Basic Elements of Good Website Design

 

Establish your target viewers, the site should be built to the tastes and interests of your target viewers.

Be sure to check the site loading time for each page in an effort to speed it up.  Not everyone has a fast computer or a fast Internet Connection. Shrinking the length and width of a graphic in half will reduce the file size by a factor of 4. Use PhotoShop or another graphics rendering app to Save for Web to reduce file sizes.

Uniformity / Repetition / Complementary Elements

Repetition of visual elements such as color, backgrounds, headers, font sizes and styles, spatial relationships, line thickness and link formats throughout a site or web page provides for the site or page a sense of uniformity. It makes recognizing the site easier, and makes each page belong within a site. Using elements that have a complementary relationship (a theme) will build uniformity on a site or page. Using repetition and complementary elements are two key components of good design.

Contrast / Variation

Similar elements may cause a viewer's eyes to think there is something missing or something wrong with a site or page layout. When using something different on a site or web page, use something distinctly different. Example: Using two fonts from the same font family may cause a viewer's eyes confusion, something will appear wrong or displeasing with the layout. Solution: Try to use drastically different fonts when you create sections, transitions or images for your site or page. Example: Using the same color on all links or tabs may cause a viewer's eyes confusion, something will appear wrong or displeasing with the layout. Solution: Try to use different colors or complimenting tones on backgrounds, text, images and links on your site or page.

Alignment / Flow

To develop good alignment, everything on your page should be thought out and planned out prior to being placed on a page. Pen and paper can work wonders here. Randomly making decisions about where and when to place items on a site or page, or, arbitrarily placing elements on a site or page can cause chaos and confusion for the eyes-not to mention an upset stomach!

Proximity / Spatial Relationships

Grouping related elements and content together on web site or pages makes good sense. The relationship and Proximity of elements and information not only makes reading your web pages easier, but navigating your web sites easier as well. Using uniform spacing between design elements (graphics, pictures, links...) makes filtering through the information and content presented easier, quicker and more enjoyable.