This is where you are:
Building Your Site:
Putting it all together
Reference Library
What EVERY web designer should have on his desk
While every web site is different, there are some guidelines everyone should follow to ensure a minimal level of good design. These basics are not dependent on the quality of your artwork or your skill as an artist. Checking these items off as you complete your pages will ensure you are creating a professional-looking web site that is clean and legible.
Create
a thumbnail (or layout or sketch) of your main pages BEFORE you turn on the
computer.
Maintain
a consistent look throughout your site.
Use
the correct file format--GIFs for solid shapes and simple colors, JPEGs for
photographs or things with shading.
Keep
the image sizes small--compress, compress, compress.
Reuse
images to save the user time.
Don't
scale images in HTML.
Use
animated GIFs only when necessary.
DON'T
have things blink!
Design
with a grid in mind. Create the most simple table possible.
The
background should be light (white) and copy should be dark (black) subtle
doesn't work and is hard on the eyes.
Use
the default link colors (or shades in the same family).
Every
page should have a title, the company logo (which should link back to the
home page, an e-mail link and the web address.
Every
page should have validity--author name, company name, copyright information,
privacy statement (if gathering info) and a revision date.
Don't
design web sites for only one browser, platform, or plug-in.
Don't
say "This site designed for..." The site is designed for your user--whatever
platform or browser he is using.
Avoid
excessive graphics, navigation, banners and other distractions that unnecessary
and annoying.
Use
the <ALT> tag
to describe images on a site.
Name
nonessential graphical element " " (a spacebar press in the ALT
window in Dreamweaver) so screen readers will skip reading them.
Style
Sheets: Use them. Because they are good and because you should (and they make
your life 1000 times easier.
Don't
have any links that say "click here".
Keep
you pages short if material is designed to be read online.
Keep
your pages narrow (no wider than 535 pixels) for material that may be printed.
Keep
your most important information "above the fold" (in the first 295
pixels).
Proofread
and spell-check every page.
Keep
pages under 34K (this page is 21K)
© Copyright 2003 | Something Graphic | 20 November, 2003
Contact me:learn@CognitiveHorizons.com
