Website design relates to the process involved in producing one or more web pages that are made available to users on the Cyberspace. The published presentation is typically viewed through use of a web browser or more specialized software. The Web pages are created with tools, like HTML, XHTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), JavaScript and Flash.
The underlying design goal for most website designers is to create web pages that are functional, efficient, easy to maintain and appealing to the eye of the use. It is also important that visitors experience a website that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Once the designer identify the purpose of the site, the targeted visitor, and how the website will serve the customer, the design process can began.
Elements/Principles
Like most print design projects, website design involves the use of lines, various shapes, colors and other methods to create websites that are visually pleasing. They must also have user-friendly pages that are designed specifically for the Internet. Basic website design is predicated on understanding of the various elements that are necessary to build a web page from scratch. They are: lines, shapes, color, texture and direction.
The lines are important for producing spaces around the various objects and elements on the page. They can be vertical or horizontal and are often used to create borders. They are essential for making the page easier to read. Shapes provides the ability to create contours and are typically rectangular or square. Images are also used to produce shapes on designs. Designers implement both artificial and natural texture to create a surface-like affect on their web pages.
Color is not a property that is necessary for effective website design. Most designers complete the initial design without color. They go back and add color to enhance the page and make it visually pleasing to the user. The final element, called direction, focuses on giving the web design a sense of motion. This technique involves intentionally leading the user's eyes across the web page in a deliberate order.
Fonts
The fonts determines how your text will appear or the page, or the typography. This would include the use of various sizes and shapes. Many designers include this information in CSS by declaring a font family, which consists of a primary font and back-up fonts. An example may be: Times New Roman, Arial or Helvetica. Next, a unit of measurement for the font size is is determined. It can be stated in inches, centimeters, pixels and numerous other measurements. Some other decisions include selecting the font's color, style and background.
Color
Most designers are aware of the effect colors can have on the emotions of people. They are often cautioned about the need to use colors wisely. One of the primary objectives innate to most website design projects is to communicate the desired message or feeling to the viewer. For example, the color blue is commonly used on websites because of its ability to covey a sense of peace, health, tranquility, dependability and confidence.
However, the color blue is not recommended for use on a food website because it may suppress the appetite of your visitors. So, possessing an understanding of color theory, the color wheel and color charts are important attributes of design that are crucial for creating a successful color scheme.
Graphics
Adding images and graphics is another aspect that is essential for good website design. Just like the text on your web pages, graphics are used to communicate your message to the visitor. They may consist of photographs, charts, graphs, clip art and digital art. Graphics may also consist of drawings, decorative borders or textured backgrounds. Graphics can be in color, grayscale and black and white. There are many software programs available for creating bitmaps and vectors, the types of graphics commonly used on websites.
Layout
All pages that are created for the Internet start out as a blank page. Most web designers place and position the various objects and element on the page with a specific goal in mind. This is called the layout. This is the process where the designer is concerned with the nature of the element, how it relates to the purpose of the page and how it fits in with the other elements being used.
Elements are comprised of things like headlines, images, texture and navigation. An example would be the placement of administrative links at the bottom of the page; or positioning the navigation on the top-left of the Web page. Some other considerations that are taken into account when laying out the page may include placing ad blocks, connecting elements, centering various objects and creating points of interest.
Navigation
Navigation determines how visitors to your website move from one page to another. This is one of the keys to helping viewers discover other features of your site. The site's layout must be conducive to assisting customers to effortlessly maneuver to the information, product or page that got them to your website in the first place. Therefore, designing a site that is easy to navigate is important. Some things you may want to consider are: accessibility, relevancy, understandability and prevalence.
Website design must be accessible which includes loading quickly. Flashy effects like Flash and Javascript often slow pages down and may be annoying to customers. The links should be clearly identified and helps visitors to know immediately what action will occur when they click the link. Typical links include: Home, About, Products, Support and Contact Us. In addition, the navigation should utilize the same basic design and structure throughout the entire site.
Source:
What is Website Design? | eHow.com
12-08-2009, 03:52 PM
What is Website Design?
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