| What is the most important element of website | | | | major functionality of your site, including menus. For |
| design? Is it the one that best showcases your | | | | instance if there is some crucial information on your |
| design prowess? Is it the one that proves what a | | | | website and people need to access that information |
| brilliant graphic designer you are? Or the one that will | | | | before doing business with you then don't make that |
| bring you more design awards? Or maybe your site | | | | information accessible only through a JavaScript on an |
| design exists to establish a platform for you and your | | | | image file or a Flash animation. All your important text |
| visitors to interact with each other unhindered by | | | | should be available only in text and even if you have |
| usability glitches? | | | | to resort to using images and other stuff than make |
| The criteria for good web design depends upon the | | | | sure the textual alternative is always available. |
| person and the purpose of each site. That said there | | | | 2) Don't use colors that cause strain to the eyes. If |
| are some established conventions that you are | | | | you want people to come to your website again and |
| advised to follow to ensure that your completed site | | | | again and consume your content or do business with |
| has as wide a reach as possible. When you are | | | | you then you must make their stay over your |
| designing your website, especially these days, you | | | | website as pleasant as possible. No matter how |
| have to be constantly conscious of the fact that | | | | awesome your design looks if the color combinations |
| there are numerous browsers and numerous devices | | | | are strain-full, after a while they will tire of your |
| that people may use to access your website. No | | | | website and stop coming. Always take care that |
| longer do people browse the Internet just through | | | | your background behind the text is far lighter than |
| their PCs and laptops; there are many handheld | | | | the text, and vice versa. |
| devices that can directly connect to the Internet and | | | | 3) Plan a carefully considered (from the users |
| enable people to browse your website; people can | | | | perspective) navigation system. If you have multiple |
| even browse your website using their mobile phones. | | | | pages on your website then there should be a |
| The days when 99$ of the population used Internet | | | | prominently defined navigation system that is easily |
| Explorer as their primary browser are far behind us. | | | | accessible to everybody. As mentioned above don't |
| What are you showcasing or what is the main focus | | | | let your navigation depend on images, JavaScripts, or |
| of your site as this will drive the overall design of | | | | Flash animation. If possible create just a text-based |
| your site: will you include videos, images just text or | | | | navigation bar. With CSS designing you can create |
| maybe a mixture of all three? You have to design | | | | great looking navigation bars. |
| your website accordingly. If it is merely text that you | | | | 4) Design your website using CSS because then you |
| plan to publish then try to make it as less graphical as | | | | can make your content and your navigation bar |
| possible as people coming to your website will be | | | | appear in a linear fashion. Since all the layout-related |
| interested in your text and not your images and | | | | placements take place through CSS definitions no |
| videos. Similarly a website showcasing your Flash | | | | matter how your text appears texturally, graphically |
| animation expertise will expect lots of Flash work so | | | | it will appear as a pleasant layout. The CSS designing |
| you needn't worry about making your website | | | | techniques also enable you to dabble with intricate |
| textually accessible. | | | | layouts without making your website inaccessible. |
| So when you are designing your website you have | | | | CSS designing will always help you arrange your main |
| to take all these parameters into consideration. But | | | | content before the navigation link despite making it |
| does it mean that you're always accommodating | | | | visually appear beneath the navigation bar or to the |
| browsers and devises and do not focus on your own | | | | right of it. |
| business, whatever that is? No, I'm not suggesting | | | | Follow these basic web design principles and you will |
| that. Just take care of the following website design | | | | have a good website design to boast of. Remember |
| guidelines and you will make sure that 95% people | | | | that your website design is created for the sake of |
| (well, there will always be those odd 5% who can | | | | your visitors and not to cater to your designing |
| never browse the web easily no matter what they | | | | whims and fancies. |
| try) surfing the Internet can access your website: | | | | Gary Mattoc is employed by Peterborough web |
| 1) Create a lighter design. Where possible do not | | | | design Company Doublespark Limited. Contact Gary |
| overuse either Javascripts of Flash that effect the | | | | for all your Peterborough graphic design requirements. |