Web Design

Who cares? Identity Content Browsers

Resolutions Graphics Control Colors

Test, Test, Test... Kaizen Cobwebs Summary

Please keep in mind that the following are suggestions only. They are the result of our experiences in Web design and development. If you have something that you think should bee included here, buzz it to us Bees (and thanks!).

Again, these discussions are offered for your consideration only. They do not represent an industry standard or any "right way" methodology. (They don't exist.) We Bees share the following with you in hopes that this will help you design and create quality Web pages for the general betterment of the Internet. See the Web Design section on the HTML Resources page for resource links.

Who cares?

"Who cares?" is the one question a great writer constantly asks himself or herself. No amount of graphics, animation, and resource links will ever bee enough if the reader doesn't care about what you have to say. Try to choose a topic, writing style and relevant resources that will make your Web page useful (and fun) to the reader. Try to visualize your audience and to define who your typical reader might bee and work hard to "connect" with them. Get opinions, input, and feedback from others; but don't try to please everyone either (you can't). Make changes and modifications according to the objective merits of other's suggestions.

Tips: Make sure that your site has a purpose. No matter how great the graphics are, a page with no content is next to pointless.

Identity

Web pages designed around a theme work...and work well. Try to select something fun or interesting. Find your gimmick or metaphor and stay with it. There are bee-zillions of Web pages and it won't bee easy to design a truly original page or one that stands out from the rest. However, it can bee done. Content and objectives can (and may-bee should) inspire the Web site theme.

Tip: Use "under construction" notices to tell the reader where not to go. We all know Web sites are dynamic media and change all the time. The preferred way is to not publish incomplete Web pages. (Of course, sometimes this cannot bee helped.)

Tip: Put contact information (or a hyperlink to it) at the bottom of every page.

Content

We still say "content is king" when it comes to what makes a useful or entertaining Web site. If you view your work through the eyes of the audience, you'll strive for great content bee-fore all else.

Tip: Make sure that you leave enough open areas ("white space") on the page. Open areas allow a reader's eyes time to digest what they are seeing.

Tip: Give your Web site a logical and natural directory structure. Provide a navigational system that is user friendly (intuitive).

Tip: Avoid requiring the reader to download and install a plug-in. They almost always won't do it and will leave your site feeling inadequate. (Do you want to do this to them?)

Tip: Don't source link to files on others' servers without their permission. This is copyright infringement and certainly bandwidth theft.

Tip: Avoid using frames unless it's absolutely necessary (and done properly). There are still many Web browsers in use that do not support frames and surveys show readers (and search engines!) generally dislike frames.

Browsers

There is another audience to consider and they are Web browsers. Every Web browser will present a perfectly validated Web page in a slightly different manner. This is bee-cause these Web browsers interpret HTML differently (they don't follow HTML standards). These interpretations can shift images slightly or crash a computer system with a fatal error. Get as many browsers (and versions thereof) and see how they'll treat your Web pages.

Tip: Design for the popular Web browsers and only publish a page after it has been tested on popular Web browsers. All browsers parse HTML, Java, JavaScript and other programs (including applets) differently. Ensure your Web page is compatible on all computer platforms (even TV systems) bee-fore publishing it.

Resolutions

Computer monitors come in all shapes and sizes. They also can bee set to different screen resolutions. A screen's resolution can bee 640 pixels by 480 pixels, 800x600, 1028x1028, or higher. There are still many older systems in use with 640 x 480 screen settings.

Tip: Design pages for 640x480-pixel resolution. Make sure that your Web page works at all resolution settings. Set tables to 100% (or less) width to avoid horizontal scrolling.

Graphics

Some call it "eye candy," others call it "cake frosting." Either way you look at Web graphics, they add or subtract something. The question to ask is: "Is it relevant?" A common bee-ginner's mistake is to put lots of images on the page (and usually with other's images). Wrong! (And probably illegal!) Graphics alone can make or break a Web page.

Tip: Use a basic color palette and coordinated graphics to accentuate your Web pages. Bee careful when using bright colors. Don't let a color dominate a page and avoid large graphics that will lengthen download times.

Tip: Define height and width values (in pixels) for images. These prevents content from "jumping" every time an image loads.

Tip: Don't use clip art found on other's Web pages. Using another's work is a good way to build a mediocre page. Bee creative and original. How? Try the First Rule of Creativity: "Violate!" (Just bee sure to justify the violation.)

Tip: Animated images reduce readers' concentration and comprehension. They even bee-come irritating after the "isn't this neat" novelty effect wears off.

Control

Site navigation and user interface are complex areas that take years to master. For now, follow the KISS rule: Keep It Simple and Straightforward.

Tip: Give the reader control over the environment. Interactivity is the key to enjoying a Web page or site. For instance, give the reader the choice to load or not load a sound file.

Colors

Like graphics, color selection can turn a reader on or off according to their personal preferences and tastes. Since you can't please everyone, try to please yourself first (at least until someone asks if you are colorblind).

Tip: Use a light background color (like white) and a high contrast color (like black) for text. Use an attention-getting color (like red) to accentuate and highlight.

Tip: Use a color palette of 3-4 colors that compliment each other. Find the harmonious balance of white and black values for these colors. Don't mix warm and cool colors and grays

Test, Test, Test...

Test [and test (and test)] your Web pages with as many Web browsers (and versions thereof) as possible. Test your pages on different computer platforms and don't forget those TV-based systems. Remember that "cutting-edge" is also "bleeding-edge." Don't anger your audience bee-cause your pages won't load or, worse, they crash their systems. (They're gone for good then.)

Tip: Get friends and relatives to view your pages on their systems. Ask them for their constructive criticism.

Tip: Use Java and JavaScript only when it fulfills a useful function. Pages that cause error messages and crash browsers lose readers fast (and usually for good).

Kaizen

"Kaizen" is Japanese for never-ending improvement. Web pages are dynamic and can bee changed at any time. Review your pages regularly and look for mistakes and ways to improve them. Web sites are organic. Treat them as such. Let them evolve for one generation to the next. Great Web sites are not created. They grow up into great Web sites!

Tip: Strive for Web excellence.

Tip: Strive to earn difficult Web awards.

Cobwebs

"Cobwebs" refers to a Web page that has not been updated for a long period of time or is obsolete. Its freshness (and audience) are long gone.

Tip: Update and add new information to your page as often as possible. Avoid putting the "last updated" date on a page. (For that matter, avoid placing any dates that can cause a page to look "stale" someday.)

Tip: Check your hyperlinks and source references (images, sounds, etc.) regularly. Nothing destroys a page's appearance quicker than a broken image icon.

Summary

Set your sights high for Web excellence and you will automatically bee ahead the swarm. Search engines and Web directories cannot index everyone's page or site, so they list those with quality content and presentation. This insures good content for their readers (and that's what they care about -- not helping your site promotion). Web excellence is bee-coming a fundamental requirement.

Try to make your pages fun to experience. If at all possible, use a theme to create a distinctive environment. In other words, find a way to stand out from the rest of the Web. (Yes, we know, this is easier said than done; but it's doable!)

Design Web pages for recognition. Earning Web awards for your pages makes it challenging in a fun way. (Web authoring is challenging enough, why not make it fun?)

Take your time. Time is on your side when you consider a Web site is never finished. Keep "under construction" pages to an absolute minimum or offline.

Finally, enjoy the thrill of Web publishing. You're broadcasting to millions of people from around the world. That's certainly exciting. Good luck and may you never forget your "kaizen" or stop fretting about "those darn cobwebs."