Most web sites suck, even ones created by experienced and highly-paid web designers. They're either hard to navigate, confusing, cryptic, badly organised, badly written, stupid, obscure, rude, over-designed, under-designed, or simply don't give us what we want.

Too often we are left feeling either stupid, let down, frustrated, or angry. This situation is not okay any more.

These articles look at the web browsing experience (See: How people use web pages, People are impatient; No-one looks at the screen; Scanning, Other online factors).

Web design is a complex discipline, and there is a tension between designing for beauty and designing for function. However, you can make web sites both pleasurable and functional, appealing and usable. In fact, this should be your goal as a designer. (See: Web sites and buildings, Sphere of Design; Using your Ink)

Basics also include ways of approaching web design that help us create better sites. See: Conventions; Don't decorate, communicate!, Simplicity).

Process of creating web pages

How to make a web site
The absolute basic mechanics of how you go about making web pages and publishing them on the web.
Introduction to Search Engine Optimisation
A guide to the minimum that every web designer, producer, coder, or site owner should know about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

Understanding web site design

No-one looks at the screen
Why no-one wants to look at the screen
Scanning - Why web users scan and what designers can do to help
Scanning - Why web users scan and what designers can do to help
Content
Design is all about content. Content is the designer's problem.
How people use web pages
How people really use web pages is different from the way designers think they do
People are impatient
Why we are impatient when using the web, and what designers can do to improve things
Other factors affecting the web browsing experience
Other factors affecting the web browsing experience
The Brain's strengths
Understanding what the human brain has evolved to do helps designers create better web pages

Principles of good web page design

Simplicity in web design
The principle of Simplicity in web design
Trusting the user
Why it's important to trust users when designing web sites and applications
Don't Decorate, Communicate!
Focus on the message you're communicating
Golden Rule of web design
My golden rule - a simple touchstone to help all design decisions
Conventions in web design
Understanding how to use conventions is a critical skill in design
Branding for web sites
Branding for web sites
The Sphere of Design
A conceptual tool for visualising the balance between functionality and aesthetics in visual design
NEW! Zoom Your Content
Knowing how to size your content appropriately is a fundamental and critical basic skill. All is explained in this article.

Recommended reading for web design

Don't Make me Think (2nd edition)

Don't Make Me Think, 2nd edition

By Steve Krug

Level Introductory

This is the one must-read usability book for all web designer and developers.

Steve Krug's masterpice (now in its second edition) achieves the amazing feat of making very complex concepts simple enough for anyone to understand.

It's a very easy, lighthearted and quick read, thanks to great writing, smart page design and lots of pictures.

The second edition has several worthwhile additions over the classic original book, with 3 new chapters covering important stuff like accessibility.

Buy now from Buy now from Amazon.co.uk Buy now from Amazon.com
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Articles + tutorials in Basics of Web Design

Basics Index
List of articles in Basics section
Conventions
Explores the value of conventional design solutions, which are time-saving shortcuts for visitors and designers that should be used wherever a suitable convention exists.
The Design Spectrum
This article introduces a simple conceptual model that I find helpful when designing or critiquing web sites, considering whether pixels are spent for style or function.
The Golden Rule of web design
My golden rule - a simple touchstone to help all design decisions
How to Design for the Web
Designing for the web means designing sympathetically with the way people actually use the web, not how we think they should.
How to make a web site
The absolute basic mechanics of how you go about making web pages and publishing them on the web.
Layout - the basic rules
Learn the principal techniques that govern effective web page layout
Logical Order
When your pages flow logically, they're easier to get. This article tells you why, and gives tips for structuring your pages logically.
No-one looks at the screen
Why nobody enjoys looking at a screen, what that means for web sites, and how we can design sites to mitigate for it.
Factors Influencing the Web Browsing Experience
Looks at various other factors that influence us when we browse the web, and what designers can do to address them.
People are Impatient
We are all impatient when using web sites, for good reasons. Web sites be designed with this in mind will be more successful.
Readability
How to make your web pages easier to read.
Scanning
Most people don't read the content on your web pages, but scan for meaning and clues. Design to aid scanning.
Search Engine Optimisation Basics
Learn the basic principles and purpose of Search Engine Optmisation (SEO).
Simplicity
Why simple design is better.
The Sphere of Design
Following on from the design spectrum, a different model for visualising the balance of using your pixels.
Text-based Logos
Explains why text-based logos (logotypes) are so effective. You don't necessarily need a graphical logo.
The Brain's Strengths
Understanding how our brains have evolved can help web designers create more effective layouts.
Trusting the User
Why it's important to trust users when designing web sites and applications
Why Most Web Sites Suck
We don't have bad web because it's difficult to create effective web sites, but because the people who make them are not properly equipped.
Why the web is hostile and how we cope
Good web sites must be designed for the way people really browse the web. Unfortunately, people don't use web sites in the way web designers think they do.
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