Web Page Design: Best Practices

Your web site should be designed to appeal to your target audience. Follow these recommended design practices with your target audience in mind.

Web Site Organization Techniques

1. Hierarchial = clearly defined homepage with links to major site sections
2. Linear = Pages are viewed one after another
3. Random (sometimes called Web organization) = offers no clear path through the site

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Clearly labeled navigation on every page is helpful. The user should not be lost on your site.

Navigation best practices:

• Navigation Bars = Clear navigation bars, either graphic- or text-based, make it obvious to Web site users where they are and where they can go next.
• Short Pages = A web page is considered long if it is three or more screen lengths. Long pages are usually slow to load.
• Table of Contents= bulleted list at the top of the page can provid links to specific parts of the page.

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Four Visual Design Principles

Repetition

-Repeat visual elements throughout design

Contrast

-Add visual excitement and draw attention

Proximity

-Group-related items (placed physically close together)

Alignment

-Align elements to create visual unity

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Major Components of Web page design and Three guidelines for each design element

1. Page layout design
• Ice Design= Technique is sometimes referred to as a solid or fixed design. The page hugs the left margin.
• Jello Design= Technique configures content that is centered and may be of a fixed width or percentage width such as 80 percent.
• Liquid Design= Technique results in a fluid Web page with content that takes up 100 percent of the browser window regardless of the screen resoltuion.
2. Text design
• Use common fonts : Arial, Verdana, or Times New Roman.
• Use appropriate color combinations.
• Hyperlink keywords or phrases- do not hyperlink entire sentences.
3. Graphic design
• Use antialiased text in images. Antialiasing introduces intermediate colors to smooth jagged edges in digital images.
• Use only necessary images. Don't use extra images, just because you have them.
• Keep file size and the dimensions of images as small as possible.
4. Accessibility considerations
• Content must be perceivable.
• Interface components in the content must be operable.
• Content and controls must be understandable

Trevor Downs

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