Good web design balances aesthetics with ease of use and navigability. Consistency, clear explanations, easy navigation, browser compatibility, loading speed, and spell checking are all important factors to consider.
Good web design is all about balancing the need for an aesthetically pleasing website with ease of use and navigability. Balancing these two needs can sometimes be extremely difficult, especially when you want a particular look or style, and remembering common web design flaws can be a good way to avoid making mistakes that will drive away potential browsers. The fundamental rule of web design is that a site must be clear and navigable for users; if your site is difficult to negotiate, your users will leave for a site they know how to use.
Several things can contribute to ease of navigation. Make sure all of your sites remain stylistically consistent and have a common thread in their design aesthetic that connects them all. Make sure every page on your site includes an explanation of what the page is and where it fits into the overall scheme of the website, as many users will find your pages via a search engine, email or link and may not land on the home page.
It is important to make it easy to navigate through the individual pages of your site; include a link to the home page and a navigation menu of some kind that is easy for users to see and understand. If you have a large site, include a search box on every page of your web design so users find it easy to jump to a topic that interests them. Additionally, you should provide contact information, so users can contact you with questions, comments, or concerns. This is a vital part of website accessibility that many people overlook.
It’s also important to think about browser compatibility when considering web design. Many popular browsers display all pages differently, and something that looks great in a browser like Safari may not load properly in Firefox, or vice versa. Make sure you test your website in multiple browsers and on multiple operating systems to make sure your site is readable and functional for your users. Also, consider text-based browsers and readers with disabilities that require them to use screen readers in your web design. Add an alt tag to all your images to explain what they are, and make sure all text is clear and legible.
Another common web design problem is loading speed. Many web designers work on high-speed Internet connections and don’t realize how bandwidth-heavy their projects are. While high-speed Internet may be prevalent in Europe and the United States, dial-up users can still be found in those countries and in many other parts of the world. By designing a cumbersome site that takes a long time to load, you will drive away these visitors.
Finally, one of the most important elements in web design is often overlooked. In the rush to design a site with a beautiful presentation, elegant colors, and eye-catching images, many web designers forget about spell checking. Spelling errors are very off-putting to users and, as a general rule, greatly detract from the intended message.
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