Don’t Forget the Basics of Web Design

Posted December 22nd 2012 Blog - 0 Comments

In web design and website development, it’s sometimes good to push the envelope, to try something new or to break the “rules”. Some of the greatest new trends come about that way. However, it’s important not to forget the basics of web design and even if you’ve been doing this for some time, it doesn’t hurt to recap.

Remember that your website, or the website you are designing for a client, is often the first impression that anyone will get of your business and brand. You really only get one chance to make a first impression and if you want to make yours great, web design choices are very important.

Your design should follow some very basic rules/guidelines of solid, user-friendly web design:

1. It should connect the reader with the content- pretty graphics and flash animations are not helpful if the reader cannot actually see and engage with your content.
2. It should be easy to navigate- if the visitor cannot access your content, you will not benefit from the site. Nothing is more frustrating as a viewer than not being able to find what you need on a site or having to click through or scroll through lots of pages trying to find what you’re looking for.
3. Color choices should blend well- Contrasting colors that complement are best for readability. Avoid backgrounds with distracting shapes or patterns. These are very difficult to read, especially to sensitive visitors.
4. The design should be simple- You may have big ideas for all the things you want on your site and that you want your site to be able to do but you need to keep it simple for practical reasons.
5. The design should be well organized-The design should enhance the content, no detract from it. Your layouts should be organized well so it showcases the content in an easy-to-read and view format.
6. The design should complement the genre of the website-This is another important design concept. This should be subtle and doesn’t have to scream at you but there should be some idea of what the site is about even without reading the content. A professional, business site might not mesh well with teddy bears and hearts all over the design. Food industry sites need to have appetizing design themes. Complement your niche with your design for a better experience to the visitor.
7. All pages of the site should be consistent in design- You create brand awareness and a smooth experience for the visitor when you keep the design of all pages consistent. It’s understandable and expected that the home page may have a different layout than the other pages and different content will affect the pages and how they are viewed but the basic theme should be found in each one.

With these tips in mind, remember that’s not about fancy images, showing off that new trick you learned how to design or how many elements you can cram into one website. Functionality should always reign supreme in web design. You want it to look good- but you need it to be functional.

Graphics should be lighter and they should reflect the theme of the website. You should follow the standards when it comes to a great layout and you should think about your reader as you are building the design and creating the layout for the content. Take time to ensure all the elements of the site line up correctly and that everything functions as it should as well.

If you need help with web design or web development, let us know. We’re here and happy to serve you.