Due to the boom in the web industry and growing trends in online shopping, there is an increase in the demand for skilled work force to develop and manage the usable interactive web sites and web content for several companies across the world. Many students want to equip themselves with required web development knowledge by participating in courses from distance. Information and communication technologies (ICT) based on internet have opened up new potentials in higher education. To keep up with the influx of students several universities offer some coursework online and some have converted complete programs of study in order to make them entirely available online to campus as well as distance students (including professionals) at the same time. Distance education always have unique requirements. In this article, I reported the design of a course and an online lab for web development and management based on initial design principles derived from kernel theories such as Conversational Framework, Constructive Alignment and Personalized System of Instruction. The overall research was conducted using the action design research approach. The iterative cycles and critical reflections during the building, intervention and evaluation process helped to refine the initial design principles. The study contributes to the researchers and practitioners community by providing design principles and an online Lab model that utilizes state-of-the art technology for mixed classrooms.