The Basic Elements of Web Design
Web design has come a long way from the early years' simple, text-based websites to today's rich and interactive websites. Web design has also gained global popularity over the years due to the increasing number of dependency on the Internet for information. As such, different companies and groups are increasingly taking their businesses online in order to take advantage of the global traffic with the aim of expanding their client base. However, it is not enough to simply own a website; today's competitive market requires that a website be both functional and desirable in order to attract viewers. There are basic web design elements that every site should have in order to have both aesthetic and functional properties.
There are certain standards that web designers must adhere to in order for their creations to be parallel with those of other design communities. These standards are provided by W3 consortium to ensure validity of different website functions such as HTML, CSS, and XHTML. These standards have been put to place in order to counter the work of amateur web designers, and the distribution and use of pirated web design software. An aspiring web designer must therefore learn the syntax of a webpage and be able to define different principles related to designing errorless web pages.
A webpage must have balance, that is, equal distribution of light and heavy elements. Web design balance is concentrated on the page layout. Visual balance must not only be achieved in the initial view of a webpage, but throughout the rest of the page as well. There are basically three types of balance that can be used when designing a website; symmetrical, asymmetrical, and discordant symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance is achieved by evenly placing elements in a page; light elements on the right are matched with light elements on the left. Though challenging, asymmetrical balance can be achieved by varying the sizes and positions of colors, images, and textures in a page. Discordant designs are used for websites that suggest motion or action. They stimulate people to think by creating an uneasy or uncomfortable feeling among viewers.
Content is key when designing a website. There are two major ways that content can help a website. First, it will facilitate the achievement of search engine optimization for the website. It is of no use to have a stunning website that will never be viewed by visitors. By inputting optimization practices such as keywords in your content, you will boost your ranking on search engine result pages, thus increasing your visibility. Secondly, your content is what will mainly drive traffic to your website. By consistently providing relevant and updated information in your website that is concurrent with what your targeted traffic is looking for, you will be increasing traffic to your website and encouraging customer loyalty among your visitors.
A professional designer creates contrast in a webpage. Contrast is not limited to hues and colors. It should also be applied to various elements such as images, vital texts and headings in order to draw attention to the contrasted sections. A web designer can achieve contrast by using a variety of font sizes, typing styles, colors, and weights on different elements in a webpage.
There are certain standards that web designers must adhere to in order for their creations to be parallel with those of other design communities. These standards are provided by W3 consortium to ensure validity of different website functions such as HTML, CSS, and XHTML. These standards have been put to place in order to counter the work of amateur web designers, and the distribution and use of pirated web design software. An aspiring web designer must therefore learn the syntax of a webpage and be able to define different principles related to designing errorless web pages.
A webpage must have balance, that is, equal distribution of light and heavy elements. Web design balance is concentrated on the page layout. Visual balance must not only be achieved in the initial view of a webpage, but throughout the rest of the page as well. There are basically three types of balance that can be used when designing a website; symmetrical, asymmetrical, and discordant symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance is achieved by evenly placing elements in a page; light elements on the right are matched with light elements on the left. Though challenging, asymmetrical balance can be achieved by varying the sizes and positions of colors, images, and textures in a page. Discordant designs are used for websites that suggest motion or action. They stimulate people to think by creating an uneasy or uncomfortable feeling among viewers.
Content is key when designing a website. There are two major ways that content can help a website. First, it will facilitate the achievement of search engine optimization for the website. It is of no use to have a stunning website that will never be viewed by visitors. By inputting optimization practices such as keywords in your content, you will boost your ranking on search engine result pages, thus increasing your visibility. Secondly, your content is what will mainly drive traffic to your website. By consistently providing relevant and updated information in your website that is concurrent with what your targeted traffic is looking for, you will be increasing traffic to your website and encouraging customer loyalty among your visitors.
A professional designer creates contrast in a webpage. Contrast is not limited to hues and colors. It should also be applied to various elements such as images, vital texts and headings in order to draw attention to the contrasted sections. A web designer can achieve contrast by using a variety of font sizes, typing styles, colors, and weights on different elements in a webpage.