Building Layouts That Actually Work
Our autumn 2025 programme focuses on practical web layout skills. You'll spend twelve weeks working through real projects, making mistakes in a safe environment, and learning why certain approaches work better than others.
Ask About Next IntakeWhat You'll Actually Be Doing
Most layout courses throw theory at you. We do things differently. You'll get your hands dirty from week one, building actual layouts that need to work across devices.
The Sheffield cohort starting September 2025 runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings, plus one Saturday workshop each month. Remote attendance available for those outside the area, though we've found in-person works better for most students.
- Build responsive layouts without relying on frameworks you don't understand
- Debug positioning problems that make even experienced developers swear
- Learn grid and flexbox through projects that actually matter
- Understand why your layouts break and how to fix them quickly
- Work with real client briefs and feedback cycles
How The Twelve Weeks Break Down
We structure things so each phase builds on what came before. By week six, you'll be solving problems we haven't explicitly taught you because the fundamentals will be solid.
Weeks 1-3
Foundation Work
Box model, positioning basics, and why things don't line up the way you expect. We cover float-based layouts too because you'll encounter them in existing codebases. Three projects, increasing complexity each week.
Weeks 4-7
Modern Layout Methods
Flexbox and grid become your primary tools here. You'll rebuild earlier projects using these approaches and see why they're worth the learning curve. Mobile-first responsive design starts here too.
Weeks 8-10
Real-World Complexity
Client projects with unclear requirements and changing scope. Navigation that needs to work on phones and desktops. Content that isn't always the length you planned for. This is where things get messy and interesting.
Weeks 11-12
Portfolio Project
Build something you're proud to show employers. We'll review your code, suggest improvements, and help you document your thinking process. Many students use this project in job applications throughout 2026.
Weeks of Focused Learning
Practical Projects
Live Sessions
Portfolio Pieces
Who's Teaching This
Both instructors still work on client projects. That matters because web layout keeps evolving, and what worked two years ago sometimes doesn't cut it anymore.
Niamh Caldwell
Senior Layout Instructor
Spent eight years breaking layouts for agencies before figuring out how to build them properly. She's good at explaining why your divs aren't behaving and doesn't get frustrated when you ask the same question three times.
Saskia Bergström
Responsive Design Specialist
Handles the mobile-first and responsive portions of the programme. She's worked with e-commerce sites that needed to function on everything from old Androids to new iPhones, so she's seen most edge cases.