Lesson 1: Principles of a Good Website Design

• Web Design - refers to the process of creating the visual appearance and layout of websites. It involves various elements, including graphic design, user interface (UI) design, and user experience (UX) design, to produce an aesthetically pleasing and functional website.
• Factors that contribute to a good website design:

  • Consistency
  • Colors
  • Typography
  • Imagery
  • Simplicity
  • Functionality
• Website Purpose - needs to accommodate the needs of the user. Having a simple clear intention on all pages will help the user interact with what you have to offer.
• Core purposes common to all websites (Website Purpose):

  • Describing Expertise
  • Building your Reputation
  • Generating Leads
  • Sales and After Care
• Simplicity - is the best way to go when considering the user experience and the usability of your website.
• Simplicity - Color

  • Limited Palette - uses a limited color palette consisting of two to three primary colors and their shades. This helps create a cohesive and harmonious visual experience for the user.
  • Contrast - high contrast between foreground and background elements ensures readability and clarity.
  • Whitespace - helps reduce visual clutter and allows content to breathe. It improves readability and makes the website feel more spacious and organized.
• Simplicity - Typography

  • Clear Fonts - websites often employ clean and easy-to-read fonts for body text.
  • Hierarchy - by using different font weights, sizes, and styles helps guide users through the content.
  • Consistency - creates a cohesive look and reinforces brand identity.
• Simplicity - Imagery

  • Relevance - ensuring that each image serves a specific function and reinforces the content or message.
  • Quality - opt for clear, crisp images that align with the website's theme and message.
  • Consistency - maintain consistency in style, composition, and color palette to create a cohesive visual narrative.
• Navigation - is the wayfinding system used on websites where visitors interact and find what they are looking for.
• F-Shaped Pattern Reading - is the most common way visitors scan text on a website. Eye-tracking studies have found that most of what people see is in the top and left areas of the screen.
• Visual Hierarchy - is the arrangement of elements in order of importance. This is done either by size, color, imagery, contrast, typography, whitespace, texture and style.
• Content - using compelling language great content can attract and influence visitors by converting them into customers.
• Grid Based Layout - helps to structure your design and keep your content organized. This helps to align elements on the page and keep it clean.

  
• Load Time - waiting for a website to load will lose visitors. Nearly half of web visitors expect a site to load in 2 seconds or less and they will potentially leave a site that isn’t loaded within 3 seconds.
• Mobile Friendly - more people are using their phones or other devices to browse the web. It is important to consider building your website with a responsive layout where your website can adjust to screens.