Chapter 7 - Web Site Design

As a web site visitor, you have probably found that certain web sites are appealing and easy to use while others seem awkward or just plain annoying.

What separates the good from the bad?

This chapter discusses recommended web site design practices. The topics include site organization, site navigation, page design, text design, graphic design, and accessibility considerations.

Whatever your personal preferences, your web site should be designed to appeal to your target audience - the people who will use your web site. They may be teens, shoppers, college students, young couples, the list goes on and on. All of the recommended web site design practices should be followed with an eye on your target audience.

Example Sites	Surveys/Stats
Compelling... draws you in... NASA Busy, very down to business... Bureau of Labor Statistics	NUA Surveys PEW Netratings Press Releases Comscore Press Releases ClickZ Stats
Site Organization	Site Search Features
Library of Congress Map Collection National Library of Medicine	Atomz FusionBot FreeFind
Navigation	Specific Target Audiences
FDIC CNN Department of Transportation Genome Research Library of Congress WiseGuide	U.S. Mint for Kids CNC Combat Zone Washington State Color Blindness Simulator Oprah
Accessibility
"The Internet is for Everyone" Web Accessibility Initiative WAI Quick Tips Web Accessibility Guidelines Cynthia Says Accessiblity Portal evolt.org on Accessibility Note: The WebXACT Accessibility Validator is no longer freely available on the Web. IBM has incorporated this tool into their product line.
Writing for the Web
How Users Read on the Web Writing Microcontent Be Succinct! Writing Well for the Web Effective Web Writing 15 Exellent Examples of Web Typography	Writing for Low-Literacy Users Jakob Nielsen's suggestions for adjusting your pages to be easier to read by low-literacy readers -- a growing group of Web visitors.
Design & Usability	Web Site Design Patterns
George A. Miller 7 Plus Or Minus 2 Vischeck Upsdell Browser News Web Pages That Suck EyeTrack III -- The Visitors "Point" of View Usability News Usable Web Usability.gov Optimal Web Design	A design pattern is a a standard solution to common problems in software design. You may find the following sites helpful as you explore the area of web design: Web Design Patterns UI Patterns and Techniques WebPatterns.org Website Patterns
Websites Using Random Organization
Although this Flash-based site has one main entry point, the remaining navigation has a random nature -- with visitors using a big pencil as a cursor. Text navigation links are provided in the lower-right corner for "linear thinkers". Is this site usable? Is this site accessible? Does it meet the needs of its target audience? What do you think? Leo Burnett	This site for a design firm in the UK also has one main entry point, but once you get by it the navigation is sheer random. The firm probably had a lot of fun designing this -- but is it really good for the business or just a "vanity" site for artistic designers? Is this site usable? Do you think this site attracts potential clients? Do you think this site attracts potential employees? magneticNorth

Wireframes

A wireframe is a sketch or blue-print of a Web page that depicts the structure (but not the detailed design) of basic page elements such as the logo, navigation, content, and footer. Depending on the purpose of a particular Web site, the wireframe may incorporate additional components including pull quotes, news items, and interactive features such as a login or search function. Wireframes are used as part of the design process to experiment with various page layouts, develop the structure and navigation of the site, and provide a basis for communication between the project members. Examples: totheweb.com and gdoss.com

Web 2.0 Design Guide

Webdesignfromscratch.com offers a survey of current web design styles and a useful overview of Web 2.0 design considerations. Interesting reading!

Chapter Updates

No errors have been reported for Chapter 7.

Questions or Comments?

The author would like to hear from you!
Send an e-mail to webdevfoundations@hotmail.com

Review Games
Chapter 7 Review

Flash Cards
Pick a Letter
Fill in the Blank
Matching
Crossword Puzzle

WebQuest

Role-play as part of a web design team as you complete the BlueFish Media Design WebQuest.

Resources

W3C
W3C HTML Validator
W3C CSS Validator

Color Chart
Design Checklist
Fireworks Tutorial
Flash Tutorial

A List Apart
SitePoint
Good Experience
Digital Web
Dreamweaver
FrontPage

Web Design Tip

Choosing colors for a web site can be a difficult task. One method is to use the colors found on the corporate logo or main image of the web site.

Choosing colors used in a central image usually results in color combinations that are pleasing. By repeating the colors found in the central image on other places in the page, a sense of unity is created.