Originally Posted by newkid But what about the design aspect of it all. So far you guys have only been talking about programming languages and etc.

There are only two web design languages - HTML and CSS.
Everything else mentioned is an extra.
Javascript / JQuery for special effects and interactions, PHP for programming to talk to a database, or provide common include files.
Just using a CMS is for those who what a quick fix or have a client who wishes to be able to edit their own site (or a so called designer who can't actually design and uses existing templates for a CMS)

Admittedly some people then specialise in one or two areas - creating templates for Wordpress, or creating database driven web sites, or making graphically rich web designs, or JQuery plug-ins.

But if you can't use HTML and CSS then you are not a web designer in any way or form. Because web pages are written in HTML and CSS.

If you think you should start by learning PHP for example, you are totally wrong. Because the PHP is used to write the HTML! So you must start with HTML, then CSS to style the HTML. You have no choice in this, unless you wish to use someone else's templates and never edit them in any way.