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Logos: Logos are very important in corporate world. There are numerous examples of companies that can be identified all over the world from their logos. Everybody knows Nike logos, same for Apple and Windows. On a website, a logo should be placed so that they receive maximum attention.
Spacing: Music is not just sound but the time between the sounds. Similarly, white space on a web page is very important. White space highlights the logo and content.
Colors: Colors play important role in making a site attractive. Specify primary and secondary colors and when and where to use them.
Fonts: A website needs to be readable. The size, type, spacing, color and line height of the texts are crucial and any one elements can make or mar the site. Headings, sub heading and content should be different to make the site more user friendly.
Layout: A neat effective layout which conveys the website’s message effectively is what is required. Over the top designs may frustrate a user.
Copy writing: the website content should be simple, error free and consistent.
Icons: Another way to promote consistency on the site is by defining the use of icons and correct spacing between them.
Navigation: Perhaps the most important aspect of a website that can attract or drive away readers. The menu should be in such a way user is able to navigate easily without getting lots in maze or not been able to find the relevant content.
In earlier days of internet i.e. pre broadband days, website response issue was avery important factor. It was so critical that the websites were designed keeping response time in mind. It was recommended to keep images small and have as little flash as possible. But those days are long over gone.
But users even now CARE about website’s response time. Users even more fret about the sites been too slow. And website response time is very critical because of 2 reasons
a) Human limitations : Human memory and attention is fickle. Humans don’t perform well if they have to wait and suffer the inevitable decay of information stored in short-term memory.
b) Human aspirations: Humans like to feel in control and not wait endlessly for website to load. Companies which make us wait instead of providing responsive service are perceived as arrogant or incompetent.
Google has made its browser chrome more accessible for disabled people specially color blind people. ChromeVis, which was designed to improve the visibility of text, is the main attraction in the new “Accessibility” group. Engineer Rachel Shearer explains in the video on how it offers all sorts of thoughtful touches that go beyond basic magnification.
Users will also find extensions like Chrome Daltonize that can help color blind users to see more details in web pages or gleeBox that provides alternatives to actions traditionally performed via the mouse such as clicking, scrolling and selecting text fields. The code behind ChromeVis is open to encourage more developers to incorporate best practices in accessibility when designing extensions.
A website’s looks though vital is not the make or break factor in a site’s success. Many website designers fret and fume over a website design and give it more importance at the cost of other important factors.
2. Usability is Vital
A site which is easier to access and use for a site visitor will be much more successful than a fancy site that is difficult to navigate and use. Does a website for photographer effectively showcase his profile? Is the ecommerce website easy to navigate and allows ease of shopping? Make sure information is available. Equally important is information accessibility. A user should not have to look hard finding the information.
The site should be easily navigable with standard navigation system. The navigation system should be usable to all. Avoid using JavaScript or flash for entire navigation system or even if you have to then also provide alternative navigation system.
3. Search Engine Visibility
Search Engines are a major source of site traffic and hence search engine friendliness is of paramount importance. Search engines use spiders to index web pages. A site that uses JavaScript or flash based menu system may provide obstacle to spiders. Provide sitemaps both xml and html for increased search engine friendliness.
Continuing on the post made last week.
List of another 5 websites essential for anybody interested in User Interface Design
6) www.usabilitycounts.com – User Experience, Usability, Information Architecture, Design, Usabilty, Usablity, Social Media, Social Networking
7) www.usableweb.com – Usable Web is a collection of 786 links and accompanying information about human factors, user interface issues, and usable design specific to the World Wide Web
8 ) www.uie.com – A research, training and consulting firm that holds the annual User Interface Conference. The Articles section of their website hosts plenty of articles on the topic of User Interface design.
9) www.lukew.com/ff – Provides resources for digital product design and strategy including presentations, workshops, articles, books and more on Web design, usability, interaction design and visual design.
10) www.useit.com – Research findings from many usability studies from 1994-2010. Regular Alertbox column + Web design guidelines. Conferences and training events.