TUTORIALS > Web Design

DESIGN
  • Establish a simple theme
  • Create a consistent look to your pages. Make it simple and clean.
  • Create a easy navigation bar. DO NOT exeed 7 buttons.
Organization

Before you get started on designing the look of your website, spend some time on how you will organize your website. A great tool to visually organize your site is Inspiration. Look at the structural hierarchy of LANGWITCHES (.gif) made with Inspiration

In general, each page presents a single topic or idea. Try to keep separate ideas as separate pages. The longer the page, the longer it will take to download and your visitors might get frustrated in scrolling down an endlessly long page.

The initial page in a sequence is often a welcome page that orientates your visitor about the information they are able to find on your site and how to get there. It is also the page where your visitor will decide if your content is worth reading or if they will leave.

Colors

Lack of contrast between the text color and the background color make it difficult to read. A consistent color palette through all images on a web page provides visual unity.

"When designing a Web site, most web designers give a lot of attention to two major factors: the design (graphics and logos) and the content. But what about the colors? This is one of the most important things to consider when designing your site. The colors of your Web site are important because they will define the mood and emotions of your visitors as well as reflect your identity and image branding."
Read more ...

Text

As with graphics; size, color and font style of the text needs to be functional and not disctract but enhance the content of your pages. Hard to read text color on background color will make your visitor leave fast. If the text size is too small or too large or the font style is too outragous, visitors will not make the effort in trying to decypher what you have written.

Keep these things in mind, when choosing your text style:

    • Size

      • Optimal size seems to be 12-13 points. Visitors should be able to read your text easy, without any effort.
    • Color
      • Provide sufficient contrast between background and text
      • Limit your font colors
      • Primary colors might be best suited for sites that appeal to children.
    • Font
      • Keep your font choices to a minimum. Pick one that is easy to read and stick with it throughout your site.
      • Keep in mind when choosing a font that although you might have it on your computer, your visitor might not.
      • Verdana, Arial and Helvetica are the most commonly used fonts for websites.
      • Avoid italics because it is often hard to read and it doesn't stand out.
      • Use boldface sparingly, or it loses its impact.
    • Paragraphs
      • Large blocks of text are hard to follow. Break big chunks of text into several paragraphs to make it easier on the eye.
    • Uniform
      • Stay consistent . Do not change font size, style, color from one page of your site to the next.
    • Miscellaneous

      Do not use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
Graphics
  • Don't over use graphics
  • Graphics need to support the content, not be the content

Need photos, graphics or clip art?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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