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Introduction
For the majority of Web sites, design is about information, not graphics. The most successful Web sites (Yahoo, AOL, Microsoft, Amazon, eBay) have few graphics. Large graphics and high bandwidth multimedia slow a Web site down.
Most people view the Web as a library, not a source of entertainment. They hate being kept waiting. With this in mind, Web site design should focus on:
Some Basic Q & A
What Exactly Is Web Site Design?
Web site design is information design. It’s about organizing content so that it can be easily found and easily read. Web site design is a form of publishing: presenting content in a way that is attractive to visitors.
Why Are So Many Web Sites STILL So Poorly Designed?
Because many organizations still don’t really understand what their Web sites are intended to achieve. The most successful Web sites are designed from a consumer’s point of view.
Action
Design For The Visitor — Remember, the person visiting your Web site:
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is there to find information;
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is generally in a hurry, and may not wait for elaborate pages to download;
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may be skeptical because, based on past experience, they expect a Web site to be full of useless material.
Make Sure Content Is Well Written
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keep it factual, with punchy descriptive headings and summaries;
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keep it short. Documents should be between 500-700 words, paragraphs between 40 and 60 words.
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keep it updated. Out-of-date content is no good.
Make Sure The Content Is Well Organized
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Think of your Web Site as a directory. If you have lots of products to sell, organize them so that people can browse through them easily. Web sites such as Amazon.com and eBay are successful because they organize huge quantities of products properly, so that people can find what they want quickly and efficiently.
Make Sure The Web Site Is Interactive
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Comprehensive contact details should be prominently available on the Web site.
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Physical addresses with location maps are also helpful.
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Online community forums such as chats and message boards can enhance a visitor’s understanding of the organization.
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E-mail newsletters can allow the organization to keep in touch regularly, and at low cost.
Some basic standards for good Web design
Essential navigation: Every Web page should display essential navigation, links such as Home, About, Products, Services, and Contact.
Slim masthead: A slim masthead makes the maximum amount of screen space available for the content –the main reason for a Web site visit. The masthead should contain the logo of the organization, and often, the essential links.
Footer on every page: A footer should go at the bottom of every page; it should contain a copy of the essential links, contact information (address, telephone, fax, email) and links to copyright and privacy policy information.
Effective homepage layout and design: A homepage has two critical functions:
1. Provide the visitor with the appropriate navigation and search options to allow them to find content quickly.
2. To promote important content. This can be accomplished by using short punchy headings and summaries.
Consistent page layout and design: Remember to be consistent with the design and navigation throughout every page of the entire site.
Fonts: Stick to Verdana and Arial on the Web — They’re the easiest to read. And black text on white background. Again, easiest to read.
No italic or underline: Italic has a poor appearance on screen. And never use underline, as people will definitely think it’s a link.
Small graphics / light pages: Keep graphics small, especially on the homepage. If a larger graphic is necessary, consider using a thumbnail approach, linking to a larger version of the image. If your Web pages don’t load quickly, people will simply leave. Keep pages under 50K in weight. Lighter is better.
Browser compatibility: Although Internet Explorer has the largest share of the marketplace, it is still important that the Web site displays correctly and can be viewed on other browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Mozilla, to name a couple. Test your Web site use different browsers, and different versions of those browsers.
No tricks: Swirling logos, animated e-mail postboxes, and page counters are all signs of an amateur Web site.
Test, test, and test again: Test out your Web site with potential visitors, get as much feedback as possible. This is the best way to find out what’s working and what isn’t.
In Closing
Web site design is information design. It’s about organizing content so that it can be easily found and easily read.
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clean, simple, standardized design that helps people find the content they want without delay;
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good page layout that allows people to read the content as easily as possible.
If you’d like help with your next Web project, contact us today!
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