Web Design
The internet came into existence in the 1960's but was only available to select groups of people (military, scientists, doctors, educators...). In the 1980's Tim Berners-Lee is credited with inventing the internet. He chose to make this technology available to everyone for free. The W3C, or World Wide Web Consortium was created to ensure this access. It still monitors and regulates the accessibility to the World Wide Web today.
HTML, or Hyper-Text Markup Language, is the coding language that is used for web sites. There have been multiple versions of the language, the newest version being HTML5, the current standard. In the beginning, web sites were created using just HTML code so they were mostly text with very few images.
The CERN datacenter in 2010 with World Wide Web and Mail servers(from Wikipedia)
Web design software programs give designers the option of designing WYSIWYG - or What You See Is What You Get. In other words, instead of using only code, the web designer can set up designs on the computer screen as they will be seen. There are many programs available so that both the novice and the expert can create web sites.
Web design has now expanded to mobile devices also, necessitating a move to responsive web design. Designs now must be adaptable for a variety of screen sizes. The more adaptable and user friendly a web site is, the more likely it will attract visitors. With half a billion active web sites in existence today, attracting visitors is a major concern for designers.
Sites about the history of web design:
1st Web Designer: Web Design History from the Beginning
Visual.ly: History of Web Design
Six Revisions: The Evolution of Web Design
Some sites about web design:
W3C - World Wide Web Consortium
Wikipedia: World Wide Web
MSDN: Responsive Web Design
A List Apart: Responsive Web Design
Web Design Ledger: 21 Fresh Exampls of Responsive Web Design
Media Queri: Web Design Examples
Smashing Magazine: Guidelines for Responsive Web Design
Copyright Columbia: Public Domain Resources
Some sites about web design accessibility:
StudyGS: Accessiblity
Peach Pit: Dreamweaver Tips
HTML Dog: Guides Intermediate
Some sites with tips and tutorials about web design:
Digital Web: Principles of Design
Web Design: CSS for Dummies
W3Schools
TeamTreeHouse: Beginners Guide to Responsive Web Design
HTML Dog: Guides for Beginners
Smashing Magazine: 10 Principles of Effective Web Design
Some artists who worked with web design:
Gizmodo: 23 Ancient Web Sites That Are Still Alive
Telegraph: The Early Days of 25 Websites
PC Mag: A Look Back at the Earliest Websites
Wikipedia: Tim Berners-Lee
Some contemporary artists who work with web design:
From Up North: Web Design Inspiration
The Best Designs
CSS Design Awards
10 Best Design
Web Design Ledger: Best of Web Design in 2013
Web Design Dev: 30 Most Influential People in Web Design
1st Web Designer: 15 Influential Designers
Webby Awards: 2013 Winners