1. Web Design Tip and Tricks

2. Vision and Purpose Why do you want a website? Why do you want a website? A website is always under construction, is flexible but you should have an aim and a goal. Start small, dream big.. A website is always under construction, is flexible but you should have an aim and a goal. Start small, dream big.. Why should anyone come to your site? What makes it special? Why should anyone come to your site? What makes it special?

3. What are the priorities for the site? A “virtual library” A “virtual library” Information Information Recreation Recreation Public relations Public relations Co-operation Co-operation

4. Planning the Infrastructure support and funding support and funding staffing (expertise and time allocation) staffing (expertise and time allocation) technical backup for both hardware and software technical backup for both hardware and software web authoring software web authoring software

5. Who is the audience? Staff Staff Parents Parents Children Children Teachers Teachers Community members Community members Other libraries Other libraries The world at large The world at large

6. Content: What are they looking for? Information about the library Information about the library User or staff information User or staff information Reference and study guides Reference and study guides Links to appropriate websites Links to appropriate websites Webquests, pathfinders, research modules Webquests, pathfinders, research modules

7. Finding Material to Add Copyright and Intellectual Property Copyright and Intellectual Property Copyright and Intellectual Property Copyright and Intellectual Property Australian Copyright Council Australian Copyright Council Australian Copyright Council Australian Copyright Council Internet Searching Internet Searching Internet Searching Internet Searching Windweaver Windweaver Windweaver Search Engines Search Engines Search Engines Search Engines Google Google Google Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites How good is that Web Site? How good is that Web Site? How good is that Web Site? How good is that Web Site?

8. Structure Remember start small, but figure on growth Remember start small, but figure on growth The site will change, alter and grow. Expect this. The site will change, alter and grow. Expect this. How will you organise? How will you organise? Do NOT use your organisation structure! Do NOT use your organisation structure!

9. Structural Plan What are the main areas of your site? What are the main areas of your site? These will need to be subdivided. How? What makes sense? What will your users be looking for? These will need to be subdivided. How? What makes sense? What will your users be looking for? At first you may not have anything each section. You will need to have a plan to accommodate further growth. At first you may not have anything each section. You will need to have a plan to accommodate further growth. Home InformationServicesCatalogueProgrammesWeblinksContacts

10. Principles of Design What do you know of web design principles? Designing Web Pages Your Way What do you know of web design principles? Designing Web Pages Your WayDesigning Web Pages Your WayDesigning Web Pages Your Way The basic idea is KISS (Keep it Simple S…) The basic idea is KISS (Keep it Simple S…) Have a look at what some schools have done. Have a look at what some schools have done. School Websites and Design School Websites and Design School Websites and Design School Websites and Design School Library Web Sites and Their Design. School Library Web Sites and Their Design. School Library Web Sites and Their Design. School Library Web Sites and Their Design.

11. Web authoring software What are the advantages and disadvantages of particular packages? Web Authoring Software and HTML Web Authoring Software and HTML Web Authoring Software and HTML Web Authoring Software and HTML Dreamweaver Web Design Dreamweaver Web Design Dreamweaver Web Design Dreamweaver Web Design Front Page Web Design Front Page Web Design Front Page Web Design Front Page Web Design

12. Speed Users need to find what they want quickly. Users need to find what they want quickly. Pages need to load in seconds. Pages need to load in seconds. The priority is for each page to load quickly and The priority is for each page to load quickly and provide information as easily as possible provide information as easily as possible Quick loading pages Easy to find content No frames!!!! only useful flash few low resolution graphics

13. Navigation: Users finding what’s there The web is not a book The web is not a book Link, link, link Link, link, link Navigation bars Navigation bars Search engines Search engines Freefind.com Freefind.com Google.com Google.com Site maps Site maps See P.L. Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College Site Map See P.L. Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College Site MapP.L. Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College Site MapP.L. Duffy Resource Centre, Trinity College Site Map

14. Factors to Consider Usability and Accessibility Usability and Accessibility Usability and Accessibility Usability and Accessibility All users can access your site Colours for the Web Colours for the Web Colours for the Web Colours for the Web All users can make out your design. Fonts for the Web Fonts for the WebFonts for the WebFonts for the Web All can read your site. Accessible pages (eg alt text) Large readable fonts (verdana) High contrast colours No textured backgrounds!

15. Files In each folder call the main file index.html/default.htm In each folder call the main file index.html/default.htm Short, lower case file and folder names Short, lower case file and folder names No capitals or strange characters in file names No capitals or strange characters in file names

16. Folders Make sensible short names Make sensible short names Create enough folders for each main section that you plan. Create enough folders for each main section that you plan. Do not create too many levels of folders. Do not create too many levels of folders.

17. Templates Most software programmes allow you to set these up. Most software programmes allow you to set these up. Establish guidelines for yourself and all designers Establish guidelines for yourself and all designers Establish “design guides” Establish “design guides”

18. Style Sheets YAY!! Cascading Style Sheets W3Schools Online Web Wonderful invention makes life soo easy!!! Enter instructions only once!!

19. Extra Facilities Active Server Pages Active Server Pages Active Server Pages Active Server Pages Web Graphics: Design and Resources Web Graphics: Design and Resources Web Graphics: Design and Resources Web Graphics: Design and Resources Java Java Java Flash Flash Flash

20. Display and Setting Out Short narrow pages (no scrolling sideways!) Short narrow pages (no scrolling sideways!) No fussy backgrounds No fussy backgrounds NO FRAMES!!! NO FRAMES!!! Set font size 100% (not point or pixel) Set font size 100% (not point or pixel) Set table content 90% width) Set table content 90% width) Set cells 30% Set cells 30%

21. Checking it Out! Check your code. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Check your code. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Check the appearance Anybrowser. Check the appearance Anybrowser.Anybrowser Check accessiblity Check accessiblity Feedback facility Feedback facility Logging Logging Extreme Tracking. and Freefind Extreme Tracking. and Freefind Extreme Tracking. Freefind Extreme Tracking. Freefind Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites Evaluating Web Sites 10 Criteria to Evaluate a Website 10 Criteria to Evaluate a Website 10 Criteria to Evaluate a Website 10 Criteria to Evaluate a Website

22. What will be the criteria for a successful site? Is it used? Is it used? Is it useful? Is it useful? Are users suggesting additions, changes and improvements? Are users suggesting additions, changes and improvements? How will you judge this? How will you judge this?