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When young and inexperienced Web designers were asked what made a great Web design. They responded with something like "lots of cool graphics and flash animation!"
When you ask MVI what makes a great web design, we answer "a site that displays content, with the proper placement of text and graphics to allow the visitor to easily find what they were searching for." Graphics are not as important as functionality and content. Call MVI consultant to discuss at 877-633-9536 x 2.
Web site success stories come from carefully considering content placement, graphics and template design. This process may (and in fact, should) take time to complete -- days, weeks and perhaps even months depending on the complexity of the site.
The question of what it takes to create a great Web site must be taken into context. Search engines, for example, rely on content that allows for a faster loading site, perhaps compromising the amount of graphics. Media companies, however, definitely place higher value on the design, including graphics and other visual enhancements to convey their image.
Therefore, the question here is largely subjective to the type of site it is applied to, and at MVI we keep these considerations in mind when developing a Web site design concept.
A true analysis of great Web design should not only consist of graphics and animation. In fact, it may be the least important issue to be considered Web design is great when it works for the site's purpose, addresses customer needs, and furnishes a positive image for the product, service or person the site is serving.
Content placement plays a role in what qualifies as great design. It is no surprise that content is placed in a prominent location on the page. Font sizes should be kept large enough to be easily read by the Internet population (size 2 is nice, but size 1 can be used with proper line spacing). The text should contrast well with the background of the page. Web designers have more freedom over font color when placed upon a white background.
A very important element in Web design, which is often overlooked when designing a site, is content organization. Create major section titles and provide all relevant content and links within those titles. Implement a clear barrier between the major sections on the site, and also consider placing each title on a separate page.
On MVI's site, for example, we separate each major section by page. We have placed all articles within a single page. Additionally, we have placed all information about the site on another, separate page. This schema allows for the information to be as clear as day and easy to navigate for our customers.
Tables are the essence of many designs because they allow the design to have structure an order. Web designers should strive to keep nested tables to an absolute minimum. Further, consider slicing your tables up -- vertically. One long table will require more load time than multiple tables aligned vertically.
Another key component of any good design is images, perhaps the most controversial part of Web design. Read carefully, because this is important: graphics do not make a Web design great. In fact, the overuse of graphics detracts from what the Web site was built to provide. Graphics should be considered as enhancements, not essential to a an optimized
Web site. A good rule of thumb we follow when creating a design is to use graphics to enhance and not to build. We strive that for any site we create to have a 10 second maximum load time for any page within the site.
Straying from the how for a moment, let us examine the what. A good Web design includes originality. Originality requires thought, consideration and creativity, which is what makes Web design a fun endeavor for a lot of us. Giving your visitors a unique perspective through your Web design is refreshing change in this world of predictability.
Want a one-to-one relationship with your visitors? You may have noticed sophisticated, database backed Web site designs equipped to serve each visitor independently. By supplying the site with your preferences, you can alter the design, including the content and colors, with a simple click of the mouse. This type of sophistication is certainly not mandatory, but it does offer food for thought.
A great Web design is not just visual. Talk to our consultants at 877-633-9536 x 2
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