What Is Good Web Design?

Today I want to talk about what constitutes really good  web  design . When I first began designing websites, I put a lot of focus on the artistic and graphical elements of the websites – by using great color schemes, beautiful graphics, unique backgrounds, etc. However, while all of those things have their place in a well-designed website, I have learned that some of the most important things which make a  web  design  “good” are the more abstract or intangible things – things which are not necessarily immediately obvious.

First, let’s remember that one of the most important things to figure out when you are initially coming up with the design for a new site is who the website is aimed at. Are you targeting first-time mothers? Is the website’s goal to sell CDs to teenagers? Office supplies to local businesses? Knowing who you are designing for will ultimately determine the tone of each particular website’s design.

The goal of any and all websites should be to convey relevant information in a clear, easy to understand way that benefits both visitors (by making navigation and finding information easy and fast) and the site owner (by making it easy for visitors to buy their products, or to join the site, whatever the goal of the site may be…). No matter what the website looks like, they all need to have this focus.

That said, I have come to believe that a huge constituent of excellence in  web  design  is that:

Good  Web  Design  Does Not Draw Attention to Itself

Seems a little backwards at first doesn’t it? I mean – we’re talking about the design, which is the way a website appears. So how can it NOT draw attention to itself and not be totally boring? What I am trying to say is that excellent design portrays the company or person behind the site effectively and encourages site visitors to use it without drawing attention away from the content to the various design elements. The average site visitor is able to visit the site and find what they need without really noticing the different buttons, images, layout, etc. Don’t get me wrong – well-designed and wisely-placed and used graphics are a crucial part of excellent  web  design , there is just a somewhat fine line between enhancing the design or the whole site and actually detracting from it. I think that excellent  web  design  effectively conveys the message of the site and directs attention towards the content of a site rather than drawing attention to itself.

For instance – if a certain graphic or layout element (i.e. a flashy drop down menu) does not “fit” smoothly into the entire design of a site or if it is too complex to be user-friendly, then chances are – you could be drawing attention away from what the visitors are there for! Let’s be honest, they are most likely NOT there to check out your flashy menu!:) (If they are, then this example does not really apply to you…but I hope you get my point). If someone is there to buy a product, they want to be able to find the product quickly and easily, view related products, sign in to their accounts and check out. They don’t want to be hassled with confusing navigation menus, no matter how cool and modern-looking they are! If the menu is easy to use and directs customers exactly where they need to go, then you have a successfully designed navigation menu. I am not saying that you shouldn’t use cool-looking graphics, etc., I am just saying that I believe they should not draw so much attention to themselves that they distract visitors from their goal. This would negatively impact the success of the site, no matter how amazing the graphics in the menu are. Using different fonts, colors, images, layouts, etc., is a very important part of good  web  design  – provided that it is done in such a way as to make navigating and using the site easier, not more difficult. Ok, I am done ranting on that.:)

Here are two ways to help your design not get in the way of the website’s goal:

1) Good  web  design  is easy on the eyes –

Nothing glares or protrudes or otherwise disrupts the harmony of the design. I am not saying that it should be dull by any means – even the most stark black and red website can be easy on the eyes if designed correctly. Readable fonts, simple navigation, and good color choices make a website easy on the eyes.

A well-designed website is harmonious and all of the pieces fit together just right. There are so many different elements of a website that must be considered and designed to work together and complement each other, to create a website that brings all of the content together just right and is pleasing to look at.

2) Good  web  design  is logical –

A well-designed website makes sense to users. It draws a visitor in with a well-designed home page and leads a visitor into the site. Visitors are able to find what they came for easily and within one or two clicks. There is no confusion about which link leads to which page, or where to find what they might need. Information is organized and strategically placed on the website. No matter how amazing the graphics being used are, if they don’t make sense to every day users, then they are not being utilized correctly and could be detracting from the overall appeal of the website. Functionality comes first, then aesthetic appeal, in my humble opinion. Excellent  web  design , of course, has both.

So, those are the few points that I have come to believe are essential parts of good  web  design . I think that excellent  web  design  is so well-integrated into the entire tone and message of the site that it does not “stand out” apart from the content of the site. Excellent design does not get in the way of the message of the website, it IS the message of the website.

I am not saying that graphics, colors and other elements used in a  web  design  are NOT important. I just think that they must meet the criteria we just talked about. You should most certainly use photos and graphics and unique fonts and color schemes – as long as they are easy to use and make sense in the design and don’t draw attention away from the purpose of the website. Graphics and images, fonts and color schemes are all essential parts of a good design, but they must be a part of an overall vision for the site, not just separate elements. They have to work together perfectly to create an excellent design.

Alright, I have said my piece. As a disclaimer, let me say that I am in no way an expert on this subject or even an expert in creating the type of excellent design we are talking about. But I do try, each and every time I design a site, to achieve this.

Source by Libby Fisher

What Is Good Web Design?