Principles of good website design
A well-designed website will serve its purpose by effectively communicating the intended message while keeping the visitor interested and involved. A well-designed website is characterised by a number of characteristics, including coherence, colours, typography, imagery, simplicity, and functionality.
There are a number of critical aspects to consider when designing a website. An expertly crafted website can inspire confidence and motivate site visitors to take the next step. Making a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally straightforward is crucial to providing a positive user experience (functionality).
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your next web project.
1. WEBSITE PURPOSE
The user’s requirements must be met by your website. If you want users to engage with your content, give them a clear path through each page. To what end have you created this website? Provide instructions or other helpful information? Do you provide content like sports reporting or are you trying to sell something to the user? The goals of a website can vary widely, but there are some goals that are universal to all websites;
Describing Expertise
Building Your Reputation
Generating Leads
Sales and After Care
2. SIMPLICITY
When thinking about the user experience and the usability of your website, simplicity is best. Some examples of minimalist design are provided below.
Colour
Color is a powerful tool for conveying meaning and making an impression. To affect how customers feel and act toward your brand, you need to find a colour scheme that fits it. Don’t offer more than 5 different hues to choose from. Use of complementary hues is highly effective. Positive emotions and customer participation can be boosted with the help of well-balanced colour schemes.
Type
The way your website’s text is typeset is crucial. It grabs people’s attention and serves as a visual representation of the company’s tone of voice. The website should only use no more than three distinct fonts, all of which are easily legible.
Imagery
Communication imagery encompasses any and all visual elements. Visual media of any kind fall under this category, from still images to animated sequences. All visuals should be evocative, encapsulating the essence of the company and serving as a physical manifestation of the brand’s values and ethos. Since the majority of our initial impressions of websites are visual, it’s crucial that only high-quality images be used to inspire trust and confidence in site visitors.
3. NAVIGATION
Website navigation is the system by which users explore and find the content they need. Improve your site’s usability and you’ll keep more visitors. Visitors will leave a website that is hard to navigate if they cannot find the information they need. It’s crucial that the site’s navigation be easy to use, understand, and consistent across all pages.
4. F-SHAPED PATTERNREADING
Website readers typically scan the text in an F-shaped pattern. Eye-tracking research has shown that human visual attention is primarily focused on the top and left sides of the screen. The F-shaped design is reminiscent of the way most of us in the West prefer to read (left to right and top to bottom). If a website is well-designed, the reader’s natural motions as they skim the page will be encouraged.
5. VISUAL HIERARCHY
Visual hierarchy refers to the order in which visual elements are placed based on their significance. This may be achieved through the strategic use of scale, hue, image, contrast, typeface, white space, texture, and style. One of visual hierarchy’s primary roles is to create a focal point, which directs users’ attention to the content that’s most crucial to their goals.
6. CONTENT
A website’s success depends on both its visual appeal and its informative content. Great content can attract and influence visitors to take action, such as making a purchase.
7. GRID BASED LAYOUT
Grids are a great way to maintain order and structure in your design. The grid is useful for maintaining order and cleanliness on the page. The grid-based layout creates a pleasing visual experience by organising content into neat, uniform columns and sections that all line up and feel balanced.
8. LOAD TIME
Website visitors who are made to wait around while a page loads will leave. About half of all website visitors have a strict two-second threshold beyond which they will abandon the site. Improving your site’s load time is as simple as optimising your image sizes.
9. MOBILE FRIENDLY
In recent years, the number of people who access the internet from their mobile phones or other portable devices has increased significantly. If you’re designing a website, it’s crucial to think about a responsive layout that will adapt to visitors’ devices.
