What not to do in web design
While every web designer would consider themselves a good web designer, there are so many pitfalls facing web designers in Enfield and everywhere. Whether you’re a freelance web designer or gainfully employed either client or agency-side, web design is about balancing beauty with functionality and ensuring that the end goal creates a smooth user experience that will encourage return visits and more traffic. This blog post is about what not to do in web design as a guide for those just starting out.
What’s your type?
When you find a typeface that you like, it’s like the world just fits together. Typefaces can be the difference between slick web design and dodgy. It seems like web designers have gone mad on an Arial and Arial black binge-cycle without the purge. That’s not to say that it shouldn’t ever be used, but discretion is advised.
There are some fantastic typefaces out there that are free to download from a number of sources. Smashing Magazine frequently offers web designers a rundown of the top free typefaces, so there’s no excuse for choosing something like Arial excessively or… Dare I say it… Comic Sans.
Most freelance or professional web designers will probably have felt a shudder as their eyes scanned those two grotesque words and rightly so. Comic Sans has spun out into the world of web design and the digital world like a modern day plague, infecting everything from graphic leaflets to blogs and even emergency services’ signage.
A good typeface can transform a web design from good to great in a matter of minutes.
Background checks
Backgrounds are such a difficult thing to get right for a web designer. Success can mean a cool, professional and sophisticated website that will make people want to use you again and again. Choosing a bad background or designing a bad background can turn all of your hard work into an abomination.
Textures and colours are key. Insanely bright colours will deter a visitor instantly and they will leave a website if they can’t bear to read the text against the background. It has to be a calm and subtle colour; electric green or yellow are out!
Distracting textures on the background will also deter visitors and let down a web design. Add a slight, subtle texture and you’ll create a rich effect on the design.
Flashing your visitors
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: web designers and developers have abused Flash. Flash should never be used to completely design a website. It should be there to enhance, augment and complement a web design, not replace it completely. Use Flash sparingly and you can create astonishing, professional effects; use it too much and you can create a Flash overload that won’t run on a lot of machines and will look excessive to anyone wanting to browse quickly and efficiently through a website.
These are just some of the things to watch out when designing a website. A good web designer will be able to use their discretion to avoid the usual pitfalls that occur when people don’t work to a brief or a clearly laid out architecture. If you’re looking for a simple answer to what not to do in web design, there isn’t a specific one. It’s about using your intuition and instincts and following the brief of the client with the user in mind.
My name is Pete Winter and I’m a web designer and web hosting service provider in Enfield. Contact me for further information or to discuss projects.
Upon entering employment as a Web Designer, I’ve heard all you have to get is a Web Design certificate and that you don’t need a degree in college…I haven’t been to school in about 16 yrs due to having kids, etc…Not sure where to start. Have read books on Web Design and am very sure that that’s what I want to do. Please Help..Thank you in advance.
I do web design right now. In order to pay the IRS their share, what do I need to know? Not many people send me 1099′s, so what am I supposed to do? I want to do this legal, so any advice would be much appreciated.
I am self taught in many aspects of web design and would like to switch careers to this field but do not have a degree and I am thinking about going back to school. A local community college offers an associates degree in web design but will that be enough? What about schools like the Devry or International Academy of Arts and Design? What are employers looking for in this field?
I have a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (concentration General Business) and work in a professional job as a business process analyst. Recently my work has required me to do some web site and Intranet site maintenance and I have found this really enjoyable. I do not care for what I do now and am interested in switching careers to web design or perhaps web development. What schooling, degrees or certifications should I pursue to make a successful jump into this field?
I want to do a web design project where I am making a library of multimedia material. My idea is that when someone is interested in something on the menu, they can click once on the title and then a little box opens up below it with a description. Within the box along with the description is yet another link where they can click to read the item or play the item (if it is an mp3 or video). Then if they click the main link again the little box closes up and they are free to choose another title. I have seen this before but do not know what it is called. Can you help me? Thank you.
I don’t understand the istock link, sorry. I didn’t see any drop down boxes. What did you mean to show me?
I have some experience supporting a large website, but not with the entire design process yet. But I really enjoy doing this type of work and would love to make money doing it. I have most of the software I think I would need (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc), as well as space with a hosting service. I am still working on my personal website and I don’t have much to include for a personal portfolio yet. What would be the best steps to take to really venture out on my own by starting my own web design business and find potential customers? With all of the ‘do it yourself’ templates out now, is there a big demand for this type of work still?
what is the main use of photoshop for web design. it’s not a user friendly application,so i need u to tell me from your own experience when do you use it.
I’d like a book on the principals of web design. I’m not interested in a “how to” book, but one with some generally accepted standards on how a web site should look.
Upon entering employment as a Web Designer, I’ve heard all you have to get is a Web Design certificate and that you don’t need a degree in college…I haven’t been to school in about 16 yrs due to having kids, etc…Not sure where to start. Have read books on Web Design and am very sure that that’s what I want to do. Please Help..Thank you in advance.
I’m aware that this is probably not a great job, but it is what I would like to do. If not both, at least one. I’m just not sure what exactly I need to take, I thought maybe just education but How would that narrow down to web design and graphic design?
I’m aware that this is probably not a great job, but it is what I would like to do. If not both, at least one. I’m just not sure what exactly I need to take, I thought maybe just education but How would that narrow down to web design and graphic design?
what is the main use of photoshop for web design. it’s not a user friendly application,so i need u to tell me from your own experience when do you use it.
I need to learn how to design a web-site. I am planning to start this as a hobby and if all goes well, maybe even start a side job as a web-designer. What type of program should I learn? Is Microsoft FrontPage still good to use or is it no longer up-to-speed with other leading web-designing programs.
What other types of programs are out there that will help me with website design. Do you think Macromedia is a good choice? I know it’s a bit steep in price but I figure if I am to invest the time to learn the ‘difficult’ program, time is money, why be shy on one and not the other.
What about Adobe? Do they have a web-designing software?
Please share your thoughts. I really need the help.
I want to do a web design project where I am making a library of multimedia material. My idea is that when someone is interested in something on the menu, they can click once on the title and then a little box opens up below it with a description. Within the box along with the description is yet another link where they can click to read the item or play the item (if it is an mp3 or video). Then if they click the main link again the little box closes up and they are free to choose another title. I have seen this before but do not know what it is called. Can you help me? Thank you.
I don’t understand the istock link, sorry. I didn’t see any drop down boxes. What did you mean to show me?
I want to do a web design project where I am making a library of multimedia material. My idea is that when someone is interested in something on the menu, they can click once on the title and then a little box opens up below it with a description. Within the box along with the description is yet another link where they can click to read the item or play the item (if it is an mp3 or video). Then if they click the main link again the little box closes up and they are free to choose another title. I have seen this before but do not know what it is called. Can you help me? Thank you.
I don’t understand the istock link, sorry. I didn’t see any drop down boxes. What did you mean to show me?
I’m aware that this is probably not a great job, but it is what I would like to do. If not both, at least one. I’m just not sure what exactly I need to take, I thought maybe just education but How would that narrow down to web design and graphic design?
I have a website idea that I want to get going…
I am currently handling the business end of the website i.e business plan, executive summary, and contacting potential clients.
However I need to find people that could design the actual website.
I am a college grad, so paying for services is not an option…
What would be the best way to find that person?