10 ways to improve your website's design
TRANSCRIPT
3. Choose Images Wisely
1. Learn Design Principles & Elements
2. Refine Typography
4. Edit Content
5. Link Intuitively
6. Embrace CSS3
7. Consider White Space
8. Be Responsive
9. Remember Form Follows Function
10. Keep it Classic
LEARN DESIGN PRINCIPLES & ELEMENTS
1
The elements of design are the fundamental building blocks of art.
Wikipedia: Design Elements & Principles
DESIGN ELEMENTS• Line • Shape/Volume • Texture • Illusion of
Space • Illusion of
Motion • Value • Color
Design Basics, David A. Lauer & Stephen Pentak
The principles of design describe how the elements of design come together
to create a design.
Wikipedia: Design Elements & Principles
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
• Unity • Emphasis/Focal
Point • Scale/Proportion • Balance • Rhythm
Design Basics, David A. Lauer & Stephen Pentak
drupal.org
GRID SYSTEM
drupal.org (grid produced by 960 Gridder)
GRID SYSTEM
drupal.org
GRID SYSTEM
thegreatdiscontent.com (style sheet)
CSS GRID
apple.com
Illusion of space and breaking of the grid
Selective color usage
Clear hierarchy
Good balance
MINIMAL DESIGN EXAMPLE
redtiki.com.au
Illusion of space and breaking of the grid
Selective color usage
Clear hierarchy
Good balance
SATURATED DESIGN EXAMPLE
REFINE TYPOGRAPHY
2
www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1288
WEB TYPOGRAPHY ADVICE
Good typography is invisible. Don’t make me think about how to
read, just let me read.
Jason Santa Maria, An Event Apart Presentation
www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1288
WEB TYPOGRAPHY ADVICE
There are no rules in typography, only guidelines and best practices.
Jason Santa Maria, An Event Apart Presentation
www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1288
WEB TYPOGRAPHY ADVICE
Bigger is better. Always err on the side of making
things bigger rather than smaller.
Jason Santa Maria, An Event Apart Presentation
www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1288
KEEP THIS IN MIND
Typography is hard. There are tons of fonts out there and
people go to school to study it.
Jason Santa Maria, An Event Apart Presentation
typekit.com
FONT OPTIONS
robedwards.org
Consider your style. Then make sure your type
choices conform.
FONT CIRCUS
fusionbundle.com
Fits illustrative style
Restricted to “headers”
Upper and lower case offers variation
DISPLAY FONTS
corporateriskwatch.com
Balance of two typefaces (serif & sans serif)
creates further visual interest and depth
Dramatic scale variation gives page energy and hierarchy
ELEGANT TYPEElegance through Subtlety
Use of italic sets apart navigation
WEB TYPOGRAPHY ADVICE
If nothing else... Consider scanability and readability.
socialwork.illinois.edu
READABILITY
Serif fonts are difficult to scan and read in large doses
Serif fonts work well in headers and pullouts
business.illinois.edu
READABILITY
Too much bold text, or a heavy font can
weigh the page down and look daunting
Weight matters
engineering.illinois.edu
READABILITY
Small type and long line lengths are difficult to read
Wide leading and thin paragraph spacing blends all the page text together
alistapart.com
READABILITY
Optimal line lengths
Good spacing between headers and paragraphs
Nice weight variation between headers and paragraphs
cnn.com
READABILITY
Optimal line lengths
Good paragraph spacing
CHOOSE IMAGES WISELY
3
A photo is an image. An image isn’t necessarily a photo.
There is no need to use generic images. Content naturally produces relevant images.
markhobbs.net
Info graphics such as charts, graphs, & tables
can add color & lines to your page
Headers can serve as graphics to bring visual
interest to a page
HEADERS & INFO GRAPHICS
apple.com
Icons can establish visual identities
Icons can act as visual entry points into your
content
ICONS
blog.squarespace.com
Who needs a photo? Type alone can draw
your eye in
Large scale type can quickly bring visual
interest to your page
TYPE AS IMAGE
futureofwebdesign.com
Buttons often benefit from extra visual
emphasis
Navigation can easily act as image
NAVIGATION & BUTTONS
dance.illinois.edu
Always produce the smallest file size
possible, however large your image
FILE SIZE MATTERS
CROP & EDIT
ORIGINAL VERSION
CROP & EDIT
EDITED VERSION
CROP & EDIT
Crop out unnecessary areas
EDITED VERSION
ORIGINAL VERSION
Enhance color
Provide a finishing touch (such as a vignette)
You don’t need to replace ‘so-so’ photos;
Simply tweak them
EDIT CONTENT
4
People seek your content, not your design.
Design is what you do with your content. The two should be one.
Edit. Don’t settle for ‘first-draft’ content.
jasonsantamaria.com
A lead should be brief and highlight the main
point of the page
A good lead will bring readers into your content
PROVIDE A LEAD
thebolditalic.com
A sub-header should expand a good title,
providing more context
A lead and sub-header can work together
USE A SUB-HEADER
bbc.com
Related links make good pullout material
Additional related content can break-up a
predictable flow
CREATE PULLOUTS
smashingmagazine.com
Block quotes are a great way to add visual interest
Block quotes give readers easy entry into the middle
of your content
STYLE BLOCK QUOTES
smashingmagazine.com
Lists are optimal for good scanability
Headers break up your content and help readers
scan quickly
HEADERS, LISTS, & PARAGRAPHS
Short paragraphs make your content more
approachable
hanzell.com
Is there a video or image that compliments
your text?
Block quotes can function as their own elements
VARIETY IS KEY
Even paragraphs can have different styles, depending
on their function
LINK INTUITIVELY
5
Every link is an opportunity. Links can enhance your design.
Write links like you would write a heading.
Tips for Writing Great Links, gerrymcgovern.com
media.illinois.edu
URLs are not reader friendly or easy to scan
Links should specify what they will provide the reader
READABILITY & SCANABILITY
media.illinois.edu
Emails, like URLs, are not reader friendly or
easy to scan
Limit links to 8 words or less to improve scanability
READABILITY & SCANABILITY
housing.illinois.edu
Is this a link? Headers and links should not be
treated the same, if headers aren’t links
COLOR & UNDERLINE
foodsense.is
Is this a link? No mistaking what’s a link
on this page
COLOR & UNDERLINE
mozilla.org & sylion.com
Buttons can be significant design elements
CALL TO ACTION
barackobama.com
Links mean action Why hide them?
CALL TO ACTION
apple.com
Images demand attention Every image on this
page is a link
USE IMAGES
waterworks.com
Links introduce interaction Symbols can provide
necessary clues to users
NAVIGATION & INTERACTION
EMBRACE CSS3
6
Visual effects that were dependent on images and overcomplicated HTML are
now possible through CSS.
admissions.illinois.edu
Columns are great for short lists and small sections of text
COLUMNS
COLUMN CODE
.column2 {column-count: 2;column-gap: 20px;
}
<div class=”column2”><ul><li>Item 1</li><li>Item 2</li>
</ul></div>
HTMLCSS
admissions.illinois.edu
Old browsers show a single column
COLUMNS
admissions.illinois.edu
SHADOWS, GRADIENTS, & CORNERS
Gradients help set items apart and add depth
Rounded corners help soften a design
Shadows on text and boxes add depth
h1 {text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #333;
}
div {box-shadow: 3px 3px 5px #333;border-radius: 3px;
}
CSS Gradient Generator: www.colorzilla.com/gradient-editor/
SHADOWS, GRADIENTS, & CORNERS
SAMPLE CSS
admissions.illinois.edu
Old browsers show a flatter design
SHADOWS, GRADIENTS, & CORNERS
midwinter-dg.com
CSS3 TYPE EFFECTS
CONSIDER WHITE SPACE
7
White space is breathing room. Blank space is awkward.
spurlock.illinois.edu
Is something missing? Blank space is noticeable and looks like a mistake
BLANK SPACE
fellswoop.com
Breath. White space is simply
negative space and goes unnoticed when used well
WHITE SPACE
hanzell.com
Room to operate White space gives elements
margins for style
WHITE SPACE
BE RESPONSIVE
8
Big screens, small screens, whatever. Responsive web design uses layouts
that adapt to the viewing environment.
@media only screen and {min-width: 1024px} and {max-width: 1140x} {
p {font-size: .875em;
}}
RESPONSIVE MEDIA QUERY
SAMPLE CSS
Options galore This code will change the font size of paragraphs when the screen size is
between 1140px and 1024px
thegreatdiscontent.comLarge computer screen
RESPONSIVE EXAMPLE
thegreatdiscontent.comSmall computer screen
RESPONSIVE EXAMPLE
thegreatdiscontent.comiPhone screen
RESPONSIVE EXAMPLE
thegreatdiscontent.com
RESPONSIVE EXAMPLE
smashingmagazine.com
RESPONSIVE EXAMPLE 2
smashingmagazine.com
1 2
3 4
smashingmagazine.com
5 6 7
thegreatdiscontent.com
REMEMBER FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
9
Design has real purpose. It isn’t about making something look good. It’s about making content accessible and
leaving an impression.
amazon.com
Drop shadow to draw attention to the menu
DESIGN = SELL
Featured item front and center so you
will want it
Lots of tems you want, featured with
thumbnails
Large search bar so you can find your items fast
google.com
“I’m Feeling Lucky” button sets fun tone while assisting you with
searching
DESIGN = SEARCH
Iconic branding brings visual attention to the
search area
Discreet menus to prevent distraction
from searching
No distractions to keep you from searching
colly.com
DESIGN = BROWSE
usatoday.com
DESIGN = READ
vimeo.com
DESIGN = WATCH
arias.ca
DESIGN = LOOK
KEEP IT CLASSIC
10
Less is more. Keep it simple.
apple.com
mcsweeneys.net
designingmonsters.com
SWELL! Any questions?