1/19/2016Page 1 Web Site Design Modified by Linda Kenney Nov. 1, 2010

1/19/2016Page 2 Learn the fundamentals of Web page design. Learning Objectives

1/19/2016Page 3 You already know how to add absolute URLs, relative links, mail links to your Web pages how to add colors to a Web page how to publish a Web page about browser-safe colors how to add internal links using named anchors to your Web pages

1/19/2016Page 4 You will learn how to add pictures to a Web page how to use tables how to lay out your page

1/19/2016Page 5 Think about the theme or purpose of your Web page. –What about the target audience? Think about what you want to place on your page, and the source of the material you will use. Ensure that your content is consistent with your theme. Planning Your Web Page

1/19/2016Page 6 Then consider the organization of this content. Create a storyboard. The storyboard shows the layout of the material you plan to place on your Web pages. Planning Your Web Page(cont.)

1/19/2016Page 7 Planning Your Web Pages (cont.)

1/19/2016Page 8 Web Site Organization Hierarchical Linear Random (sometimes called Web Organization)

1/19/2016Page 9 Hierarchical Organization Characterized by a clearly defined home page with links to major site sections Often used for commercial and corporate web sites

1/19/2016Page 10 Hierarchical -- Too Shallow Be careful that the organization is not too shallow. –This provides too many choices and could result in a confusing and less usable web site

1/19/2016Page 11 Hierarchical -- Too Deep Be careful that the organization is not too deep. –This results in many “clicks” needed to drill down to the needed page. –User Interface “Three Click Rule” A web page visitor should be able to get from any page on your site to any other page on your site with a maximum of three hyperlinks.

1/19/2016Page 12 Hierarchical Organization Examples?

1/19/2016Page 13 Linear Organization Used when the purpose of a site or series of pages on a site is to provide a tutorial, tour, or presentation that needs to be viewed in a sequential fashion.

1/19/2016Page 14 Linear Organization Example

1/19/2016Page 15 Random Organization Sometimes called “Web” Organization Utilized when there is no clear path through the site May be used with artistic or concept sites Generally not used for commercial web sites.

1/19/2016Page 16 Random Organization example

1/19/2016Page 17 Design Principles Repetition –Repeat visual elements throughout design. Contrast –Add visual excitement and draw attention. Proximity –Group related items. Alignment –Align elements to create visual unity.

1/19/2016Page 18 Web Site Navigation Best Practices Make your site easy to navigate –Provide clearly labeled navigation in the same location on each page. –Most common – across top or down left side Another option is “breadcrumb” navigation Examples:

1/19/2016Page 19 Web Site Navigation Best Practices (cont.) Types of Navigation –Graphics-based –Text-based –Interactive Navigation Technologies Java Applet Flash

1/19/2016Page 20 Web Site Navigation Best Practices (cont.) Accessibility Tip –When graphics, a Java Applet, or Flash are used for the main navigation of a web site, provide clear text-based links on the bottom of each page.

1/19/2016Page 21 A table can be used to create a graphical navigation bar. Insert each section into a single row table with zero border, spacing, and padding. Convert each image section into a link. Creating a Graphical Navigation Bar

1/19/2016Page 22 More Web Site Navigation Best Practices Use a Table of Contents (with links to other parts of the page) for long pages. See External Links on the course menu in our Blackboard course. Consider breaking long pages into multiple shorter pages. Large sites may benefit from a site map or site search feature.

1/19/2016Page 23 Meta (description and keywords) See

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1/19/2016Page 25 Web Page Design Load Time Watch the load time of your pages. Try to limit web page document and associated media to under 60K on the home page and 100K on other pages. Why should your home page be smaller than the other pages?

1/19/2016Page 26 Web Page Design Target Audience Design for your target audience. –Appropriate reading level of text –Appropriate use of color –Appropriate use of animation

1/19/2016Page 27 Web Page Design Colors & Animation Use colors and animation that appeal to your target audience. –Kids What? –College students What? –Older users What? –Everyone: Good contrast between background and text Avoid animation if it makes the page load too slowly.

1/19/2016Page 28 Web Page Design Browser Compatibility Web pages do NOT look the same in all the major browsers Test with current and recent versions of: –Internet Explorer –Firefox, Mozilla –Opera –Mac versions Design to look best in one browser and degrade gracefully (look OK) in others

1/19/2016Page 29 Web Page Design Screen Resolution Test at various screen resolutions –Most widely used: 1024x768 and 800x600 Design to look good at various screen resolutions

1/19/2016Page 30 Web Page Design More Best Practices Page layout design Text design Graphic design Accessibility considerations

1/19/2016Page 31 Web Page Design Page Layout Place the most important information "above the fold“ (the area before the user scrolls). Use adequate "white" or blank space. Avoid horizontal scrolling. Use an interesting page layout.

1/19/2016Page 32 Page Layout (cont.) This is usable, but a little boring. See the next slide for improvements in page layout.

1/19/2016Page 33 Page Layout (cont.) Better Columns make the page more interesting and it’s easier to read this way.

1/19/2016Page 34 Page Layout (cont.) Best Columns of different widths interspersed with graphics and headings create the most interesting, easy to read page.

1/19/2016Page 35 Page Layout Design Techniques --Ice Design –AKA rigid or fixed design –Fixed-width, usually at left margin –Examples: –

1/19/2016Page 36 Page Layout Design Techniques -- Jello Design –Page content typically centered and often configured with a table of percentage width. –Even margins on both sides. –Examples:

1/19/2016Page 37 Page Layout Design Techniques -- Liquid Design –Page expands to fill the browser at all resolutions. Often configured with a table width of 100% –New Trend: Use CSS to configure liquid design page layout. –Examples:

1/19/2016Page 38 Basic Elements –Descriptive title (Keep it short but accurate.) –Include your name and contact info ( ) –Show the creation/modification date –Use pictures to highlight and emphasize the purpose of the page. –Provide navigational content if multiple pages are used. Important Web Page “Requirements” (1)

1/19/2016Page 39 Design & Organization Recommendations –Put the most interesting/important info at the top of the page. –Keep the image files small and few. Use thumbnail image links to full size images if there are many. –Add alternate text to your images. Not all the Web page visitors are sighted. The alternate text will clue them in about the purpose of the picture. –Use browser-safe colors. Non-standard colors may appear differently on other systems. Important Web Page “Requirements” (2)

1/19/2016Page 40 Design & Organization Recommendations –Use the default fonts. Specialty fonts may not be installed on the viewer’s computer - so an alternate font will be used, potentially affecting the impact of your page. –Use only a few fonts. The display may become too “busy”. –Use a style sheet. Separate display info from content. This simplifies cosmetic changes. –Use subtitles and headings to break up content. Important Web Page “Requirements” (3)

1/19/2016Page 41 Design & Organization Recommendations –Use the spell checker! TextPad vs. Notepad –Preview/test your page. Nothing is more frustrating than a Web page that is incomplete because the author failed to fix display issues. –Write, view and test all Web pages before installing them on a Web server. –Make sure you test them again once you have uploaded them to your server. Important Web Page “Requirements” (4)

1/19/2016Page 42 Important Web Page “Requirements” (5) Keep download times short. Make your pages portable! (Use relative links!)

1/19/2016Page 43 Check your work. Validate.

1/19/2016Page 44 Remember the three C’s of Web page design: –quality Content –reader Convenience –artistic Composition. A Web Site Construction Checklist

1/19/2016Page 45 Best Practices Checklist From Web Developer & Design Foundations with XHTML Page Layout Browser Compatibility Navigation Color and Graphics Multimedia Content Presentation Functionality Accessibility

1/19/2016Page 46 Information from Web 101,Third Edition, by Wendy G. Lehnert & Richard L. Kopec (Addison Wesley) Web Developer & Design Foundations with XHTML, by Terry Felke-Morris (Addison Wesley)