10 PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WEB DESIGN

10 PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WEB DESIGN. Only web visitors can truly evaluate the effectiveness of web design. Usability (user-friendliness) is influenced by a lot of factors, and this is not only a form (how good it looks), but also functionality (how clear and easy to use).

Poorly designed websites tend to perform poorly and tend to have low Google Analytics metrics (e.g., high bounce rates, short site visits, low page views, and low conversions). And then what is it, good web design? Below we will consider 10 principles of web design that will make your site aesthetic, easy to use, attractive and effective.

1. PURPOSE.

Good web design always meets the needs of the user. What do visitors to your site need? Information, entertainment, help or opportunity to make a transaction? Each page of your website should have a clear goal and meet the specific needs of users in the most effective way.

2. COMMUNICATION.

People on the network, as a rule, want to receive information quickly, so it is important to present information clearly and in a structured way. All site blocks should be easy to read and understand. In order for the presentation of information to be more effective, it is necessary to use headings and subheadings, lists, where appropriate, and to avoid proposals that are too long and difficult to understand.

3. PRINTING HOUSES.

Use Sans Serif fonts such as Arial and Verdana, which are easier to read online. These are modern fonts without decorative finishes. The ideal font size for easy reading online is 16 pixels. Do not use more than 3 fonts in three sizes, so that the design does not look overloaded and tasteless.

4. COLORS.

A well-designed color palette can positively affect the behavior of the user on the site. Complementary colors create balance and harmony. Using contrasting colors for text and background will make reading easier. Bright colors create emotions and should be used selectively (for example, for buttons and calls to action). And last but not least, empty (negative) space gives the site a modern and uncluttered look.

5. IMAGES.

One image can replace a thousand words, and choosing the right images for your site can help with brand positioning and impact on the target audience. If you do not have high-quality professional photos at hand, consider buying photos on stocks to improve the appearance of the site. Also consider using infographics, videos, and illustrations, as they can sometimes be much more effective than even the most well-written piece of text.

6. NAVIGATION.

Good navigation is the ease of moving the user around the site. For effective navigation, you should use the logical hierarchy of pages, breadcrumbs, clickable buttons, and also observe the “three-click rule – users must find the required information using no more than three transitions.

7. USING THE MODULAR GRID.

If you post content on the site randomly, then it will have a sloppy appearance and poorly perceived. Grid-based layouts organize content into sections, columns, and blocks, building them in a logical line, making the website design more user-friendly. 8. “F” -TEST PATTERN Studies have shown that people scan computer screens using the “F” pattern. People pay more attention to what is in the upper and left parts of the screen, and practically do not pay attention to the right side of the screen. Therefore, submitting information on a website is necessary in order of importance (from left to right and from top to bottom).

9. DOWNLOAD TIME.

Nobody likes sites that take a long time to load. To speed up page loading, it is necessary to optimize the size and scale of images, combine the code into a central CSS or JavaScript file (this reduces HTTP requests) and minimize HTML, CSS, JavaScript (compress to speed up their loading).

10. ADAPTIVITY.

When creating a site, you need to consider its adaptability to various types of devices. You can create a flexible (rubber) layout that will automatically adapt to different screen widths, or you can create a separate version of the site specifically for mobile users. Using these 10 principles of effective web design in practice, your sites will certainly become more attractive, useful and memorable for visitors.