Design

What Is Web Design?
Design
As more of the world turns to the internet and online resources to do their shopping, pay their bills, and even run appliances inside their homes, web design continues to increase in importance. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about web design?
Basically, web design means creating, planning and updating websites. While that may sound relatively straightforward, many different elements must come together for effective website development such as the site structure, layout, fonts, colors, user interface and imagery (photography and video).
Most people think of web design in purely visual terms. As a result, they tend to believe that good aesthetics naturally leads to good design. However, there are many other factors involved such as user habits, navigation, and ergonomics that contribute to the overall site design.
Essentially, anything that makes the user experience simpler and more comfortable is considered successful web design. Ultimately, the goal is to create a site that works well for the people who use it.
Furthermore, your design shapes your users’ perception of your brand, directly affects your SEO and your search rankings, and impacts user behavior. Essentially, your choice of layout and your site design influence your entire web presence.
Key Visual Components of Web Design
Many of the visual components of web design are the same terms that are used in nearly all types of design. The following are a few key elements of website design.Page Layout
The page layout refers to how text, ads and graphics are arranged on a page. A web designer incorporates these elements to help users obtain the information they need as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Typically, an effective layout achieves a balance and a consistency among the elements.Content
Text
Text refers to the written words on a site. Ideally, it should blend with the other visuals to reinforce the message and the purpose of the site. If content is both relevant and useful to the user, then he or she will remain on the site. For this reason, content should be concise and easy-to-read. If a site has lots of long-form content, it helps to break it up with shorter paragraphs and bullet points or numbered lists. White space (margins and padding) is as effective in a layout as type because it allows your content room to breathe. Anything that makes it easier for readers to scan and get a sense of the topic improves a site’s usability. Beyond its design, content needs to be optimized, so that the website shows up higher in search engine results.Graphics
Graphics are very helpful because they can clarify or visually represent concepts introduced in the text. Graphics include everything from photographs to illustrations, diagrams, pie charts, logos, icons, flowcharts, clip art and other image forms. Essentially, graphics contribute to the overall visual design by working together with the content and colors of a page to impact the user.Typography
The choice of typeface or the font you use and how it works with the layout and color scheme can make a big difference to the look and feel of a website. Because most web browsers can only read a certain number of fonts, often referred to as “web-safe fonts”, web designers usually stay within this category.Color Schemes
The colors on a web page communicate the tone and personality of a brand or an organization. Color choices are essential for logos and graphics because they give the user a feel for the business or organization behind the website.What is User-Friendly Web Design?
For a successful web design, a developer must keep the user experience in mind. The following factors are key to creating user-friendly web design.Compatibility
If your website isn’t compatible, you could lose plenty of customers right away resulting in an unusually high bounce rate. Although compatibility presents some of the greatest challenges to web design, many people tend to overlook this part. Before you can determine whether your website is compatible, however, you need to be clear about what it means. To be compatible, a website’s pages must function across a number of different platforms. In other words, it should render equally across:- Operating Systems – Windows, Macintosh, and Linux
- Web Browsers – Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox
- Different Screens and Screen Resolutions
Navigation
Website navigation is akin to having a set of directions for when a user enters a site. The clearer a site’s navigation, the easier it is for users to find out where to go to get what they need. According to Forrester Research, about 50% of potential sales are lost because users have difficulty getting the information they want. In other words, nearly half of the people who visit your site may leave without looking at your product or services if they can’t find them quickly and easily. Therefore, the structure and labels of your navigation can really affect your results. So designers need to create site architecture and menus according to how users browse and search. Using descriptive labels in your navigation bar, for instance, is helpful for both visitors and search engines.- Visitors – because the navigation bar is always visible at the top of the page, it garners instant attention. If it accurately lists your products or services, users will know right away what your business offers and if they’re on the right site.
- Search engines – descriptive labels in your navigation can affect search engine results because they show relevance. Since your navigation menu shows on each page, proper labeling confirms for a search engine that you really are an authority on that topic.