The Importance of Website Design

Website design is important of course. In modern promotions, a well designed logo is important, but it will only get you so far. Even though we still firmly believe in the power of printed promotion, most businesses benefit from an online presence. You can’t simply stick the company address and telephone number on a blank page and watch the business roll in either: you will be judged on the quality of your website. Websites that look shabby rarely convert hits into repeat visits, contacts and sales.

With this in mind, we offer up some web design basics, as well as a description of the trends and technologies.

Web Design Basics

Create a Resource for your Customers

When businesses create a website, it’s very easy for them to get hung up on the fact that they’re creating the website in order to promote themselves. In actuality, all of the content on your website should exist for the sake of your customers. For instance, never tell customers that your business is great. More so tell customers how your product or service can help them solve problems and make their life easier. For instance, the more information and resources you provide through your website, and the more you share through integrated social channels. Understandably, the more customers will trust your commitment to this ideal. Some simple tactics can be read on this new blog post

Design a Visually Appealing Website

Well, pinning down what makes a well designed site in artistic terms is something that takes talent. Often even, years of experience. Whilst an agency is recommended, time and money may not be on your side. Broadly speaking, a great design builds your brand, is visually pleasing and coherent.

Furthermore, all elements should be spaced well and properly aligned. Therefore should graphical elements  be sharp and complementary in terms of shape and colour. Using the design to guide the user around the page: prominence can come from the size, colour and position of each element.

Strive for Standards Compliance

So, we all know that websites are principally built in HTML and CSS, but they can also be coded with any of the other web 2.0 programming languages (e.g. javaScript and PHP). For instance, the syntax and language used in this code must be entered correctly, so that problems can be avoided as the website expands and content is added. But standards aren’t just a matter of best practice; the accessibility and usability of a website are things that are often ignored (or more commonly, simply not understood).

An example of a basic usability issue is how hyperlinks are indicated in your text. Conventionally, hyperlinks are underlined, and assigned a different colour value. After all, flouting either of these conventions can confuse users. More seriously, poorly designed navigation can frustrate people into leaving your website before they’ve found what they want. Therefore, failing to provide ‘alt tags’ for your images can render your website unintelligible to those who use a ‘text to speech’ device to browse the internet.

Have a Great Website Logo Design

Most of all, the first thing you see (usually in the upper left of the screen) on the vast majority of websites is the logo. Obviously, we have a vested interest in promoting the value of a good logo in your website design (and of suggesting where you might get one!). Above all,  believe us when we say that even with a fantastic web design, a website can be completely undermined by having a terrible logo. However, if you don’t have a logo at all, how are your customers going to remember your brand? Therefore, as striking as some website designs can be, they’re no substitute for a good logo.

So, what makes a great logo design? It needs to reflect the values of your brand, as well as your target audience. Furthermore, tt needs to be striking and memorable, effects often achieved by being simple or striving to be original. For example, it needs to be relevant to the time in which it is created. I know that timeless designs are achievable, but there is no harm in chasing trends. Speaking of which…

Web Design Trends 

First of all, a quick Google search for ‘Web Design Trends’ will throw up all kinds of theories on what is big this year. These lists tend to be optimistic style guides and are worth a look if you’re stuck for ideas. However,  they shouldn’t ever be taken as a gospel truth. Nonetheless, there are certain general trends that need to be appraised. Often, recommended as an approach for your site:

Designing for mobile

Strangely, this means something completely different now to what it meant just two years ago. Designing for ‘mobile’ used to be designing for cell-phones with tiny screens. Unappealing, low-detail, text heavy designs dominated. Now ‘mobile’ means high-resolution screens of wildly varying size. Furthermore, it also means designing for touch. Considering, if your website design has elements that animate or otherwise react to someone hovering their mouse, this simply will not work on a touchscreen. To create a favicon for your website based on your logo is also a good idea.

How are apps designed today? 

For instance, apps are typically designed using a user-centric approach, where designers prioritize the needs and preferences of the end user. This obviously involves conducting research to understand user behavior and preferences. Using that information to create a streamlined and intuitive user experience.

Understandably, designers will typically start with wireframes or mockups which outline the layout and functionality of the app. From there, they will move on to creating high-fidelity designs that incorporate branding and visual elements.

However, many designers use prototyping tools to create interactive models of the app, allowing for testing and feedback before development begins.

In terms of technologies used, many app designers rely on design software such as Sketch, Adobe XD, or Figma for creating designs.  Or even, prototyping tools such as InVision or Marvel. For example, they may also collaborate with developers to ensure the design is feasible and functional on the chosen platform, whether that be iOS, Android, or web-based.

New Web Standards HTTP/3

New web standards are emerging to improve the functionality, security, and accessibility of websites. One example is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Providing a framework for ensuring that web content is accessible to all users. Including those with disabilities. Another emerging standard is WebAuthn, which improves online security by enabling users to use biometric information. For example, fingerprints or facial recognition, to authenticate their identity.

In addition, new web standards are being developed to improve website performance, such as HTTP/3 which aims to reduce page load times and improve page rendering. Other standards, such as WebAssembly, allow for faster and more efficient code execution in the browser. Overall, these new web standards are improving the user experience, making websites more accessible and secure, and helping developers create better-performing and more efficient websites.

De-cluttering Your Website

If there has been a year where designers weren’t claiming a philosophy of ‘less is more,’ we haven’t heard of it. Above all, restrict a site’s colour-scheme, employ plenty of whitespace, little imagery and a simple font. Creating an eye-catching, timeless design that emphasises function over flash. Or you can create a site that looks dull, uninspired and devoid of content. Approach this one with caution!

Large Image Elements

Both in contradiction to the point above, and occasionally working with it, there is currently a tendency towards website designs with full-screen image elements. Some designers are forgoing the once fashionable block-colour background for textures or photographs. After all, the internet is speeding up for most of us… but if you’re trying to sell a product, this approach can still frustrate your customers, so be wary.