If you are a web designer or if you have been tasked with re-designing an existing website, you may be wondering what the key elements of good web design are. The answer is quite simple. A good design will have a limited palette of colours, an intuitive visual hierarchy, a clear call to action and a grid-based layout.
1. Visual hierarchy
Visual hierarchy is a design concept that helps you organize visual stimuli to enhance the overall experience. While the term is often used in relation to websites, it can also apply to other forms of digital communication.
The main goal of visual hierarchy is to prioritize content to help users make sense of what they are viewing. Using the correct techniques, you can achieve this goal without causing your users to get lost in the web shuffle.
The visual hierarchy of a website is a very important component in any design. In fact, it can be the deciding factor in whether or not your viewers will continue to interact with your site. You want to keep your visitors from leaving your site and moving to your competitors.
There are many tools available to achieve the visual hierarchy of a webpage. It is important to understand that different tools are required for different purposes. Some require a high degree of skill and expensive equipment while others are easier to implement. For example, the F-pattern is a tried and true way to create a visual hierarchy for text heavy screens.
A good visual hierarchy also requires a strong attention to detail. This is especially true for mobile applications. Having a clear visual hierarchy can make a page stand out from its competition.
One of the most effective methods for creating a visual hierarchy is size. Design components with a large footprint demand the most attention and thus are able to be the focal point of the design.
Another effective method is to use color. Red areas are indicative of attention while yellow areas indicate fewer fixations.
2. Simple fonts
In the web design process, fonts play an important role. It is crucial to choose a font that is a good match for your brand. The best typeface should be easy to read and have unique characters.
One of the easiest fonts to read is Helvetica. This is a popular font for branding and online applications. You can also use this font in minimalist wordmark logos.
Another easy-to-read typeface is Georgia. It is suitable for both serif and sans-serif styles. Although it isn’t ideal for long body copy, it’s perfect for headlines and quotes.
A sans-serif typeface is less distracting and easier to read on the web. Especially for small point sizes.
A rounded font is another alternative to the more common sans-serif typefaces. Virgo 01 is a rounded font that can be adjusted via CSS scripts to achieve different looks.
Another popular option is Moon. It has three weights, including one that’s free. The Latin alphabet is included, making it a great font for blogs and magazines.
Roboto is a professional font. It’s easy to read and works well in both friendly and business settings.
Monospace sans-serif Monaco is a font that is great for drawing attention. It’s simple and unique character can be used for landing pages, pop-ups, and gaming sites.
Choosing the right typeface can have a big impact on your reader’s experience. Make sure to find the font that matches your brand and the audience.
If you’re unsure about the right font, you can try Google Fonts. They offer free recommendations on font pairing.
You can also check the webAIM contrast checker to see if a font is easy to read. For people with visual disabilities, this may be a big concern. There are still millions of Americans who suffer from vision loss. Choosing an accessible font can help safeguard your brand reputation.
3. A limited palette of colours
The benefits of having a limited palette are numerous. They include a streamlined workflow and a better chance of capturing the viewer’s attention. Having a small colour palette also makes it easier to change the colour scheme as and when required.
In order to make the most of your limited color palette, you need to have a good sense of what you’re doing. To help you do this, there are several tips and tricks you can follow.
For starters, you can use a color mode to your advantage. One of the perks of using a color mode is that it allows you to see the effect you’re creating in a whole new light.
Using the appropriate color mode will not only save you time and money, but it will ensure that you end up with a quality result. You might also want to try out the random color generator that comes with your design software. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the last thing you need is to have a design with the wrong colours in the wrong places.
Lastly, if you’re aiming for a global audience, you need to remember that each country has its own culture and tastes. You’ll need to consider the cultural implications of your colour choices. Fortunately, this can be achieved by putting the right amount of effort into your color scheme.
A well thought out color scheme will elevate your product to the top of the heap. The right palette can have significant psychological and behavioural effects on your users. It is also the best way to show off your skills to potential investors. If you’re thinking of a career in web design, then a good color scheme will make a difference between success and failure.
4. Grid-based layout
Grid-based layouts are a vital element to a good web design. They provide structure to your website and allow you to create more appealing UIs. While there are many different grids available, there are some that work better for web designs than others.
The baseline grid is a dense grid of equally spaced horizontal lines. This grid can be very useful for creating a good reading experience. Using this grid, you can ensure that all of your content is properly arranged.
Hierarchical grids are commonly used in web design. Hierarchical grids allow you to place your most important elements at the top of your grid. A hierarchy grid will draw the user’s attention to these most important objects.
Columns are also an essential component of a good grid-based layout. In a columnar grid, you can choose the widths of each column, which will vary throughout the entire grid.
Besides columns, white space is another critical part of a grid-based design. White space can be defined by the spacing between rows and columns, as well as by the width of the columns themselves.
Depending on the site, you may want to use a single column on mobile, or even two or three columns for a landing page. If you are using a prefab framework, check out its documentation to make sure you don’t have too many columns.
To make your grid more responsive, use CSS Grid. It enables complicated layouts to be implemented easily. All modern browsers support it. There are also predefined grid classes that will help you quickly create a grid-based layout.
Breaking up a grid is acceptable when it is done intentionally. However, if you are unsure of the grid’s overall dimensions, it’s best to take a more precise draft at later stages.
5. A clear call-to-action
In order to build a successful online business you must first identify the biggest pain your audience is experiencing. Once you’ve identified the top pain, you can begin devising an appropriate solution.
One of the most effective ways to do this is by creating a strong call-to-action (CTA) that drives visitors to the desired action. The call-to-action should be visible throughout your site and should not be obscured by less important information.
This is best done by using a contrasting color in your button. The color is a very important part of the call-to-action, as is the text. If your audience is not sure of what to do, you could use a directive like “Find out more.”
A call-to-action is more than just a button. It’s also an opportunity to amplify your message with a secondary CTA. For example, you could offer free trials of your service or product. You could even add testimonials from satisfied customers.
While the call-to-action isn’t the only thing that makes your site tick, it’s still a good idea to test out your CTA to find out what works and what doesn’t. A simple way to do this is to conduct a split-testing experiment.
The best way to ensure a successful test is to do a bit of research to identify the most effective CTA. In fact, it’s not hard to find a list of the best CTAs on the web. Just make sure you use the right CTA for your particular website.
With these 10 attributes of good web design, you’re well on your way to an effective website. Good luck! And happy online business! Remember, the best websites are those that help people solve problems.
6. User experience
It can be hard to define what a good user experience is. It depends on the context and structure of a product. But there are certain things that you can look for in a user experience.
First, a good UX design must be easy to use. If the interface is slow or confusing, it will frustrate users and drive them away.
Secondly, it must be pleasant. The holy grail of a user experience is to delight. However, delight doesn’t mean ease or effortlessness. Rather, it means that the user can connect to the product or brand in a meaningful way.
Third, it must be equitable. That is, it must account for a variety of consumer needs and the needs of underrepresented groups. And, lastly, it must be usable. This means that it should be clear to the user how to use the product.
Good UX designers must also be aware of how their designs influence user experiences. They must listen to what users say about the product.
7. Adaptability to problems
Adaptive web design is one of the best ways to enhance the user experience. It makes sure that a website is optimized for mobile devices while still being user friendly. You can improve the user experience and increase access speed by creating adaptive websites that offer a similar experience on desktops and mobiles. In addition, the best websites are also scalable, allowing your content to be distributed across different devices without the need for a complete rebuild.
A good example is Usablenet, a website that creates a seamless, visually attractive tablet experience. Using adaptive web design, you can easily detect your mobile device, and then present a specialized mobile version of your website. While this technology is not new, it has gained some popularity thanks to the growing number of users who are on the move. This is the perfect time to consider using it in your next mobile project.
Another great way to boost the web experience is to use a responsive web design. This approach uses CSS3 media queries to tell the browser to render your site according to the size of the viewport. This is a fairly simple process, and it is easy to implement on your own. The benefits are many, including less wasted time, and the ability to deliver the same message to all visitors.
8. Meet deadlines
In the world of design and web development, meeting deadlines is important. It ensures that work is done on time, and that everyone is on the same page. Without meeting these responsibilities, your business can run the risk of losing a client.
There are many factors to consider when setting deadlines. First, you should make sure you know the project. You should also ask for the necessary extra time.
Next, you need to determine how much work you can reasonably accomplish in the time allotted. A great way to do this is by breaking the project into smaller chunks.
For example, if your project is six weeks long, you should be able to break it into two separate phases. That way, you can plan the timeline of each phase.
Depending on the scope of the project, you might need to add a few extra days to your deadline. This is a good way to provide a bit of cushion for unexpected delays.
9. Create a seamless user journey
The customer journey is a series of steps a person takes to purchase a product. It includes actions taken before buying, during purchasing, and after the purchase.
Providing a seamless user journey is a good way to boost your brand’s credibility and build a loyal customer base. A company that delivers an optimal user journey is likely to gain new customers and increase revenue. For example, a Canadian athleisure brand saw a 40% boost in brand value after creating a seamless online shopping experience.
The first step in offering a seamless user journey is to understand the customer’s needs. This can be done by using buyer personas, a tool that helps companies understand their target audience. Developing a buyer persona will help you identify your target group’s buying habits, likes and dislikes, and the features that they are most interested in.
Another important element of a seamless user journey is great customer service. Customers are more likely to stay loyal to businesses that provide timely updates and offer a proactive approach to customer service. Providing a good customer service experience is also easier than ever.
10. Have consistent branding
Brand consistency means maintaining the same branding and visual elements in all channels. This includes logos, fonts, and colors. Keeping all these consistent helps build a brand, and ensures brand recognition and trust with audiences.
Whether you’re launching a new business or rebranding your existing company, consistency is an important component. By keeping your web design consistent, you’ll be able to better communicate your brand’s message and build a strong online presence.
The first step towards consistent branding is a deep understanding of your target audience. Your website should reflect the personality of your business, including the brand’s story, and tell your audience what to expect from your company.
The next step is to create a design that matches your brand’s identity. Consistent colors, fonts, and layouts are easier to learn, and make your website more recognizable to visitors.