Wanted where to find Web Document Design Fundamnetals/Tutorials e.g. from natcoll

http://www.webmonkey.com/

Thanks for the link Greg, I used to use that site a lot several years back, tried to do all the tutorials for practise.

I can handle HTML/XHTML/CSS1-2/PHP/CFM/ASP some ASP.NET/XML/XSLT right now... what I seek now is the essence of design.

Like the book published from natcoll.co.nz references studies of how the mind works in relation to design, what the studies suggest as to what design concepts work.

Writing code is one part yes, but it seems the 'art' of design may be partly a science :-)

Anyone can design, but getting a design that is pleasing to the eye requires a person with art(creative) skills which I feel you are born with, you have either got it or you haven't. As for myself I couldn't design ****, but knows what looks good and what looks crap

what I seek now is the essence of design.You therefore need to go to art classes to get the skills.

Design isn't what you can do naturally - it comes by inspiration.

I've designed a few cool things, both on the Web and on paper as well as technically, but they just kind of happen, by playing around.

Either you've got it, or you haven't. And only a lot of practice will reveal if you do have it.

Well that's my view point anyway.

Creighton,
Those are the best manuals I have seen... I did the National Cert of Multimedia over 6 years ago, and we never had anything like that ;) Thanks for the link!
I would contact MediaDesign school, though they might be a bit cagey about their written material.

Check out the sitepoint books, they are pretty good...
http://www.sitepoint.com

A List Apart (http://alistapart.com/)