It’s important for new web designer to learn the basics of proper web page design, so they can create some good-looking and functional websites. Fortunately, there are hundreds of valuable resources–this article included–that can contribute to your knowledge of basic design principles. Read on for some basic web page design tips to help you improve your skills.
Use fixed-position navigation. The navigation panel is essentially stuck in one place as the user scrolls down to view more content. This is ideal for both visitors and marketers alike, as desired actions are executed much more quickly.
Try not too overuse graphics. While they’re essential to creating a cohesive and professional site, too many can make it look cluttered. Graphics are not to be used for decorative purposes only. They need to add true content to the site. Using an adequate amount of graphics keeps clutter away and helps you focus on site usability.
Use shortcuts. Many things have shortcuts when it comes to website development, and by taking the time to learn them, you will find faster ways of doing many different tasks. You can even use HTML codes that let you make quick changes to pages without the need to upload them again.
If you want help with your web design, look at purchasing on of many site design programs available on the market. Programs made specifically for web design are often easy to use and can help you craft good looking websites quickly. People won’t visit your site unless they like how it looks and functions.
Regardless of your client or website purpose, you need to strive for loading times of less than ten seconds. It is best if the page fully loads in just a few seconds. Many online users want instant gratification, so you should provide that.
When you design your website, avoid using a variety of different fonts. You need to also be mindful of how some fonts appear on monitors, since smaller serif fonts are difficult to read. Vedrdana is a great font that you can use to make your content easier to read.
Make sure your navigation is easy. Navigation links are very important for any site and controls how much time a visitor spends on your site. The structure for navigation should be consistent, neat, and easy to use if you want your visitors to enjoy their experience.
Whatever your design is like aesthetically, be sure all your files are small. The reason for this is that your file sizes directly affect how quickly your website loads. You want your loading time to be as quick as possible. The other factor to bear in mind is not all visitors access through high-speed connections. You want to perform a test to make sure your site performs well, even with dial-up modem connections.
An important web page design consideration is reducing links that are broken. You should do this before uploading something to your server. Checking links is important since visitors who click the link will become frustrated if they find unavailable content on a frequent basis. Make sure everything is in working order to keep this from happening.
Be very critical of the fonts you choose. Many times you can tell a site is not professional because of the fonts they have chosen. Comic Sans and fancier fonts may not be available on a lot of your users’ computers, so don’t use them. If a person doesn’t have a font on their computer, the browser might render the site using the default font (generally Times New Roman). That will appear worse.
You have a wealth of information online you can refer to when you’re stuck in a site design jam. There are thousands, if not millions, of websites waiting for you to browse and wait for inspiration to strike. Find one you like, write down what appeals to you and then figure out what you can mimic on your own. Remember that if you want your website to succeed, you will need to do more than just borrow an idea. Improve upon the ideas you find.
As mentioned, web designers that are just starting out have to learn the basics of web design to make attractive, functional sites. Since a vast amount of information is available on the subject, it can be hard for beginners to identify the best place to start. The previous paragraphs gave you tips that will help you with many facets of website creation.
One great website creating program is Adobe Dreamweaver. Even novices can understand this program quickly. It is feature rich, with lots of layouts and templates. It can also help with testing the site so you know how it will look once on the server.