Chapter 2 Web Site Design Principles Principles of

Chapter 2 Web Site Design Principles

Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Objectives • State the principles of design for the computer medium • Develop a unified look for a Web site • Understand the importance of active white space • Focus your design on the user • Evaluate Web sites using screen-oriented design principles 2

Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design for the Medium • • Craft the look and feel Make your design portable Design for low bandwidth Plan for clear presentation and easy access to your information 3

Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Make Your Design Portable • Your Web site design must be portable and accessible across different browsers, operating systems, and computer platforms • You must always remember to test your work even when you feel confident of your results 4

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design for Low Bandwidth • Plan your pages so that they are accessible at a variety of connection speeds. • If your pages download slowly because they contain large, detailed graphics or complicated animations, your users will leave before they ever see your content 7

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design the Whole Site • • Plan the unifying themes and structures Create smooth transitions Use a grid to provide visual structure Use active white space 10

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Create Smooth Transitions • Plan to create a unified look • Reinforce the identifying elements • Avoid random, jarring changes in format 13

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Use Active White Space • Use white space deliberately in your design • Good use of white space guides the reader and defines the areas of your page • Active white space is an integral part of your design that structures and separates content 16

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design for the User • Keep your design efforts centered solely around your user • Design for interaction • Design for location • Guide the user’s eye • Decide whether the user will read or scan 24

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design for the User • • • Use the power of hypertext linking Provide plenty of linking options Provide location information Avoid “click here” as a link Use plenty of textual links Don’t overload the user with too much content 35

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Design for the Screen • The computer display is very different from print-based media • The display is landscape-oriented • Colors and contrasts are different • Computer displays are low-resolution devices • Reformat paper documents for online display 45

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Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Summary · Craft a look and feel and stick with it throughout your site. Revise and test your interface by paying close attention to the demands of online display. · Make your design portable, using as low a bandwidth as possible. · Plan for easy access to your information. Don’t let the user click through more than two or three pages before they get what they want. 50

Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Summary · Design a unified look for your site. Create templates for your grid structure and apply them consistently. · Use white space actively as an integral part of your design. Use text, color, and object placement to guide the user’s eye. · Leverage the power of hypertext linking. Provide enough links for the user to create their own path through your information. 51

Principles of Web Design Chapter 2 Summary · Use the ALT attribute on all graphics. Plan for users who can’t or won’t download graphics. · Design your text for online display. 52