Download Principles of Good Web Design

Principles of Good Web Design
Hint: It’s not about the technology.
The Dirty Little Secret
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The key elements are the same as other
communication processes
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Audience
Message / Content
Delivery / Vehicle
What is user-centered web design?
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Appropriate for user needs and
circumstances
Appropriate for the content
Loads fast
Looks good
Leads to a positive communication
experience
© 2008, James P. Gleason
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Expectations to expect
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User
Designer
Client
A good Web designer must be an advocate
for the user.
Be a Digital Ombudsman!
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What makes a Web site desirable?
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Any Web-based application must be as good
or better than its alternative to succeed.
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Desired content
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Current news – immediacy
Archive of old news
Community information – notices, forums, etc.
Access to other info – weather, national news, etc.
What makes a Web site desirable?
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Reliable content
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Quality writing, editing, etc.
Up-to-date information
Solid execution – no broken links, photos, etc.
Desired level of interactivity
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Hotlinks within stories
Streaming video / audio
Email links to editor, writers, etc.
What makes a Web site desirable?
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Excellent ease of use
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Consistent format
Intuitive navigation
Loads fast
Works reliably on any platform
Who’s the audience?
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Readers
Community leaders
Advertisers
21 Tips to a Better Website
1. The audience is king.
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Only they get to decide if the site works.
All you can do is increase the odds.
Take into account differences in experience,
taste, mood, training, background, language,
location, culture…
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You can’t make a fish bite the hook.
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2. Wait, isn’t content the king?
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The only reason to create a web site is to
communicate its content.
Everything should contribute toward that goal.
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3. Trust your gut.
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You know if it doesn’t feel right even if you don’t
know why.
That’s the first step toward fixing the issue.
There are always resources to solve the
problem, but it helps to define the problem.
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4. Remember that a web site is a tool.
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Unless you’re Disney, it’s not really about
entertainment.
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Why do people visit the site?
How do they use it when they visit?
What will bring them back?
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What does the content demand?
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Infrastructure
5. Listen to your content.
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It’ll tell you how to design it.
What should the tone of the site be?
How much should you include?
How should you organize it?
Should you include external links? To what?
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6. Navigation is key.
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It doesn’t exist if they can’t find it.
External navigation vs. internal navigation
Allow for multiple paths to the payoff.
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7. Remember the big picture.
Usually, there’s a bigger marketing effort.
How will your site fit into the overall plan?
What else is in the ensemble?
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Brochures?
Ads?
Presentations or events?
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8. Tie it all in.
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Maybe your site shouldn’t be unique.
How should you repurpose other materials?
If the audience and message are the same, why
should the Web site look different?
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9. Sweat the details.
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Nothing destroys credibility faster than obvious
mistakes and carelessness.
Check your information and proof your copy.
Make it a habit.
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10. Be true to your template.
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Be consistent. Don’t change your style
randomly.
Avoid surprises.
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Design
11. Avoid eye candy.
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Stay away from gratuitous displays of selfindulgent Photoshop and programming chops.
Don’t emphasize everything.
Leave the dazzle to gamers.
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Ugly site
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12. Don’t be afraid of white space.
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Use white space for emphasis.
You’re not printing, so pixels are cheap.
Take the space you need.
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13. Please, no splash screens.
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They don’t enhance communication.
They waste time and development resources.
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14. Death to clipart, blinking, animations, etc.
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They look amateurish and unprofessional.
They’re never as targeted as you would like.
Don’t use them, I’m begging you!
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Here’s why.
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Good habits
15. Quality in all things.
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Design for what you want to be, not what you are.
Use the best copy, graphics and photos you can
afford.
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16. Write for the medium.
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Avoid “shovelware.”
Know when enough is enough.
Make navigation your friend.
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17. Good writing still counts.
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There’s no excuse for sloppy or poor craft.
Avoid jargon, usually.
Avoid clichés like the plague.
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18. Give credit where credit is due.
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Always credit photos, music, etc.
Don’t forget copyrights.
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19. Date your content and update it regularly.
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Otherwise, how will they know if it’s current?
Think of your site as a living breathing document.
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20. Avoid trendiness.
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No horizontal scrolling, auto-play music, etc.
Don’t design for other designers.
Never be clever for clever’s sake.
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Finally…
21. Think like a user.
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We know more than we think we do.
Our instinct may be our most powerful Web
development tool of all.
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A good Web site must attract viewers.
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Remember:
The most important thing is not
getting people to visit the Web site.
The most important thing is getting
them to return to the Web site.