Web Design & Development

Web Design Basics

Caveat: In my eyes good design has a direct relationship to usability. They are to some degree distinct though, since you can have a usable site that is dreadfully unappealing visually. However, design itself is more than the way the page looks, it includes usability.

Site Design

The site design determines how you organize information (aka, "chunking") in your overall site structure. This is best done by creating site diagrams before you start building. It is the content structure and visual logic. Also you should determine some overall site design themes.

Page Design

Page design overall is the visual appearance of the site. It is the page layout, characteristics of type and images, page dimensions, style, etc. Remember though to address consistency, accessibility, and cross-platform issues when doing page design.

Here are some ultra basic tips:

Use contrasting colors, particularly between the background and the text

remember than many users will "scan" your site, so think about it scanability-wise

you want maximum access to information with a minimum number of clicks

visual appeal will get them in; content will keep them

Never include page elements that move incessantly. Moving images have an overpowering effect on the human peripheral vision. (this one is credited to John December

Analyzing design gets a bit murky, mostly because as with anything else appearance-wise, tastes vary greatly.

Opinions of some Well Known Design Experts

ANDREW CHAK
Book: Designing Persuasive Websites

Good design: Fast page loads, intuitive navigation, and minimalist design. Be predicable.

"Persuasive Design is not about manipulating users into doing something they don't want to do. Instead, the goal of Persuasive Design is to get users to make the right decision."

"Persuasive design is not just about influence. It’s about understanding the user’s decision process and providing the information and tools to help facilitate a decision."

ALAN COOPER
Book: About Face 2.0: The Essentials of Interaction Design

Good design: minimalist design, fast page loading, and robust error management.

“One size does not fit all; one Web page cannot serve all of your visitors, even as an entry point.”

“There is no such thing as a portal.”

ROBERT DAVIS AND PAUL LAROCHE

"Truly successful user-interface design is a natural extension of thoughtful user-centric system/experience design."

"Effective and sexy are not mutually exclusive. Have the courage to redefine what cool means to include successful and intuitive."

DAVID KLIENBERG

"Tree it". You need to provide a way for users to answer three questions:

1. How do I know where I am?
2. How do I know where I am likely to go or should go next?
3. How do I know how to get back to where I was?

DAN SHAFER

"Focus". Web user interfaces should be focused. They should show users exactly what they need to know to understand where they are--and no more.
- be minimalist

EVERYONE ELSE:

What does everyone else say, well you might want to look at: http://www.coolhomepages.com/ or at http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

Learn more at:

References

McClelland, D; Eisman, K; Stone, T. (2000). Web Design Studio Secrets. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.