Web Design Issue

Kevin, I'm a dev myself and know PS/AI role in our game. But what I'm saying is that you have a blank page, and are told "I need a portfolio, something modern-looking, snazzy and bold, yet clean"...Where do I go from there? That's my point. I use PS regularly, and I understand the value of both the course, but my question is about starting with a blank canvas. WHat do it do there?

First and foremost, do you have a good understanding of User Experience and Content Strategy?

That's the first and most important step towards making the designing and development process much easier.

I have built prototypes of web apps for other people. I've done my share of paper design, grudging through the hours over a button or a label. But that's mostly usability. When I try and implement that with CSS, it's shit-on-cakes practically. This design you have right now in the member's area. I did it over 2 years ago, and nearly lost my mind building a full-height, responsive and no-scrolls edition of a web app. It's always been the looks, the beauty and colors that have f**ked me over. What should I do.

Edit: in the end, my webapp had five versions to accomodate all screen sizes varying from extra wide to the tiny entry-level android mobiles with 7 inch screens. The were conditionally loaded with css breakpoints and js feature and dimension detection.

the point is I've always been a one-man operation and hence, never got learn from anyone, how they work. Any pointers where I can learn this from?

By having an understanding of content strategy, information architecture, & user experience, you'll be able to understand the business needs of the clients, the needs of the users, and how to evaluate the current quality and limitations of the relevant content towards a particular website to then create a design that works for that particular problem.

These things, once fully done--particularly the research--makes designing a website a whole lot easier.

When it comes to CSS, there's plenty of information on this site and throughout the web to find out how to implement certain techniques to get certain effects you want to achieve based on the particular needs of a project.

Kevin, please re-read my questions within my comments. I'm not saying my CSS is shit. I'm saying I don't understand how to start from a blank canvas.

I understand that. I am stating that you may be suited to better understand the importance of Research. You can't design well a solution for a problem you don't understand--including what the actual users of the site are looking for.

I was merely stating that taking the steps toward understanding better how to empathize with the users of a site you're thinking about making and the general skills on how to do to UX research and having a sound content strategy (i.e. content auditing) can help you tremendously towards designing for a site be easier for you.

if you want to understand design and how to use it you need to understand the principles are art and design such as line, color, contrast etc. The courses I linked above teach that and once you learn them designing will become easier for you since you will recognize and know what looks good and what does not. I also linked the photoshop and illustrator courses. Those are the tools used in creating mockups and assets such as logos and icons which are essential tools in the designers toolbox. You said you know the basics of HTML, CSS etc. However, if you want to become a good designer you are going to need to learn the basics of Design as well

You won't know until you have tried it.

designing is hard. For some it comes easy, for others (like myself) it is the most difficult aspect of making a website. It takes practice, like anything, so don't expect to do the courses and then all of the sudden be a great designer. You have to practice your skills and create and design many sites in order to hone them.