The article discusses 10 elements of good web design that every web professional should know and apply in their projects. These elements are clear site navigation, engaging content, responsive web design, eye-catching visuals, call to action, web accessibility, web security, web performance, web usability, and web analytics. The article explains what each element means, why it is important, how to implement it, and provides an example of a website that demonstrates it effectively.
Web design is the process of creating and maintaining websites that are attractive, functional, and user-friendly. Web design involves both the visual appearance and the usability of a website, as well as the content, structure, and navigation. Web design is not only about aesthetics, but also about how a website communicates with its visitors and meets their needs and expectations.
A good web design can have a positive impact on the performance and success of a website, such as increasing traffic, conversions, engagement, and loyalty. A bad web design can have the opposite effect, such as driving away potential customers, lowering trust and credibility, and hurting the reputation and brand image of a website.
In this article, we will discuss some of the key elements of good web design that every web professional should know and apply in their projects. We will also provide some examples of websites that demonstrate these elements effectively.
1. Clear Site Navigation
One of the most important elements of good web design is clear site navigation. Site navigation refers to the way a website organizes and presents its content and features to its visitors. Site navigation helps users find what they are looking for quickly and easily, without getting lost or frustrated.
A clear site navigation should:
Be consistent across all pages of a website
Use descriptive labels and categories that match the user’s mental model
Provide clear visual cues and feedback to indicate the current location and status of the user
Include a search function for users who prefer to find information by keywords
Follow the principle of progressive disclosure, which means showing only the most relevant and essential information first, and providing more details on demand
Avoid unnecessary complexity and clutter, such as too many options, levels, or links
An example of a website that has clear site navigation is Advanced Digital Media Services. The website has a simple and intuitive menu bar that contains five main categories: Home, Services, Portfolio, Blog, and Contact. Each category has a drop-down menu that shows the subcategories and features available under it.
The website also has a prominent search icon on the top right corner that allows users to search for any topic or keyword they want. The website uses breadcrumbs to show the user’s path within the website and highlights the current page with a different color. The website also has a footer that contains links to other important pages and information, such as About Us, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, etc.
2. Engaging Content
Another essential element of good web design is engaging content. Content refers to the information and messages that a website delivers to its visitors through text, images, videos, audio, etc. Content is what attracts and retains users’ attention and interest and persuades them to take action or return to the website.
Engaging content should:
Be relevant and useful to the target audience and their goals
Be clear and concise, using simple and easy-to-understand language
Be organized and structured logically, using headings, subheadings, lists, bullet points, etc.
Be scannable and skimable, using visual elements such as images, icons, charts, graphs, etc.
Be original and authentic, not copied or plagiarized from other sources
Be updated and accurate, reflecting the latest information and trends
Be interactive and dynamic, allowing users to comment, share, rate, etc.
An example of a website that has engaging content is HubSpot. The website is a popular online platform that provides marketing, sales, service, and web design solutions for businesses. The website has a blog section that covers various topics related to these fields, such as tips, trends, best practices, case studies, etc.
The blog posts are written by experts in their domains, who use an informal and conversational tone to communicate with their readers. The blog posts are also rich in visuals, such as images, videos, infographics, etc., that illustrate and support their points. The blog posts also invite users to interact with them by leaving comments, subscribing to newsletters, downloading free resources, etc.
3. Responsive Web Design
A third element of good web design is responsive web design. Responsive web design (RWD) is an approach to web design that aims to make web pages render well on a variety of devices and window or screen sizes, from minimum to maximum display size, to ensure usability and satisfaction.
Responsive web design is not a separate technology, but a set of best practices and techniques that use HTML and CSS to automatically resize, hide, shrink, or enlarge, a website, to make it look good on all devices. Responsive web design also involves using media queries, which are conditional statements that apply different styles depending on the device characteristics, such as width, height, resolution, orientation, etc.
Responsive web design has many benefits, such as:
Improving user experience and satisfaction across different devices
Increasing accessibility and reach for users with different preferences and abilities
Enhancing SEO and ranking by avoiding duplicate content and improving loading speed
Reducing maintenance and development costs by using a single code base for multiple platforms
Adapting to future changes and innovations in device technology and user behavior
An example of a website that has responsive web design is Elementor. The website is a popular online platform that provides web design solutions for businesses. The website adapts its layout and content to fit different screen sizes and resolutions, using media queries and modern CSS layout methods.
The website also uses fluid images and text that scale up and down according to the viewport size. The website maintains its functionality and aesthetics across different devices, such as desktops, tablets, and phones.
4. Eye-catching Visuals
A fourth element of good web design is eye-catching visuals. Visuals are any graphical elements that enhance the appearance and meaning of a website, such as images, icons, illustrations, videos, animations, etc. Visuals are a powerful way to engage and attract the audience, convey information and emotions, and support the brand identity and message.
Eye-catching visuals should:
Be relevant and useful to the content and purpose of the website
Be clear and high-quality, using appropriate formats, sizes, and resolutions
Be original and authentic, not copied or plagiarized from other sources
Be consistent and coherent with the overall design and style of the website
Be interactive and dynamic, allowing users to comment, share, rate, etc.
An example of a website that has eye-catching visuals is Inkbot Design. The website is a creative agency that provides branding, logo design, graphic design, and web design services for businesses. The website uses a variety of visuals to showcase its work and expertise, such as images, videos, infographics, icons, etc. The visuals are colorful, vibrant, and appealing, reflecting the creativity and professionalism of the agency. The visuals also complement the text content and make it more scannable and skimmable.
5. Call to Action
A fifth element of good web design is call to action. A call to action (CTA) is a brief statement that asks readers or consumers to respond with a specific action or participate in something. This is a common tool used in marketing and sales to ensure customers enter the next step in the purchasing lifecycle.
A call to action can be a button, a link, a form, a text, or any other element that invites users to do something, such as:
Download a free ebook
Subscribe to a newsletter
Contact a sales representative
Buy a product or service
Share on social media
Leave a comment or feedback
A call to action should:
Be clear and concise, using simple and direct language
Be persuasive and compelling, using words that evoke emotions and urgency
Be visible and prominent, using colors, shapes, and sizes that stand out
Be relevant and valuable, offering something that matches the user’s needs and interests
Be consistent and coherent, aligning with the overall design and message of the website
An example of a website that has call to action is HubSpot. The website is a popular online platform that provides marketing, sales, service, and web design solutions for businesses. The website uses various calls to action throughout its pages and content, such as buttons, links, forms, etc. The calls to action are catchy, colorful, and clear, encouraging users to take action and engage with the website.
6. Web Accessibility
A sixth element of good web design is web accessibility. Web accessibility means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them. Web accessibility encompasses all disabilities that affect access to the Web, including auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual disabilities.
Web accessibility is not only a moral and social responsibility, but also a legal and business requirement. Web accessibility benefits individuals, businesses, and society by:
Improving user experience and satisfaction across different devices and abilities
Increasing accessibility and reach for users with different preferences and needs
Enhancing SEO and ranking by following web standards and best practices
Reducing legal risks and compliance issues by adhering to accessibility laws and regulations
Supporting diversity and inclusion by creating a more equitable and accessible web for everyone
An example of a website that has web accessibility is W3C. The website is the World Wide Web Consortium, the main international standards organization for the Web. The website follows the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. The website also provides various resources and tools to help web developers and designers create accessible websites.
7. Web Security
A seventh element of good web design is web security. Web security refers to protecting networks and computer systems from damage to or the theft of software, hardware, or data. It also includes protecting computer systems from misdirecting or disrupting the services they are designed to provide. Web security is synonymous with cybersecurity and also covers website security, which involves protecting websites from attacks.
Web security is crucial to the smooth operation of any business that uses computers. If a website is hacked or hackers are able to manipulate your systems or software, your website—and even your entire network can be brought down, halting business operations. Web security also protects your customers’ data and privacy, which are essential for building trust and loyalty.
Some of the common threats to web security include:
Malware: malicious software that infects computers and performs harmful actions, such as stealing data, deleting files, encrypting data, etc.
Phishing: fraudulent emails or websites that trick users into revealing their personal or financial information or downloading malware
Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks: attacks that overwhelm a website or server with a large amount of traffic, making it slow or unavailable
Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks: attacks that inject malicious code into a website that runs on the user’s browser, compromising their session or data
SQL injection attacks: attacks that insert malicious SQL commands into a website’s database, allowing hackers to access or manipulate data
Some of the best practices for web security include:
Using secure protocols such as HTTPS and SSL/TLS to encrypt data in transit
Updating software and systems regularly to fix any vulnerabilities or bugs
Implementing strong authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access
Using web application firewalls (WAFs) to monitor and filter web traffic and block malicious requests
Performing regular backups and audits to ensure data integrity and recovery
Educating users and employees about web security risks and how to avoid them
An example of a website that has web security is Check Point. The website is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for businesses and organizations. The website uses HTTPS and SSL certificates to secure its communication and transactions. The website also uses various security tools and services to protect its web applications and data from attacks.
8. Web Performance
An eighth element of good web design is web performance. Web performance refers to how quickly site content loads and renders in a web browser, and how well it responds to user interaction. Web performance affects user experience, satisfaction, engagement, and conversion. Poor performing sites are slow to display and slow to respond to input. Poor performing sites increase site abandonment and reduce user loyalty.
Some of the factors that affect web performance include:
Network latency: the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another on the internet
Bandwidth: the amount of data that can be transferred per unit of time
File size: the amount of data that needs to be downloaded for a web page or resource
File format: the type and structure of data that is used for a web page or resource
Rendering: the process of converting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into pixels on the screen
JavaScript execution: the process of running JavaScript code on the browser
User interaction: the events and actions that occur when a user interacts with a web page or application
Some of the best practices for web performance include:
Minifying and compressing files to reduce their size and transfer time
Optimizing images and videos to use appropriate formats, sizes, and resolutions
Using caching and content delivery networks (CDNs) to store and deliver files closer to the user
Using preload and prefetch to prioritize and anticipate resource loading
Using code splitting and lazy loading to load only what is needed when it is needed
Using performance APIs and tools to measure and monitor web performance
An example of a website that has web performance is MDN Web Docs. The website is a learning platform for web developers that provides documentation, tutorials, guides, and references for web technologies. The website uses various techniques to improve its web performance, such as:
Using Gzip compression to reduce file size
Using WebP image format to optimize images
Using HTTP/2 protocol to improve network efficiency
Using service workers and offline storage to enable offline access
Using Google Analytics and Speed Curve to track and analyze web performance
9. Web Usability
A ninth element of good web design is web usability. Web usability is a term used to designate the ease with which the visitors to your website find the information that they are looking out for. Web usability focuses on the user’s needs and expectations and ensures that websites are efficient and easy to use for the people who actually use them, rather than the people who designed them.
Web usability involves various aspects, such as:
Content: the information and messages that a website delivers to its visitors, which should be relevant, useful, clear, concise, and scannable
Layout: the arrangement and organization of elements on a web page, which should be consistent, logical, and intuitive
Navigation: the way a website organizes and presents its content and features to its visitors, which should be simple, descriptive, and predictable
Interaction: the events and actions that occur when a user interacts with a web page or application, which should be responsive, feedback-oriented, and error-tolerant
Accessibility: the degree to which a website or application can be used by people with disabilities or different preferences and abilities
Some of the best practices for web usability include:
Conducting user research and testing to understand the user’s goals, tasks, behaviors, and preferences
Applying design principles and heuristics to guide the design process and evaluate the design outcomes
Using web standards and guidelines to ensure compatibility and interoperability across different devices and browsers
Following content strategy and information architecture to plan and structure the content and features of a website
Implementing user interface design patterns and components to create common and familiar solutions for common problems
An example of a website that has web usability is Usability.gov. The website is a one-stop source for user experience best practices and strategies. The website provides various methods, templates, documents, and guidelines for creating more usable, useful, and accessible websites. The website itself follows web usability principles, such as having clear content, consistent layout, simple navigation, interactive features, and accessible design.
10. Web Analytics
A tenth element of good web design is web analytics. Web analytics is the process of analyzing the behavior of visitors to a website. This involves tracking, reviewing, and reporting data to measure web activity, such as the use of a website and its components, such as webpages, images, videos, etc.
Web analytics is useful for understanding and optimizing web performance, user experience, and business outcomes. Web analytics can help answer questions such as:
How many visitors does the website have?
Where do the visitors come from?
What are the visitors looking for?
How do the visitors interact with the website?
How long do the visitors stay on the website?
How many visitors convert into customers or subscribers?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the website?
Some of the best practices for web analytics include:
Defining clear and measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the website
Choosing a suitable web analytics tool that meets the needs and budget of the website
Implementing proper tracking codes and tags to collect accurate and reliable data
Segmenting and filtering data to gain deeper insights into different groups of visitors
Visualizing and presenting data in an easy-to-understand and actionable way
Testing and experimenting with different website elements to improve performance
An example of a website that has web analytics is Google Analytics. The website is a popular online platform that provides web analytics solutions for websites and applications. The website allows users to track and analyze various metrics and dimensions related to their web activity, such as traffic sources, sessions, pageviews, bounce rate, conversion rate, etc. The website also provides various features and tools to help users optimize their web performance, such as reports, dashboards, goals, events, segments, filters, etc.
For more information on professional web design Bromley give Pozitive Media a call now on 0800 292 2921 or go to our website www.pozitivemedia.com
We cover Bromley, Croydon, right across South London and the home counties.
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