Teaching several different classes related to web design, I am often asked “Which book should I buy if I want to learn all about web design?”. Right now, my personal favorite is Learning Web Design by Jennifer Niederst Robbins. In its forth edition, this book does an excellent job of explaining the topic of web design which has so many facets.
Ms. Robbins makes the topic very approachable for the first-time student with a clear outline that establishes a solid foundation of necessary background knowledge and key concepts. From there, she carries the reader through a variety of topics using practical examples and emphasis on the “you can do this, too” premise. With this latest edition, published in 2012, current topics of Responsive Design and JavaScript make this a must-have library addition for both novice as well as experienced web developers.