The Basics of Good Web Design

A well-designed website fulfills the needs of both the user and site owner. If a particular website sells cute shoes, the objective of the user is to find and buy cute shoes, and the objective of the site owner is to sell such shoes to the user. There are many factors that contribute to both parties achieving their goal (in this case, the buying and selling of shoes), but the design of the website itself plays a huge part in facilitating this process. Web design agencies like Zgraph ensure that the basic principles of web design are met so that the site achieves both goals. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering the design efficacy of a certain website.

In Web Design, Simplicity Comes First

In web design (and design in general), simplicity is always better. A simple website is easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to navigate. Even if the shoes in the above example are exactly what the user is looking for, if the user is unable to easily find and pay for the shoes, neither party achieves their goal. Website owners should factor simplicity into almost every aspect of the website; logo, images, font, and navigation. A general rule of thumb is that the user should be able to get to any page of the site with just one click. This is easiest achieved with simple, comprehensive menu bars. The key is to avoid cluttered-looking pages; on every page, the user should immediately know what the focus of the page is without distraction.

Mobile Compatibility

In the last quarter of 2019, 61% percent of Google searches were made on mobile phones. The numbers were 49% for Yahoo U.S. traffic and 58% for DuckDuckGo. Since 2017, mobile traffic has accounted for nearly half of the general online traffic. A website that is not designed to be compatible with mobile devices is going to lose a lot of traffic because the design of the site isn’t suitable for phones. Many users would rather find a different company or site to meet their needs than try to navigate websites that aren’t mobile-friendly. This also applies to other non-desktop or laptop devices that access the internet, like tablets. Optimizing the web design for desktop, tablet, and mobile phone users will help retain traffic and engagement – which, in turn, helps both the user and the site owner reach their goals.

Web design is one of the spaces where bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. Website and business owners should find a web designer that understands what the customer or user wants from the site and what the owner wants from the customer, and then facilitate that transaction in the most aesthetic way possible. That way, everyone gets what they need out of the site (and happy customers can go on to recommend the site to friends and family!)

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