Are you interested in web design but unsure of where to start?
Although learning about the basics of web design can seem overwhelming when you are at the start of your journey, it doesn’t have to be as challenging as you might first imagine!
Moreover, web design also teaches you about human physiology that you can apply to other aspects of life (which is a fascinating subject in and of itself). In this article, you will learn some of the most exciting things you may not have known about web design and how to implement them into your own designs.
User Experience (UX) Is Vital To How Customers Interact With Your Website
User experience is an essential element of web design that is well-known but is often overlooked for one reason or another.
Many people think of websites as simply being a collection of text and images, but there is so much more to it than that. UX has become increasingly important as it dictates how customers interact with websites. According to Aaron Knight at https://aaronknight.com.au/web-design/sydney, UX not only refers to how people use your site but also how they feel about interacting with it. A good user experience means that visitors to your website will have a positive experience.
The key elements of UX involve things like the site’s navigation, visuals, loading times, layout, and content organization; all play a role in how visitors view your website…and, more importantly, whether or not they choose to stay and undertake a desired action. Consequently, poor UX means lost sales opportunities as customers leave halfway through their browsing journey due to confusion or frustration caused by a bad design. Therefore, creating the right user experiences can be the difference between making or breaking your business’s online presence and is something you should take seriously. A few basic but easy-to-implement UX features include:
- Use a clear and intuitive navigation system
- Optimize page loading times
- Design visuals that are attractive and engaging
- Ensure the layout is easy to read and navigate
- Make sure all content is organized in a logical manner
- Include search functionality on the website for easier access to information
- Utilize white space to make the design more aesthetically pleasing and easier to read/navigate through
- Incorporate feedback forms or surveys to gain insight into user experience and preferences
- Make sure all links are working correctly and lead users where they expect them to go after clicking them
Colors Have A Psychological Effect On Visitors
Designing a website isn’t just about how it looks; it’s also about how it feels for visitors. Although this was eluded to in the previous section, there is another element at play, namely color. Colors have a psychological effect on visitors and can influence their emotions, moods, and even their behaviors. For example, green can give people a feeling of calmness, security, and trustworthiness, which is great if you sell products or services online.
Red can make people more alert and excited, which is handy for energizing them to take action on a particular page. Blue conveys a sense of confidence and dependability, perfect for reassuring customers during the purchase process. By understanding the psychological effect of different colors in your website design, you can create an experience that does more than just look nice: it will evoke emotions in your visitors too!
However, this tip might not be as pertinent for web designers who operate globally, as colors can have different meanings in different cultures. Nonetheless, it’s worth experimenting with color and A/B testing to find out which options work best for your industry.
White Space Helps Guide The User’s Focus
Anyone who lived through the heady days of MySpace can attest to the fact that white space was a welcome introduction into the milieu of design!
White space, or negative space, is a design technique often used in web design to help emphasize specific elements and guide users’ focus of attention.
Compositions are visually broken up by adding white or black space to balance out other details like text, images, and colorful graphics. In the world of web design, white space can draw attention to specific areas, separate particular sections or information blocks, and make it easier to navigate a website.
Essentially, it creates an aesthetically pleasing and less cluttered overall look that makes it easier for users to identify different pieces of information at a glance. By separating individual components with plenty of spacing between them, your website’s content will stand out more and be less overwhelming to viewers.
You Don’t Need To Know How To Code (But It Helps)
When it comes to web design, knowing how to code isn’t a requirement. Many visual tools allow designers to create attractive and efficient websites without knowing how to write a single line of code.
In addition, there are online communities and forums dedicated to helping designers find the answers they need should they experience any issues. However, if you do know programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other markup languages, it’ll make your job much more efficient. It saves time which is something all professionals appreciate since deadlines can often be tight! Additionally, coding can help you bring unique features and ideas to life, giving your projects a distinct edge over competitors who can’t code.
Search Engine Optimization Can Be Enhanced By A Clean And User-Friendly Design
Although the disconnect between website designers and SEOs has become less in the past decade, there is still a tendency among SEOs to promote function over form, while designers do the opposite.
Nevertheless, ensuring your designs incorporate SEO-friendly features is vital to help your or your clients’ sites receive organic traffic.
You Can Guide Actions By Testing What Works And Constantly Updating
When it comes to web design, testing and updating play a crucial role. It’s not enough to just create a website and hope for the best; you must continually test and tweak to get the most out of your design.
By testing different elements of your site, such as headlines, images, text, layout, and placement on the page, you can see what works best for your visitors. This allows you to guide their behavior without them even realizing it. Plus, by constantly tracking user behaviors on your site (using analytic software), you can identify what needs improvement or updating.
Whether you’re a new developer just getting started or a seasoned professional, knowing the interesting facts and nuances in web design is essential to create effective, modern websites. By being aware of these issues and understanding their implications, web developers can drive effective changes to make the web experience easier and more enjoyable for users and developers alike.