What is Good Web Design? A compendium of web concepts

Negative space or White space… Empty space on the page creates more attractive designs. Allows the user’s eyes to “breathe” Can be used as a method of breaking up lots of data. Makes the page more attractive…

Design for your Audience Use demographic info to understand your audience Use the appropriate level of design and technology for your particular audience. Think of your audience’s goals, time constraints tech level, computer sophistication, etc…

Create a consistent design Find a way to keep the pages similar in design, nav bar, header, type style, etc… Give elements of similar importance equal weight.

Three click rule… Never have the audience more than three clicks way from anything important. Ex. Your contact info on every page… Make it easy for the audience to find the important info…. User should be able to navigate through the site without using external nav system…

Provide alternate methods of navigation Site maps Text links at bottom of page Nav bar

Design with the update in mind Make a design that will easily be updated Or make sections that can easily be updated… Make new intro pages and update your web page often, people will come back…

Build it so that it will load in a timely manner… Think about the time it takes to load on target platform… Bandwidth is king…. Test your pages on different systems and browsers….

Use color appropriately… Use colors that underscore the overall mood Use color that supports the design…

Types of designs… Flat screen 2d 3d Use of animation, sound and video…

Flat designs.. Use text and Hierarchy to show importance Use color to layer objects… Use flat shapes as design elements

2d designs Most common on web Raised buttons, beveled surfaces Drop shadows… Use these elements to stack, categorize and prioritize screen elements…

3d objects and shapes Uses metaphor… Most unusual in web… Difficult to design and pull off