1. Designing for the World Wide Web
3AIT – Trinity College

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. Structure Issues
Depth
Breadth

8. 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?

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

10. Successful User Interface
Clear
Concise
Familiar
Responsive
Consistent
Efficient

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