understanding of code — lessons that start without an account, with an editor built into the page so practice begins immediately. It is covered in its own review on this site.
Related threads on the blog run from Back to Basics and Design through to Web Design and HTML5, with occasional detours into data visualisation and the tools that produce it.
Where these notes are filed
Design and coding posts sit under the site's own categories, which mix craft topics with the tools and platforms they touch.
- Design and Web Design — layout, markup and presentation decisions.
- Back to Basics — revisiting HTML, CSS and the fundamentals.
- Commentary and Writing — opinions on the trade and how it is learned.
- Mac Apps and Gear — the software and hardware the work happens on.
Questions about a specific build or a note left here can go to the contact address listed on the About page.