HTML5 Bootcamp

When designing online experiences for clients, internal teams, or even yourself, it’s always been important to use technologies that are not only appropriate for today, but are future-proofed to ensure their longevity way past the time you walk away from the project. HTML5, coupled with CSS3 and JavaScript, is the way to markup your sites to help ensure current, modern browsers can take advantage of the most up-to-date technologies and methods, as well as make your life easier when designing and developing User Experiences.

As HTML5 is in its nascent stage — and not fully agreed upon by the competing browsers — finding solid instruction is at times difficult. There are many books available, but many require instruction — a person to help guide through and seperate the important, useful stuff from what may be (over)hyped.

As defined by P.C. Magazine,

(HTML Version 5) The next-generation of HTML from the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG). HTML5 is designed to provide a comprehensive application development platform for Web pages that eliminates the need to install third-party browser plug-ins such as Java and Flash. HTML5 provides support for 2D graphics (see canvas element), document editing, drag and drop, browser history management, video playback and local file storage.

What this means is many of the hurdles we once faced when building our Experiences are now an integral part of HTML5 (and CSS3). This not only helps our users and customers delight in the best-possible experience, but helps those of us more easily (and better) create those projects, products, environments, or what-have-you.

With all of this technology, user-centered design capabilities, and blue-sky possibilities at our doorstep, designers and developers are seeing new opportunities to create immersive, incredible experiences. However, books and websites are the only really accessible media for learning. So, what’s a Seattle-based designer/developer to do when wanting hands-on instruction from an “industry expert,” while not able to attend the rare-but-worthwile conferences that come to town? Well, attend one of the workshops/bootcamps I’ve been hosting at Seattle’s School of Visual Concepts.

SVC is an incredible alternative school for those of all levels, professions, and interests to learn more about the Creative Arts, both digital and print. Since October 2011, I’ve been hosting / teaching an HTML5 (+ CSS3 & JavaScript) workshop at SVC with great results and response.