| You can not hope to specialize if you don't | | | | or complex designs will create an excited |
| have your basics right. After all what you | | | | feeling. A website is a dynamic entity, so |
| build on a shaky base is doomed to shatter. | | | | maintaining the balance becomes all the more |
| Let me illustrate three very basic, but often | | | | difficult. Your screen may view it perfectly |
| undermined principles of web design. It will | | | | balanced in 1280x1024 but someone's 800x600 |
| give you an idea what to look for when | | | | screens may throw it totally off. It is |
| browsing templates or portfolios and will | | | | always a good idea to use a tool or plug-in |
| help you distinguish between good and bad | | | | to view your design in different resolutions |
| work. | | | | before you purchase or deploy the site. |
| | | | Common solutions to help you overcome |
| Contrastthe most important tool to highlight | | | | balancing a site including using the "float" |
| areas of the site is contrast. Without the | | | | attribute and centering text or objects. If |
| correct application of contrast a site often | | | | you want to achieve a symmetrical look be |
| appears haphazard and difficult to read. By | | | | careful not to just center all elements. You |
| using the correct amount of contrast in your | | | | will end up with a boring or flat design that |
| fonts, backgrounds, objects and styles you | | | | they are not eye-catching and look extremely |
| will incorporate a much more professional | | | | amateurish. If you are attempting to create |
| looking design. Despite what most people | | | | an asymmetrical design then remember that |
| think contrast is more about difference than | | | | it's into just about piling everything onto |
| it is about colors. Use whatever tools you | | | | one side, you must still create a feel of |
| have to make text contrast including text | | | | balance despite the fact your site is not |
| tricks like bold, caps and underline where | | | | symmetrical. You can do this either by |
| necessary so that your page has obvious "hot | | | | placing smaller items opposite large items or |
| spots" for people to review. A great example | | | | even by pitting images against text or solid, |
| of this is hyperlinks inside text. Always set | | | | dark colors against transparent or light |
| your style to underline and change the color | | | | objects. |
| of hyperlinks (preferably the default blue) | | | | |
| so that people's eyes are drawn to them | | | | Rhythm |
| inside blocks of text. Use color contrast | | | | |
| between menus, logos and the main part of the | | | | Rhythm is sometimes called repetition and is |
| page so that people can easily break these | | | | a vital part of constructing a website as it |
| components up inside their minds. Be careful | | | | helps your website flow between pages. It |
| not to over do it though! High contrast pages | | | | gives your visitors an easier and more |
| are difficult to read (white text on a black | | | | fulfilling browsing experience as the brain |
| background or purple and green are complete | | | | will recognize the repetition in the template |
| non no) so remember to consider practicality | | | | and focus on the new parts of a page. This is |
| before creative expression. | | | | very important as if you keep disorientating |
| | | | the visitor they will quickly become fatigued |
| Balance | | | | and are likely to leave the site. Moreover, |
| | | | if your have successfully associated the |
| The most important factor in a website design | | | | website appearance with a brand then |
| is the way the elements of a design are | | | | marketing have a whole new area to explore. |
| balanced on a page. The abstract layout will | | | | It also means a redesign will have a big |
| instantly convey a basic message about your | | | | impact on the site in the future, a service |
| site. Symmetrical or simply balanced sites | | | | that will likely swing back round to you if |
| will create a calming tone while asymmetrical | | | | you did a good job in the first place. |