Design is one of the defining element that attract Internet user to your a site.  A major deterrent that keeps someone for staying on a site is the lack of appealing graphics.  The challenge for a Web Designer is the create a site that not only is attractive to the user but to keep them interested as well

Just putting graphics on a website isn’t the only factor to consider.  Graphic must be used correctly.  If the graphic cause the user to turn away because they are just plain bad or they are overwhelmed that’s not good at all.

It is important to have an attractive design.  It it the choice of design that needs consideration.  And the main consideration to be concerned with the the final user.  A successful design that is attractive and functional is one that reached its goal.

Graphic on the Web is considered of of the element of multimedia.  When using several design elements like text, sound, animation and graphics your goal is to really a message to the user.  When using multimedia in a web site it is vital that it is integral to the content.  It must reinforce and support the message of the page content.

Using graphic can increase learning in a positive way.  That is only if the image is being used properly.   The concept is to remove all barriers to communication and increase understanding.

To help illustrate this point I’ve put together this short list of things to consider when using graphics on your website.

1. Make sure have to have the graphic

Don’t add a graphic for the sake of having a graphic.  Make sure it serves a positive function to the content.  It is easy to overuse graphics on a page.  The real down side is that large unnecessary graphic slow down page load time.  Remember time is important to your user.  All graphic therefore must support the message and have relevance to its meaning.

2. Repetitiveness

Repeating a message or concept over and over increases retention.   This can be true of graphic elements as well.  A logo used consistently on your site will increase brand identity.   Button with similar graphic elements are useful in usability.

3. Keep it Consistent

Keep thing it their place.  If your logo is located at the top left it needs to be there at the same place on each and every page.  The same with your navigation graphics.  Don’t move things around this will confuse and frustrate your user.  The same goes with the use of color.  Find a theme and stick to it.

4. Media Loading Priority

As a page loads certain elements get loaded as the browser loads the page.  Try to have the markup done is such a way as to load text before graphics.   This will help the user know if the information is pertinent to there quest for information.

5. Page Loading

Keep in mind that graphics load much slower than text.   The goal is less than 5 seconds.  The maximum amount of time should be no more than 15 seconds.   Also, with more people using High Speed Connections this frees you to add more multimedia to your site.  Just make sure that your target users is up to speed.

6. Optimize Speed

Images need to processed to optimize speed.  The web world is much more different than the print world.  In the print world Hi-Res images are the standard.  However Hi-Res does not work on the web.   By optimizing the image you will save time for your visitors.  Here are some thing to consider when optimizing for speed.

• Make the graphic size a small as possible. Don’t use the browser to resize
• Decrease image resolution.  If your image is 600dpi you must reduce it to 72dpi
• Limit the colors that will be used for the images.
• Limit the use of animation in the graphic.

In web design there can be a conflict between total control of the look of the page and the needs allowed by the user.  This is the great balance of design.  A good design accomplishes both ends.  It take a lot of effort to create an attractive and effective web site.  By following the guidelines here the results will be better.   But first is to satisfy the user above anything else.

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Technorati Tags: design, graphics, usability

Today I want to explore the element of design.  Design is an art and is subjective to the tastes of the individual that experiences the design.  To put this concept into perspective I will present this scenario.  Imaging you are going to but a T-Shirt.  What do you look for?  For most of us we will look for a design that works for us.  So we can conclude that design is a key aspect in our decision.

One of the best ways to look a problem is to look at it from another person’s point of view.  To do this I will present two different situation to help you understand this concept.

Site 1:

Bob is shown a website.  This website has good design features, amazing images, good choice of color.  All the images are relevant to the content.  The choice of font are easy to read.

Site 2 :

Next, Bob is shown another website.  This website features gross and ugly images.  The resolution is out of whack.  The images have nothing to do with the content.  The color scheme looks like it came out of a blender.  There are no less than 10 font styles used on the page.  Each page has a different layout.

Observation:

Looking these two sites from Bob perspective might go something like this:

Bob really likes Site 1 a lot.   He is impressed with the artwork and design.  He found it easy to navigation.  It was as though the design enhances the content.  Bob, enjoyed the site so much he stayed a while, learned many new things and even came back.

As for Site B Bob could hardly wait to leave the site. Visually it gave him a migraine.  There was now way he would ever want to return.  It was so bad that he even removed from his browser history. Now that’s bad.  The worst thing Bob did not fell comfortable, was distracted and was disappointed.  Not very welcoming was it?

Analysis:

Like it or not most people DO judge on first impression.  In these two cases the impression ranged from good to bad.

Often our ego gets in the way of good design.  The primary thing to take away is to plan your websites carefully.  Get feedback for others and get their perspective.  Remember, everyone is different.  Keep in mind design is subject to interpretation.  The goal is to create a favorable impression the first time.

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Technorati Tags: information technology, Internet, usability, Web Design, Web Development

The Internet is built on connections. These connections bridge one computer to many others.  As a result we can access an abundance of information quickly and easily.

To get around the Internet we click on links.  Now think of these link in the same way the synapses of the brain are formed.

With website design one of the most important feature that is required is a way to link from one page to another.  Having a dead link is like crashing into a brick wall.  It stops you in your tracks.

As a web designer I make it a point to include a link on nearly every page I design.  These links are important.  If there were no links there would be no other place to go and get additional information.

A website had different kinds of links.  There are unspoken standards of design that should be followed for better usability.  Messing with these convention can have a negative effect on the user.  And as a designer I don’t want to see that.  Understanding the rules of convention that need to be followed is the first step in understanding.

When you look a typical website you can imagine it is like a book.  A book holds several pages.  These pages are often categorized in chapters.  A web page can be likened to pages of a book.

The two types of links: Internal and External

Let’s begin with Internal links.  These are the links that join content within your website.  If we look at the book example.  The Index or the Table of Contents of a book contain internal links that connects a page to another page in the same book.   On a website Internal links connect pages to other pages in the same website.  This allows a visitor to access the about us page from the home page though an internal link.

The other type of  link is the External link.  This link will move you from the current site you are on to another site.  In the book example this would be similar to a citation or reference.

Layout Conventions

Over time more users and website are added and certain assumption about the location of certain links.

One of the most common location for internal links is either horizontally across the top or vertically along the left margin of the page.  In nearly every case this will be the main navigation to the website.  Designer thought these area to be the most natural position for this grouping on links.  As a result these area are prominent in graphic design of the page.

You will also find internal links toward the bottom of the page.  This area is called the page footer.  Here you will find links of secondary importance or are more informational.

Within the body of the content you will usually find External link.  There are no set rules for this it is just a convention that has come out out common use.  The location of the link could be within the body text or as a reference note at the end of the content.

Keep in mind these ideas are only convention and not set in stone rules.  Designer have a lot of freedom to adjust the layout.  These variations can make surfing the web more intersting.  The important thing to remember is to not confuse of alienate your visitor.

Need A Web Site?

Custom Web Design for Small Businesses by professional and experienced web designer and developer.

Here is what I can do for you…

• Innovative Web Design
• Graphic Design Logos
• Maintain Your Website
• Data Driven Content
• Flash Applications
• Build Shopping Carts for Ecommerce
• Custom PHP Applications and Programming
• WordPress Installation & Customization

Get an affordable, attractive great website today. Hire Me For Your Web Design Solution. View my portfolio at http://portfolio.mediatunes.com

Technorati Tags: linking strategy, usability, Web Design, Web Development