Superior Website Design

Have you heard about Friendster, Facebook, and Twitter?

Or perhaps You-Tube, Amazon, e-Bay?  

Or surely Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia?

Need not asked is it? Since the invention of Computers to the creation of the World Wide Web until today, Web Sites of all designs, purpose and features are exponentially growing. From e-mails, search engines, social networks, video streaming,

 To online shopping, banking, blogging and name it.

However, how are these web sites created and designed?  

What is Web Design and How to create a superior website design?

Web Design is a kind of graphic design intended for development, presenting and styling of objects or information in the internet to provide them with high-end consumer features and aesthetic qualities.

To create a superior website design, these are basic and most important rules and guidelines;

Define the purpose of the Web Site.  This is the most basic rule in web designing. The site should be specific in its purpose because it will shape and define everything in the web site. Stick to the purpose of the website. If the website is intended for Social Networking, all its features should be about Social Networking.

Decide and define the intended audience. Web design should be specific and tailored to a specific market or audience. It is the guiding principle in selecting features and contents of the website. Contents and features of the website should be sensitive, acceptable, easy and relevant to the intended audience.  

Readability and aesthetics. The most important rule in web design is that your web site should be easy to read. This means, there must be harmony between the text and the background of the website. Colors of text and background must be chosen carefully. Background must not obscure the text and text color must be easy to read. A perfect text-background blend is essential in the overall beauty of the website. Text sizes

should also be considered, should not be too small to cause an eye-strain nor too big to be intimidating to the reader. Avoid unnecessary clippings, pictures, icons and figures as it may steal the attention of the reader from the contents of the website. The simpler the web designs the better. Be consistent in the layout of the website, colors, text and design should be consistent and conventional so that Readers will be comfortable.

Navigability. Ease in navigating the web site is a highly preferable attribute and is very important. Readers should not be lost in the website. All links should be visible. Graphic images like tabs and buttons should be labeled and easy to read. Link colors in your text should be familiar and conventional to your reader (blue text indicates an unvisited link and purple or maroon text indicates a visited link).

Readers should be able to find what they are looking for in at most three (3) clicks, otherwise they may think its not there and change web sites. Avoid continuous and non-ending links, it is very tiresome for users navigating as if they are in a maze. Organize topics on the website and group related topics together.

Website should be easy to find. Select appropriate Website names. Names should clearly be identifiable. Meaning, at first glance, readers should be able to know what your site is for and should have an idea of what it contains. Use easy and common keywords on your website because most readers used search engines to look for something. Provide adequate contact information. Some readers may have some suggestions, observation and problems they encounter on your website and may be useful in maintenance and upgrade of the website.

Finally, Experiment on new design concepts and ideas. Although some readers may prefer conventional designs, you can incorporate them to create a more vibrant and up-to-date feel on your website but still have the comfort of the conventional design.