Before
you add snazzy new features to your existing web site, make sure
it possesses all the fundamentals. A well designed web site should
have easy-to-read typefaces, practical navigation tools, and small
easy-to-load graphics. You also should have it optimized for use
in multiple browsers. The following tech tips may lead you to
the successful completion of user-friendly web sites.
Set
Parameters
Before starting the design of your web site, you need to decide
on the technology that you want to implement. Set parameters that
define the browsers and operating systems you want to support,
the plug-ins that will be required for viewing data, as well as
the multimedia formats you plan to incorporate into the site.
Think of these parameters as technology guidelines that will determine
the construction feasibility and browser-friendliness of your
site.
The
Three-Click Rule
A visitor should find information they're seeking in three mouse
clicks from your site's home page. If they can't, they will have
the tendency to look elsewhere.
Monitor
Screen Size
Results of recent research I conducted on completed web projects
revealed that 95% of visitors use screen resolutions of 800 x
600 pixels or more. In light of this finding, I design sites for
this monitor size to avoid horizontal scrolling. Deeper into the
site, pages can be longer because visitors are much closer to
the information they're seeking.
Good
Navigation is a Must
Navigation links must be clearly defined and consistently located
from one page to the next. Don't bury or clutter your links. Additionally,
don't use mouse rollovers that display text without also including
this information on the page. When the purpose of a link isn't
immediately obvious, most visitors won't waste time figuring it
out.
Use
Color for Punch
Using bright colors on subdued background or vice-versa result
in pages jumping out at visitors. However, care must also be taken
because using too many colors could easily reduce the importance
of the site's subject matter. Decide on a color scheme that you
believe is most appropriate for your intended audience and stick
with it throughout your site's entirety.
Look
For Combinations
Using the default typefaces of Times New Roman and Arial isn't
as limiting as you might think when you look at other possibilities.
You can do the following:
- Change
and mix type sizes. You have five realistic type sizes you can
use.
- Use Underline,
Bold, and Italic type attributes appropriately.
- Use different
colors for headings, subheads, and body copy appropriately.
- Put headlines
in a one-row, one-column table, make the table background one
color, and then use white or a readable contrasting color for
your tests.
Put
Crucial Fonts in Graphic Files
Sometimes, an organization's logo isn't a picture-like icon but
a typographical design. It's important that these designs remain
proportionately true. Even if you're using fonts that are typically
available, you'd rather not take the What You See Isn't Necessarily
What You Get gamble. The same applies to banners - You could
take the one-row, one-column table approach, but if the banner
is prominent enough on a page, do you really want to risk it?
Similarly, the labeled navigation buttons and links at the top
of pages or in the left margin are integral parts of a Web interface
and your site depends upon them.
To
avoid disaster, I recommend creating GIF (Graphics Interface Format)
files for logos, buttons, banners, and specially headlines of
simple design and colors. If these elements use colors or photo-style
graphics, then create them as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts
Group) files to ensure that elements that are important to your
company's image and/or its site's design display true. This allows
you to use any typeface, any color, and any type size without
reservation.
Graphics
Compression
For graphics, compression comes in the form of the GIF and JPEG
file formats. These type of graphics once properly compressed
load quickly, which is sure to please the low-bandwidth portion
of your intended audience. Plus, because these files are smaller,
you can fit more of them on your site, which gives you more freedom
as a designer.
Rigorous
Testing Processes
Implementation of a testing program should include loading your
site on all versions of Internet Explorer, Netscape, AOL, Opera,
as well as WebTV (if applicable). Even though the viewer's browser
may load the page incorrectly, it is still your responsibility
to check it. Additionally, testing the site on a PC and Macintosh
systems is highly recommended.
Keep
the Site Fresh
A rotating display of images on the home page ensures a different
one is featured each time a visitor visits the site - making it
appear fresh on returned visits. These features can be achieved
with the proper implementation of JavaScript or CGI scripts.
Follow
the Lead of the W3C
The World
Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is an independent organization
that was founded in 1994 with the purpose of developing common
technology standards for the Web. Browser developers take these
standards seriously and so should any web designer. The Consortium's
home page at http://www.w3c.org
contains information that are written with a technical reader
in mind. However, novices can easily get the main idea by reading
the abstracts which are near the top of each article.
