Web page design depends entirely on your message. What is the purpose
of your web site? Is it a personal homepage, a commercial site with the
intention to sell a product, an online course in Chemistry, English, or
some other subject, or the home page of your school? Before you can consider
design issues you must identify the audience you intend to reach and the
overall message of you want to convey. Sometimes this is not easy. For
example, a college web site should look professional, yet retain a feel
that is appealing to students.
As you create your web pages, you will probably want to add graphics and
other elements. For example, for a school’s home page, often certain
logos and colors should be included in the web site’s theme. As you
build your pages, ask yourself the question, "Does the element I want
to add have a purpose in the web page?" If the answer is yes, then
insert the element onto the page. If the answer is no, do not include it.
Before you start building your pages take a look at other web sites with
similar goals as yours. For example, if you are building a site for a school
home page, look at other schools’ sites. Consider what looks good
and what looks bad. As you build your site, remember that each word, image,
and link should have a purpose. Images and links should be self-explanatory
and easy to use.
The following are some general guidelines to consider when you design
a web site:
1.
Keep the message concise.
2.
Make sure that graphics look good at a low resolution
(640x480) since not all computers have high resolution capability.
3.
Design your web site for the lowest common browser
type. For example, some users might have a text-only browser, and
you should keep that in mind when you use images to convey information.
Use <alt> tags to give a text description of each image you
use.
4.
Make your web site easy to download quickly. Remember
that every image or dynamic component you insert into your web
increases the amount of time that it takes for your page to load.
The average person’s "Internet-attention-span" lasts
about seven seconds, so the longer the load time, the less likely
the user will stay at your site.
5.
Just like other graphics within your web site, background
images should support the message, have a purpose, and be of a
good quality at low resolution. If you plan to use a background,
you should avoid:
Dark colors combined with dark text fonts.
Distracting images that overshadow the text.
Large files that require users to wait for the background
to download.
Backgrounds that clash with your images.
6.
If you use one graphic repeatedly throughout your
site, downloading time will be reduced. The reason is that once
the image is downloaded the first time, it remains in the computer’s
cache. The next time that image appears on the site, it will be
called from the cache instead of the Internet.
7.
Make your site easy to navigate. The links should
be easy to understand, graphic links should be clear and have text
link backups, and previous pages or sections should be easy to
return to.
8.
Every graphic that you include on a page should support
the message. Ask yourself about the image’s purpose and use.
If you cannot defend its presence, do not use it.
9.
Don’t over do it. For example, too much animation,
too many colors, multiple font types, and long sections of unbroken
text will draw away from your message.
10.
Pay attention to details:
Does the title match the page content?
Does each page of your site have a Navigation bar?
Are all of your HTML tags PERFECTLY correct?
Have you checked and RE-CHECKED for spelling errors and
typos?
Have you checked the consistency of the design elements
(styles, buttons, bullets, backgrounds, etc.)?
Have you included an email link to the webmaster or other
contact person on EVERY page?
Have you checked and RE-CHECKED for spelling errors and
typos? (yes, do it twice!)
