Simple Web Design Techniques for the Viewer

Web design is perhaps one of the most important processes involved with establishing a new website or presence online. Choosing the wrong company to assist you along the way can spell out “DISASTER”. Spend some time selecting an organization that has the skills, approach, and experience required to deliver the website of your dreams.

Your overall goal is to provide an enjoyable experience for the user, with an easy-to-navigate interface and layout that isn’t invasive or pushy. The following article will cover website design that is tailored for the user and focuses on the reader’s needs, rather than those of the business.

You should understand who it is that will be using your website, such as age range, intended usage, and relevant interests. This target audience will have a massive impact on the overall layout of your page, including any interactive features or flashy graphics.

As an example, a strong, political blog that is aimed at readers in their mid-40’s should present the latest posts on the front page and provide immediate, simple navigation options without any flashy interruptions. Know your audience, know their tolerance for certain design techniques, and design your site around these thresholds.

Keep the website entirely self-evident, from top-to-bottom. The readers should never need to spend any time trying to decipher a link’s meaning or the purpose of a button. Your links should be immediately recognizable as links, and their destinations should be included nearby.

If there is a need for registration or providing personal information, this should be established and optional. The viewers should always know where they are within a particular domain, and there should be an easy solution for returning to the homepage at all times.

Websites are very visual for the viewer. Keep size in mind when designing and placing advertisements, logos, banners, or particular pieces of media. If something is more important, increase the size and maintain a steady hierarchy throughout the various sub-domains.

Size is not the only determining factor, but it is one of the most important. Readers spend more time near the top half of a page, meaning the higher up an advertisement or link is placed, the more likely it is to be followed. Finally, keep related pieces of information grouped together and within similar areas of the margin.

Use unique conventions for standing out against the competition. However, when it comes to certain things, such as hyperlinks or breadcrumb trails, use the standard that is immediately recognized by new viewers.

For instance, blue links are easily noticeable, while red hyperlinks would confuse the reader. When it involves things of less importance, such as headers within a page, put your own personal spin on the approach, and you are more likely to stick within the memories of your readers.

A website will always be an unfinished project, as newer ideas come into the design, and you are always finding yourself eager to attempt something different. Use the ideas you’ve gathered from the above article during this process and better results will follow.