9 Basic Steps
There are nine common elements in the design process of a web page. The article breaks them down into easy steps to follow. Follow them in order, and the web page should tell the message!
The first step is to know what “you’re “doing. Have a basic concept of the technology that you will be using to create a site.
Secondly know what “the site” needs to do. Sell a product or give information, know its purpose!
Third, understand the “visitors” needs. Know what the purpose of the web site and its uses.
Fourth, visualize the sites “personality and style”. Should the site be joyful and bright, or clearly presentable using a basic font and color? Understanding the goals for the site, clearly dictates this step.
Fifth,”sketch” out the processes or internal links of the site. Understand each link, and the action of each, not worrying about the small details for each page.
Organizing the views is the sixth step and combing the sketches into a logical pattern. Making it easy for the end user to navigate through each web page is the primary goal. Simplicity makes it better!
Sketch the page design is the seventh step. Draw out the look of the web page by drawings the links and pictures for each page.
Your “visitor’s attention” is the eighth key step. Make sure your visitor is drawn to the link that is most important. Make it stand out! Be sure to use proper colors and text to make those items stand out. The visitor is at that site to achieve a goal!
The last step is to make the “elements work together”. Understand the proper layout and the priority of each element. Make it user friendly so each visitor can easily succeed in their task.
If a web designer follows these nine basic steps, the web site should be a successful one!
