Good web design has visual weight, is optimized for various devices, and has content that is prioritized for the medium. The most important elements of a web page should have more visual weight to ยซย naturally attractย ยป a visitorโs attention.
Good design is making something intelligible and memorable. Great design is making something memorable and meaningful.
Dieter Rams
Most users search for something interesting (or useful) and clickable; as soon as some promising candidates are found, users click. If the new page doesnโt meet usersโ expectations, the back button is clicked and the search process is continued.
A good website should be easy to navigate
Not all websites are made equal. Some websites are simple, logical, and easy to use. Others are a messy hodgepodge of pages and links.
Without website navigation, your visitors canโt figure out how to find your blog, your email signup page, your product listings, pricing, contact information, or help docs.
Quick and easy access to the content theyโre after is more important for your website users than aโฆ visually-stunning design.
Creating visual rhythms in your layouts
In design, rhythm is created by simply repeating elements in predictable patterns. This repetition is a natural thing that occurs everywhere in our world. As people, we are driven everyday by predictable, timed events.
One of the best ways to use repetition and rhythm in web design is in the siteโs navigation menu. A consistent, easy-to-follow patternโin color, layout, etc. Gives users an intuitive roadmap to everything you want to share on your site.
Elements that can help website visual composition
Nobody enjoys looking at an ugly web page. Garish colors, cluttered images and distracting animation can all turn customers ยซย offย ยป and send them shopping ยซย somewhere elseย ยป. Basic composition rules to create more effective:
- Direct the Eye With Leading Lines
- Balance Out Your Elements
- Use Elements That Complement Each Other
- Be clear about your ยซย focal pointsย ยป and where you place them
Diving into UX and UI design
UX and UI: Two terms that are often used interchangeably, but actually mean very different things. So what exactly is the difference?
Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.
Massimo Vignelli
UX design refers to the term โuser experience designโ, while UI stands for โuser interface designโ. Both elements are crucial to a product and work closely together. But despite their relationship, the roles themselves are quite different.
Breaking down the barriers
Design is not the end-all solution to all of the worlds problems โ but with the right thinking and application, it can definitely be a good beginning to start tackling them.
