Website designers create the visual components of websites using design software to produce mockups while working closely with web developers to ensure that the final product looks and functions exactly as intended. To learn more about the crucial elements of this job and how a designer in Chichester can help you craft a “good” website – read the following article.
Layout
Layout is one of the key determinants of whether a website meets its goals. It attracts visitors, keeps them returning, convinces users to click-to-buy products or subscribe to newsletters, and sets the mood for content production, user experience design, and site navigation – it all matters and should not be done hastily! It can take time and thought before reaching this important stage – do not rush yourself through this important decision-making process!
Users have limited patience for websites that are difficult to use or confusing and will not remain for too long if they cannot quickly locate what they are seeking within seconds. A web design Chichester professional knows that a well-planned layout makes the difference between an enjoyable user experience and one that sends users running away in frustration. However, it is also important to keep style in mind.
A magazine layout utilizes modular grids and is ideal for websites presenting extensive amounts of data on one page. It enables easy reading while drawing attention to key pieces by visually weighing them with bold fonts, colors, or other design elements – creating an orderly hierarchy of information on the page.
Z-pattern layout this popular website layout mimics how people typically scan page content – they start at the top left, move down towards the right, and back towards the left again. This format makes an excellent choice for websites requiring fast, focused scanning; particularly well suited to text-heavy sites (news websites and search results pages).
Colors
Color choices in website designs can provide valuable insight into a brand and visitor’s experience on its pages. Colors should be carefully chosen and coordinated so they complement one another while also working well with layout, typefaces, images, and copy to communicate a cohesive message to site visitors.
Color can evoke specific emotions, so it is essential that websites take this into account when designing them (source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-use-color-psychology-boost-your-website-soumyadeep-mandal). Red is often associated with speed and energy; therefore, it might make an ideal choice for websites offering fast services or needing to capture attention quickly.
Some brands will already have established brand guidelines that can assist web designers when selecting a color scheme, while for newer or emerging brands or those going through a full brand redesign process, their color schemes may need to be decided individually based on several factors.
Many different color schemes exist, with complementary hues being one approach. These pairs of opposing hues on the color wheel create an eye-catching contrast that highlights one or more accent colors more prominently – such as blue and orange, green and red, or purple and yellow schemes.
Graphic Elements
Website design involves many ingredients. How those components are combined and combined is what defines its final quality. A truly effective site engages visitors immediately upon visiting, keeps their attention through EVERY page, and influences them to contact or take some other kind of action – this can be difficult but worthwhile work to achieve the best outcome possible.
Shapes can be extremely powerful graphic elements when used to establish hierarchy and highlight important content. A shape such as the plus graphic can help establish hierarchy while drawing attention to key information; its versatility also extends to being used to indicate connection or intersection as well as add variation and emphasis.
Notches can also add visual interest, such as with 45-degree notches being used to frame content and give depth perception in infographics or any composition. You could use graphic elements in your UI design by including them in buttons that require users to type or click, such as filling in forms or clicking links.
Content
Most web designers focus on designing the front end of a website, which visitors interact with directly; however, they may be responsible for designing all aspects of it as needed. They should possess a solid knowledge of HTML and CSS markup languages used to code visual elements of websites; in addition, they must be able to communicate design decisions clearly and concisely to clients as well as critique others’ work in an effective manner.
An effective website designer understands search engine optimization (which you can learn about here), which involves including relevant keywords in website content to boost search engine rankings. But they should avoid prioritizing SEO over reader engagement: Overusing keywords – known as keyword stuffing – may make the text less clear, decreasing its value to users.
A more effective approach may be creating buyer personas and developing content tailored toward meeting those individuals’ needs and desires. Your content should reflect who your target customer is – for instance, if they are young professionals using Instagram and Facebook daily – by including blog posts, photos, or memes to capture this audience.