Key tips for a worthwhile web design to help websites stand out

A lot of things are put into making a very good website. It is not just about a beautiful color scheme and a lot of bright graphics. The best website design rules and principles also keep user experience (UX) in deep consideration to ensure the website is successful.

This post will help professionals in the world of web design understand the key principles that can help lay the foundations for a worthwhile and exceptional web design. Most digital agencies have web design and development teams that have been following and implementing these principles for quite some time.

Keeping the design simple

One of the most important things to remember in web design is keeping things simple. No one would like to overload visitors with excessive graphics, information or both. When web pages are being made, working with a basic layout and using easy to read fonts is a good tactic. No one should use more than three colors and the overall design should be clean and smooth.

Apple Inc. got it right b y keeping their website’s design as clean and simple as possible. They use one main color (white) with a few accents of other relevant colors (gray and silver). This helps in maintaining focus on the company and its portfolio.

User friendly navigation system

Another important aspect of web design is navigation. Everyone wants to make it easy for a website’s visitors to find their way around the site. There should be a clear and visible hierarchy to the web pages and a consistent navigation bar on each page. Drop down menus should be sparingly used as they can confuse users. Breadcrumb trails are key to help visitors track their location on the site.

It is also important to make web design as responsive as possible. 80% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. This is why a hamburger menu should be deployed so it becomes easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere on the page.

Using high quality graphics

One of the best ways to make a website look really good is usage of high-quality graphics. No one needs to hire a professional designer because there are numerous websites that offer free graphics for websites. Some however are paid. All that needs to be done here is that graphics that match the overall theme of the site should be selected.

However, web designers must avoid using a wide array of fonts and colors. Not only will they visually overwhelm the user but also will make the website look worse than a color repository. This is where Nike got it right. A consistent color palette with clear and bold fonts helped in creating a website which is both appealing and user friendly.

Making a consistent design

Those who wish their website to look as sophisticated and professional as possible must have a consistent design. It means utilizing the same colors, styles and fonts throughout the entire website. Why? Because it helps create a cohesive look and feel that does not overwhelm the senses.

Also, each web page should be well-organized so visitors can easily find what they are looking for with relevant ease. Using the same font, color scheme and style throughout the website gives it a polished and professional look.

A brand manual can help web designers and developers keep track of the branding element. It is a key document which according to experts from a web design agency has all the needed colors, fonts and styles to be used on a website. It is however also important that this manual be regularly updated with time.

In this regard, Google has been quite successful. Its website is a clear and shining example of the power consistency has in web design. A limited color palette with bold typefaces for ease in readability led to a simple yet effective design helping users find what they need, and giving the company a crisp image on their own website.

Utilization of White Space

Also known as negative space, White space is the empty space present around a web page’s elements. It is key to use them as they help in breaking and segregating content which thus makes it readable and viewable. However, excessive whitespace makes a web page look incomplete. Thus, striking a balance is necessary.

However, white space does not necessarily mean white color. It basically refers to any and all empty areas on a web page. Using plenty of it helps the overall web design look sophisticated, clean and crisp.

Using authentic images and videos of good quality

The website can have videos and images. They are a great way of engaging visitors as chunks of text are no longer viable. However, the images and videos to be used should be of high quality, and should be authentic too. They need to be formatted properly for use on the web. 

Moreover, adding the needed descriptions and captions can help website visitors understand what they are looking for. Images and videos are instrumental in helping people stay on a website for a longer period of time. They also help make websites look more interesting. 

This is the very reason Starbucks has a website which is visually pleasing and each image & video present has descriptions which are clearly and easily understandable, thus helping visitors find what they are looking for.

Conclusion

Time and time again these key tips sound like a broken record, but industry experts and professionals often cite these tips not as reminders but also they are helpful in keeping websites clean, user friendly, crisp and professional.