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Good Web Design Approaches - Web Pages and Websites

Introduction to Web Design Approaches

In My Personal Journey I outlined my belief that many web sites are "over designed". I stated they used too many gimmicks, had too much color and generally overwhelmed the viewer. Good web design is relatively easy to achieve.

A web site or page is badly designed if it is difficult to read, has too many distractions and takes too long to download.

The web provides a wide range of material on web design issues.

For example, select: and hundreds of potential sites will be returned. In January 2002, this search returned over 800,000 items. In January 2003, the same search yielded over 1,200,000 references. In July 2004, the same search returned over 3,600,000 references. In December 2006, it returned over 36 million references!(This will open a new page. Please close it to return to this point.)

As you can see, there are literally hundreds of web resources on the web design topic. And this search specifies a number of relevant key words, thus limiting the potential "matches".

Web Design Principles - Web Pages and Websites

Good design applies to both individual web pages and websites as a whole.

I have selected a range of sites which I believe provide a good overview of the many key features of web design. Please feel free to browse some of the excellent links that each site provides.

The following references provide general advice:

Site Design Issues - a range of articles on site design, site promotion and specific design related issues. The specific specialist topics are very useful. (This opens a new window. Please close it to return to this point.)

Site Design - Usability - concentrating on useability issues. It is chapter 4 of a book Designing Web Usability. (This opens a new window. Please close it to return to this point.)

Web Site Design and Layout Tips - a comprehensive listing of links to relevant articles. A brief description is provided for each link. (This opens a new window. Please close it to return to this point.)

What makes a good web site? - a description of the key factors in web design. (This opens a new window. Please close it to return to this point.)

This section should have given you a good overview of web design issues. The next two sections focus on specific issues: search engines and the use of frames.

Search Engines

When you upload your site to your host server, it does not automatically become listed in all the search engines. It may be found by their "spider" programs which they run every now and then. To be found, another site which has already been listed, must "link" to your page.

Alternatively, you can advise them of your site's existence through a "submit site" page.

You increase your chance of being indexed, and therefore coming up with a high ranking in searches (like the Google search in the previous section), if you follow some important rules.

Most people using the search engines only look at the first or second SERP (Search Engine Results Page). Unless they change the default setting (I use 50 results per page on Google) that means a maximum of 20 links.

So of the over one million links listed in that Google search, only 20 will be examined by most searchers

If being selected by major search engines is an important issue for your site, see: Search Engine Optimization Tips - specific design hints that improve your search engine suitability.

See also: Website traffic analysis statistics programs that track site traffic are explained.

If you want to develop your ability to maximise your placement in search engine listings, I may be able to provide assistance - see: Search Engine Optimisation Consulting Offer.

Guide to Using Frames - Advantages and Disadvantages

Frames and tables were explained in: Learning HTML and Other Programming Languages.

I included them in my original web site design. More importantly, I retained them in the revised site design on both occaisions. If you read the majority of web experts on the web, I should not be using frames.

What is a "framed site"?

As you read this page, it should have three columns. If it doesn't, select: three column display and select "Design approaches" in the left hand column to return to this page.

Each page comprises three columns, but only two frames.

Why did I make it so complicated?

My web design minimises "scrolling" (moving the page display up and down). This is done because the left (framed) column is always static i.e. it does not move. There are also other navigation techniques, see: Navigation.

For more information about the use of frames on this web site, see: Derek's decision to use frames - advantages and disadvantages..

I believe it is better to use frames. I will continue to do so until I am convinced otherwise.

Web Design Summary - Good Features

To reach this point, you have explored a wide range of internet advice and information.

To summarise, the key elements of good web design from a user viewpoint are:

- pages load quickly and provide something to read almost instantly;

- pages are well laid out and easy to assess i.e. work out what they are about;

- pages are static i.e. they do not jump about as images load;

- pages are "search engine friendly";

- pages are easy to navigate so that you can find what you want;

- and most importantly, the content is useful and worthwhile.

From a webmaster viewpoint, good design covers: site stability, ease of maintenance, flexibility, separation of presentation elements from content, etc.

What did I do to achieve good design? See: Derek's Web Design - information that may be of use to you.

Once you finalise your thoughts on the design, then development proceeds. This involves finalising the design, developing key templates, coding, testing and refining.

What's next?

This page is part of a comprehensive e-journey about web design and re-design. If you do not see the colored contents section on the left of this page, select: Web Design/Re-design Course to gain an overview.

If you now wish to reconsider hosting issues, please select: Service Provider and Hosting Issues

If you now wish to review your HTML, etc., select: Learning HTML and Other Programming Languages

Alternatively, if you are now ready to proceed with your web development, see: Web Development Processes

To return to the index of this E-journey, see: Web Design and Construction - Road Map

To return to the Derek Stockley Home Page: Derek Stockley Home Page