WEBWEBDESIGN DESIGN

Define Web Design

Good web design is more than creating pretty pages.

Involves concepts of color theory typography layout , and usability - all part of a good design.

Definition Web Design is a multidisciplinary field,

influenced by: library science graphic design programming networking user interface design usability human computer interaction User experience design psychology

and a host of other fields.

Definition

Web Design influenced by recent fields… Interaction design (IxD), User Experience design (UXD), and User Interface design (UID)

Definition

…multidisciplinary pursuit pertaining to the planning and production of Web sites, including, but not limited to,

technical development information structure, visual design, and networked delivery.

Powerll, T.

Web Design | Components

Web design & development has many components:Visual (graphic) designUser interface and experience design, usabilityWeb document and style sheet production (HTML & CSS)Scripting and programming (JS, jQuery, PHP, JAVA, etc.)Content strategyMultimedia

Define Web Design

At it’s core, design is all about visual communication.

To be an effective designer, you have to be able to clearly communicate your ideas to users or else lose their attention. (Jones, 2011)

DON’T MAKE ME THING

Eliminate questions

Krug’s Thoughts

Truth about the right way to design Web sites…

there is no RIGHT way to design sites.

It’s a complicated process and the right answer to most of the questions people ask is “it depends”

Steve Krug, 2006

Krug’s Thoughts

1. Don’t make me think. If its hard to use, we just don’t use it as

much.

2. A page should be self-evident3. People don’t read - they scan pages4. We satisfice5. Use Conventions

Krug’s Thoughts

Page should be immediately self-evident, purpose must be obvious.

Pages have to work at a glance. Eliminate as many questions as

possible.

Directions say, follow Hillrise

until you get to…

Buy boots?

This is women’s boots

Eliminate as many questions as possible.

Web ID?

How are these items different?

Krug’s Thoughts

People don’t read they scan pages

We design for this...

We think people read like this...so we design for it.

But they probably read like this…

F-Shaped Pattern For Reading Web ContentEyetracking visualizations show that users often read Web pages in an F-shaped pattern: two horizontal stripes followed by a vertical stripe.

(Nielsen)

Source: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html

Krug’s Thoughts

We satisfice – people often don’t make the best, most logical choices – they do what works for them.

How much effort will users put into learning your interface? Not much? They don’t care about your design!

Krug’s Thoughts

Navigation isn’t just a feature of a web site, it is the web site. Without it, there’s no there there.

—Steve Krug

Use Conventions: All web navigation must answer these questions: Where am I? What’s here? Where have I been? Where can I go next? Where's the Home Page? What’s most important?

Proximity to Pull-down suggests search functions in a similar manner

http://www.iit.edu/arch/

Krug’s Thoughts

Use expected conventions – deviating from them can be problematic.

Source: http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/3-information-architecture/4-presenting-information.html

Where users expect to find standard page components

Shaikh & Lenz, 2006

Lynch & Horton, Web Style Guide, http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/6-page-structure/3-site-design.html

IT’S ALSO ABOUT AESTHETICS

Beautiful web design

Aesthetically pleasing objects appear more effective to the user because of their appeal.

Don Norman, Emotional Design

Source: http://thevisualcommunicationguy.com/2013/06/20/design-principle-aesthetic-usability-effect/

Aesthetically pleasing objects appear more effective to the user because of their appeal.

100 Most Beautiful Cars of All Timehttp://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/100-most-beautiful-cars-ever-made.html

Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past 50 Yearshttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1028_50_ugliest_cars_of_past_50_years/7.htm

Aesthetically pleasing objects appear more effective to the user because of their appeal.

Aesthetics play powerful role in shaping how we come to know, feel, respond.

In Defense of Eye Candy by Stephen P. Anderson April 21, 2009 http://alistapart.com/article/indefenseofeyecandy

Aesthetics play powerful role in shaping how we come to know, feel, respond.

In Defense of Eye Candy by Stephen P. Anderson April 21, 2009 http://alistapart.com/article/indefenseofeyecandy

Aesthetics play powerful role in shaping how we come to know and respond.

In Defense of Eye Candy by Stephen P. Anderson April 21, 2009 http://alistapart.com/article/indefenseofeyecandy

This suggest, I’m a box on a

page

This suggest I’m a button –

click me

This suggest, a house

This suggest click to go

home

The aesthetic of this door tells a lot about how to use it.

Aesthetics play powerful role in shaping how we come to know and respond.

The design of the control tells us how to use it

The door affords the act of pushing. We know to push outward by looking at it.

Affordance!

Clues about functionality

It signals where it should be pushed.

The aesthetic of these controls tells a lot about how to use them.

Aesthetics play powerful role in shaping how we come to know and respond.

SITE EXAMPLES | THEN AND NOW

Web Design Of The Year 2000www.topdesignmag.com/web-design-of-the-year-2000/

Web Design Of The Year 2000www.topdesignmag.com/web-design-of-the-year-2000/

Web Design Of The Year 2000www.topdesignmag.com/web-design-of-the-year-2000/

Best of Web Design in 2012webdesignledger.com/inspiration/best-of-web-design-in-2012

Best of Web Design in 2012webdesignledger.com/inspiration/best-of-web-design-in-2012

Best of Web Design in 2012webdesignledger.com/inspiration/best-of-web-design-in-2012

Differences:•Images•Imagery/realism•Typography•Dimension, scale •Color•Texture•Central dominance •Text density

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Useful sites

http://mattkersley.com/responsive/

http://ipadpeek.com/

TRENDS

Trends

Content is king. Interface plays a supporting role. Increased use of Mobile devices

iOS 7 UI never competes with content – supports it.

Trends

Content is king. Interface plays a supporting role.

Increased use of Mobile devices Single page navigation (EX1) (EX2) (EX3)

(EX4) Responsive Web Design RWD becoming

norm (EX1) (EX2)(EX3) Large type | typography | simplicity, legibility

and objectivity – Swiss design style influence Creative navigation (Ex1) (EX2) (50 Creative

Nav Sites)

Examine a variety of designs

http://www.netmagazine.com/features/top-20-css-sites-2012

Zen Garden: http://www.csszengarden.com/

Useful sites on CSS and Design: .net best uses of CSS

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Web Design: Responsive

Examine a variety of designs | CSS

CSS

•CSS3 features: http://tapbots.com/ (Fixed)

•Veerle Pieters: http://veerle.duoh.com/design (Fixed)

Responsive:

•http://www.stuffandnonsense.co.uk/design

•http://www.netmagazine.com/features/top-25-responsive-design-tools

•http://www.awwwards.com/websites/responsive-design/

A FEW DESIGN CONCEPTS

Size and hierarchy – bigger is important and gets attention

Color- schemes (e.g., Greyscale With Bright Accents). Few colors to attract attention, to differentiate important information and elements.

Contrast shows relative important. Dramatic shifts in text-size or color will impart a message that something is different.

Contrast - Color Contrast - Size

Alignment - creates order between elements.

Alignment - creates order between elements.

Information in columns is distinct.

Alignment – use a grid (e.g., 960.gs)

Proximity – objects near to one another are related. Separates elements from each other and creates sub-hierarchies.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Progressive Enhancement

Start with a baseline experience that makes the content or functionality available to most rudimentary browsers or assistive devices.

From there, you layer on more advanced features for the browsers that can handle them.

Working from content out…

Progressive Enhancement

1. Authoring strategyHTML document written in logical order.Elements marked up in a meaningfully – semantic markup.Document is usable on the widest range of devicesClean HTML document with elements accurately and thoroughly described.

Progressive Enhancement

2. CSS Styling strategyCreate layers of experience by taking advantage of the way browsers use style sheet rules.

E.g., Write style rules for enhanced and unenhanced browsers.

Progressive Enhancement

3. Scripting strategyJavaScript scripting language that makes web pages interactive and dynamic.

Make sure basic functionality is intact even when JavaScript is off.

Site Performance

Users expect a site to load in under two seconds, will leave your site for another if it doesn’t (Robbins, 2012).

Tolerable wait times have decreased to just 2 seconds (Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah).

Site Performance

Akamai (2009)47% expect a page to load in 2 seconds or less.40% abandon page if takes more than 3 seconds to load.52% of online shoppers claim quick page loads are important for their loyalty.

http://munchweb.com/effect-of-website-speed

Site Performance: What you can do.

1. Optimize images - small file size without sacrificing quality.

2. Minimize HTML/CSS documents - remove extra characters and line returns.

3. Keep JavaScript to minimum.4. Don’t load unnecessary assets (i.e., images,

JS libraries).5. Reduce HTTP requests - number of times

the browser makes requests of the server.

Assets: http://www.jma.duq.edu/users/gibbsw/pub/a_jma501/