Web Design Rules

#1 Easy to Read Includes: Includes: Navigation Navigation Color Color Text Text Graphics Graphics Backgrounds Backgrounds Borders Borders Hyperlinks Hyperlinks Make sure graphics are consistent in look and feel Make sure graphics are consistent in look and feel

Know Your Target Audience Target audience: any potential interested visitor of the web site. Target audience: any potential interested visitor of the web site. Question to ask yourself: Question to ask yourself: “If a visitor of my website carries away one main idea, what do I want it to be?” “If a visitor of my website carries away one main idea, what do I want it to be?” Factors: Factors: Age Age Gender Gender Location Location

Navigation User Friendly User should not have to “guess” or “hunt” for hyperlinks or information User should not have to “guess” or “hunt” for hyperlinks or information Make sure to “spoon feed” your audience Make sure to “spoon feed” your audience Anticipate the users know nothing about the site’s subject Anticipate the users know nothing about the site’s subject Key rule: web site users should find what they are looking for within three mouse clicks Key rule: web site users should find what they are looking for within three mouse clicks

Use of White Space White space: the area of the Web page that does not include text or graphics White space: the area of the Web page that does not include text or graphics Make sure your Web page is not cluttered with text and graphics Make sure your Web page is not cluttered with text and graphics Allow users to “breathe” between elements Allow users to “breathe” between elements

Use Fonts that Display Correctly Visitors of the web site must have that typeface installed on their computers- if not it will look different Visitors of the web site must have that typeface installed on their computers- if not it will look different Pre installed fonts: Pre installed fonts: Arial Arial Courier Courier Georgia Georgia Helvetica Helvetica Times or Times New Roman Times or Times New Roman Verdana Verdana

Proofread Proofread as you are nearing the end of your project Proofread as you are nearing the end of your project Check for spelling, grammar, and design Check for spelling, grammar, and design Have one or two people review your Web site Have one or two people review your Web site

Revise, Revise, Revise Make sure to preview your web page frequently Make sure to preview your web page frequently Continually look for inconsistencies Continually look for inconsistencies Make any necessary additions and deletions Make any necessary additions and deletions

Use Consistent Graphics Graphic images help illustrate a message Graphic images help illustrate a message Use the same style throughout Use the same style throughout Ex: if you are using cartoon-like images, they need to be used throughout Ex: if you are using cartoon-like images, they need to be used throughout Common graphic formats: Common graphic formats: JPEG: lots of color change and detail JPEG: lots of color change and detail GIF: mainly flat colors GIF: mainly flat colors Tip: use ALT tag on images to display alt text Tip: use ALT tag on images to display alt text

Apply the “KIS” Rule KIS- Keep It Simple KIS- Keep It Simple Ex: changing the defauly text color from black to pink Ex: changing the defauly text color from black to pink

Web Site Colors Maximum of two or three colors Maximum of two or three colors One should be dominate and other needs to be accent One should be dominate and other needs to be accent Create a color scheme that coordinates your overall message Create a color scheme that coordinates your overall message Ex: website selling cotton candy? Ex: website selling cotton candy?