Web Design In Simple Steps

Top 10 Web Design Tips

   1. Use a content management system (CMS)

   2. Provide a service

   3. Do not get too clever

   4. Usability is paramount

   5. The Web is an easily changeable medium

   6. Make text more accessible with plenty of headings, subheadings, and lists

   7. Check your work

   8. Be consistent

   9. Leverage the power of free online web developer tools

   10. Remember, web design is supposed to be fun

1. Planning your website



Review several sites’ services and self-interested goals


Determine your site’s purpose


Narrow your purpose to one goal


Identify your target audience


Have a call to action


Understand your constraints


Identify a service you can offer users


Make sure your ecommerce site offers a service


When offering a service, make it relevant and valuable


Gather requirements, even if you don’t think there are any


Create a use case diagram



2. Website architecture



Translate the use case diagram into an outline


Assign priorities to every outline element


Translate the outline to a site map


Follow the three-click rule


Use sequential navigation when appropriate


Use external links sparingly and prudently


Do not let ads detract from your site’s content


Ensure your site has no dead ends


Do not use under construction pages


Ensure every page has a page header


Ensure every page has a page footer


Make hyperlinks and icons explicit


Use breadcrumb trails when designing complex sites


Always create a site map or site index


Create a prototype navigation template


Create a website framework, complete with blank pages



3. Writing your text



Consider blogging


Ensure your site contains quality content


Chunk your information into bite-size pieces


Write like a journalist


Write descriptive headings and subheadings


Persuade users with subtle techniques


Prefer simple to complex and edit your writing


Ensure meaning is intuitive on important items



4. Webpage layout and composition



Place important information above the fold line


Make pages printable


Use grid theory


Violate a page’s grid to draw attention to an element


Emphasise what is important


Prominently display your purpose, or have a tagline


Design for a maximum screen resolution of 1024x768


Know the difference between fixed and flexible layout


Use a centred layout



5. Using web colour effectively



Have a basic understanding of colour values


Understand colour theory essentials


Use a tool to generate a colour palette


Generate a colour palette from a photograph


Use your colour palette consistently across pages


Choose colours to match your site’s mood


Accept that colour choices may not appear as you wish


Use text and background colour harmoniously



6. Texture



Add texture with a repeating pattern


Add texture with a non-repeating image


Use pe