How Difficult is it to Learn Dreamweaver?

Are you curious about learning Dreamweaver but worried it might be too hard? The challenge of learning Dreamweaver depends on factors like your knowledge of programming languages and other design tools, your time management skills, and how much time you devote to practice. Of course, the difficulty that comes with learning a new skill is somewhat subjective. No matter your current schedule or comfort level with Dreamweaver, plenty of tools are available to help make learning easier than you might think.

What is Dreamweaver?

Dreamweaver is a downloadable Adobe software program used for designing websites and webpages. It works with either Windows or Mac. Using Dreamweaver, designers can create their own websites from scratch or use the provided starter template pages. The program integrates with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications, making importing content from any Adobe app easy.

With Dreamweaver, there are two different ways to design. Users without any knowledge of HTML can use live view, where Dreamweaver generates the required code and displays the content as it will look in a web browser. Users who know HTML can type their code into the program’s code editor. These users will also be able to take advantage of Dreamweaver’s more advanced design options.

This application was created in 1997 and became a popular web design tool. However, in recent years, Dreamweaver has decreased in popularity, with many designers opting for programs such as Visual Studio Code or WordPress instead. It is still used by some Web Designers, though the overall percentage of websites created with Dreamweaver is estimated to be small. Dreamweaver is most popular among people who already have Adobe Creative Cloud or want to stay within the Adobe ecosystem.

Read more about what Dreamweaver is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Dreamweaver?

Web Designers create and maintain websites. In some cases, one person is responsible for an entire website, while in other cases, several team members may work on the job. Knowing how to use Dreamweaver or another web design program can help a designer get started in the field of web design. Web Designers are needed in almost every industry since the majority of businesses and organizations now have websites. US News ranked web design number six in its list of Best Technology Jobs of 2022.

There are many different specialties within the field of web design. Front End Developers specialize in creating the part of the website that users see and interact with, such as the overall layout and individual features like logos or links. Back End Developers work on things that the user does not interact with but are essential to the website's function, like creating and maintaining the database. User experience (UX) design is another job related to web design. A UX Designer ensures that website users have the best experience possible. This includes ensuring that a website is intuitive and easy to use and that the experience is enjoyable for the user.

People with web design knowledge can also work in many other jobs. For example, some Web Designers end up as Application Designers, who develop applications for specific devices such as computers or mobile phones. Information Architects help make information on a website easier to find and understand. Visual Designers are responsible for the aesthetics of a website and work on things such as making sure it engages users. Overall, there are many ways to utilize knowledge of web design.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Dreamweaver?

One of the most challenging parts of learning Dreamweaver is the time designers must devote to the learning process. To master Dreamweaver or any new application, designers need to spend time getting educated on how to use the application, and they also need to spend time practicing their new skills.

One way to more effectively fit Dreamweaver learning and practice into a busy schedule is to learn time management skills. For people with good time management skills, learning a new skill is often easier and less stressful.

For some designers, knowledge of programming languages is another challenge related to learning Dreamweaver. The program can be learned without any prior knowledge of programming languages. However, the learning process is likely to be more complex, and a Designer who can’t use programming languages won’t be able to use all of Dreamweaver’s features. Many experts recommend learning to code first. Doing so can be relatively easy since there are lots of different classes that teach coding. For instance, Web Development with HTML and CSS is a coding class that lasts just a few days. Students who already know HTML can improve their skills by taking higher-level classes like Advanced HTML & CSS.

How Does Learning Dreamweaver Compare to Other Applications?

Dreamweaver is one of many applications that Web Designers use to build websites. In fact, in recent years, many designers have begun to prefer other apps instead. WordPress is one of the most popular. Like Dreamweaver, WordPress doesn't require knowledge of HTML or other programming languages. However, that knowledge is helpful for anyone trying to build a website, no matter their application. Unlike Dreamweaver, WordPress comes in a free version. According to the WordPress website, more than 43 percent of all websites use this platform. 

Visual Studio Code is another popular web design app. Like WordPress, it is free. VS Code is a code editor used to build and debug websites. Overall, the app is more challenging to learn. Students who want to learn VS Code should have prior experience writing code.

Wix and Squarespace are two other popular web-building applications. Wix is a user-friendly program with a free basic version or a paid premium version that includes additional features. Squarespace is also easy to use, even for beginning Web Designers. It has a drag-and-drop editor designed to make it simple for any company to build its own website. Designers who want to use Squarespace need to pay a monthly subscription fee.

Visual Design Knowledge

An important part of web design is creating visual elements. In addition to knowing how to use a design program like Dreamweaver, designers should understand design principles. Every element in a design affects viewers in a specific way. Understanding how and why this happens allows Designers to create more effective designs.

The Ability to Use Design Programs

In addition to knowing the principles of design, aspiring Web Designers will probably need to know how to use a number of different design programs. Design programs are the tools that designers use to create many of the visual elements that they use on their websites. Dreamweaver is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. It integrates easily with other Adobe applications, so for designers who plan to use Dreamweaver, it can be beneficial to learn design programs like Photoshop and Illustrator, which are also part of the Creative Cloud.

Keep Looking for New Challenges

One piece of advice echoed by many successful Web Designers is to keep looking for new challenges. They explain that trying new and challenging things allows designers to improve their work. For instance, a designer who mastered Dreamweaver might learn a new design program or take an advanced coding class.

Learn Dreamweaver with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop teaches hands-on web design courses in a variety of formats, with something to fit every type of schedule and learning style. Every class is small and led by expert instructors. Noble also offers a free retake for all of its courses. With the free retake, students can retake a course once within a year without paying for it again. This can be an excellent way to gain additional web design skills.

One popular type of class at Noble Desktop is a web design bootcamp. Bootcamps are intensive programs that teach skills quickly and focus on preparing graduates to use those skills in the workplace. In 2020, tech company HackerRank surveyed 116,000 developers from 162 countries about coding bootcamps and found that about a third of hiring managers hired developers who gained their skills from a bootcamp. Noble Desktop teaches many bootcamps related to web design, including Visual Design Portfolio Bootcamp.

Students looking for a more in-depth web design course can enroll in Noble’s Web Design Certificate. This comprehensive program takes six weeks full-time or five months part-time and teaches students to build websites using WordPress. Students in the certificate program will also learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript coding languages and Figma for webpage layouts.