1. Image Use
What is the first thing you notice about a website? Is it the color palette, the images, or the fact that it appears cobbled together? What you want your website to represent is professionalism. You want visuals that set you apart from the competition and make customers feel good about connecting with your brand.
2. The Importance of Typography
How crucial is typography in web design? The reality is that if there were no standards dictating which typeface looked best with which font size, we would be unable to read anything on our websites at all! Without size, color, and even kerning (letter spacing) guidelines, your website would look like a jumble of text that the reader must concentrate on in order to grasp what is being stated.
3. The Importance of Contrasting Colors
Contrast is the difference between two colors, therefore it is critical to utilize high-contrast color combinations for optimal reading. If you use black text on a colored backdrop, make sure there is enough contrast between the text color and the background color so that people can read without straining their eyes. Furthermore, contrasting colors are effective because they create visual attention by giving variances between each hue utilized, enhancing attractiveness when contrasted to similar or monochromatic designs.
4. Use a Consistent Layout
Throwing graphics and text about haphazardly on a website can only lead to confusion, not clarity. You want customers to be able to browse your website easily, so stick to a consistent layout. Whether you utilize columns or frames, lay out your design first and then write your content accordingly.
5. Use Caution When Choosing Fonts
While choosing a serif font over a sans-serif font may indicate that one is more legible than the other, there are many more aspects to consider when selecting typefaces for your website. Examine if the typeface can convey meaning on its own (for example, Times New Roman versus Helvetica), and select an acceptable size based on how prominent the words are within your design. Is your font too tiny or too large? It should be simple to read, but not so enormous that it dominates the design.