Designing for the World Wide Web 3AIT – Trinity College

Introduction What makes Web sites effective and usable for the intended audience? Understanding the guidelines and principles guiding website development Practicing design and user testing techniques Understand the dynamics of user interaction with websites

The Challenges How to get people to come to your Website? How to help the user find what they want? How to keep them there? Promoting important areas on the site Establishing brand identity How to make the people come back?

Well designed Website Good design supports Communication Brand recognition Usability Inclusive Accessible Web design issues Navigation Screen size, dimensions and resolution Interactivity Browser variations Content

Content V Structure Traditional software design – Structure first and content second Web development – content more important than structure Most important information presented first “Vague content’ looses user interest Need to accommodate diversity or users Every page should have a goal for both user and author

Information Architecture Sequential structure – tell a story Hierarchical structure – Organised information Network structure - Exploring

Structure Issues Depth Breadth

Navigation Navigation technique – depends on the kind of structure chosen Breadth or Depth? Navigation questions to ask yourself- Where am I? How do I get to where I want to go? How do I know where I have been?

Overcoming Disorientation Providing indicators – “you are here!” Cascading menus Thumbnail or breadcrumb maps Colour coding, repetition, numbering Providing “Search facilities” Sitemaps Explicit ‘Home’ button

Successful User Interface Clear Concise Familiar Responsive Consistent Efficient

Usability Intuitive Efficient and effective Pleasurable experience Achieve the user’s goals