Do's and Don'ts of site design?

[labrynth_of_fire]

What are they?

[andyholt]

Hi
I have written some tips you can find at
http://www.webdevtips.com/webdevtips...per/tips.shtml
http://www.webdevtips.com/webdevtips...wbiehelp.shtml
http://www.webdevtips.com/webdevtips...per/ante.shtml

Hope that's the sort of stuff you are after

Andy

[SyrenSong]

Just check at the top of the Site Review forum for Design tips for new web designers to get started.

From there, continue to the Design Peeves and Solutions forum. ;)

Lots of folks have lots of opinions on these topics.

Interested in making your site accessible and/or usable for the greatest majority? Take a look at Asseccibility & Usability for some really good suggestions and how to implement them.

Okay. Maybe I'm oversimplifying things a bit, but there really are an awful of things to take into consideration to answer such a broad question as yours, labrynth_of_fire.

There are many things that need to be taken into consideration when designing a website.

Some of them are simple, like not using extremely large fonts (visitors will think your yelling at 'em all the time); or clashing colors (red text on a blue background is hard to read); or even monitor resolution (most folks currently use a resolution of 800x600, but some designers design sites for much larger screens).

There's also a big question regarding the purpose of the site and who it's visitors will be. You simply don't design a website the same way for older visitors as you would for younger visitors -- especially young children.

The purpose of the site has a great deal of impact on what's appropriate and what's inappropriate.

[matauri]

For tips on planning your site & what to avoid...
Site Design For New Business Owners


Cindy

[carju1]

WTG Cindy,

They published you (I didn't know WPN had its own Aus version). Nice article full of the common sense most designers tend to throw out when they start a site. I'll have an indepth study of it tomorrow as I'm sure they'll be a least one point we can discuss further :)

Julian

[matauri]

Why thank you Julian ! Nicest thing you've said to me all day ! ;-)
(Professor indeed ! )

:-)

Cindy

[mikmik]

That's pretty good, mat!

Keep 'em coming, we hope!

Design tips for neewbies? (Besides check spelling..)
Just start doing things, take it one at a time. I would see a dropdown menu, for instance, then find out how to make one. I then became more aware of how other sites had them, different styles and the like. I was then tuned into feedback about them on site reviews, and after a week, I had a pretty good idea what they're apprpriate for, placement, and all that.
I found that focussing on single area's at a time stopped me from getting to overwhelmed, but before long, I knew some good stuff!
There is just to much to learn, everyone is always learning, so keep it fun.
I started with formatting text and background colors, then images, layout (tables0, linking, etc . You have a good attitude, it will happen!
I'm not saying my way is right for anybody but me, it is just how I did it - learn something, then learn it right!
Keep asking questions, my man!! And post answers when you can, too!

Always include a bgcolor (o;

[minstrel]

Nice going, Cin...

Now I can say I know a famous Aussie author who danced with Elton John before he realized he was gay!

:-)

[minstrel]

Now back to the original question about do's and don't's, it's always worth remembering Jim Rome's advice:

Have a take... don't suck.

[carju1]

Darn it Cindy, I've re-read your WPN-AUSarticle and there is nothing I can really get my teeth into to disagree with :( - Take that as a compliment on a well thought out article.

Best I can manage is a few nit picks and additional comments on visual appearence.

1. Quote - "Use text colors that complement your background color or image" - Addition: however unless there is good reason like a corporate colour scheme, black text on a white background is still the best option as its the esiest to read.
5. Quote - "If you must use music on your page..." - Addition: Unless you have written/performed the music remember you may well need a lisense and should pay royalties to have music on a commercial site.
8. Addition - Never lie on a web site. Trading standards can take you to court if you claim to be a member of XYZ guild when you aren't and remember the laws of liable/slander apply just as much to your private website as they do to the New York Times.

Julian