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Web Design Usability - 10 important factors

Very often web designers forget one thing, web design is not just about innovative concepts and beautiful images with eye candies.

A web site will be visited and utilised by users. The following are 10 important points you want to note before you begin your web site

  1. Set goals and know understand the objective of your web design
    What is it trying to achieve?
    Wow the audiences?
    Design a simple web user interface?

  2. Design Consistency
    Many web pages has more than 10 types of fonts with 20 types of sizes. Ever seen this type of web design?
    Use CSS to help maintain a consistency through out your web design.

  3. Font Type
    Use readable font for your audiences. After all, you are trying to let your audiences understand about this web site that you have designed.

  4. Important information at the top of the page
    While if important words are positioned at the top of web pages, it helps in SEO, this is not the main factor. You want to convey your message immediately when the page loads.

  5. Links
    Make sure your links is clearly visible. Do not use the same text and font and color for links.

  6. Usage of images wisely
    You want to limit the download time of your users. Do not load too much graphical images on one page. It turns user away. Remember, web page design involves users, usability is a important factor.

  7. User Resolution
    Consider the resolution of user's screen. While a designer usually work on huge screen 1200 x 1024, not all internet users enjoy that luxury.

  8. Headings
    Use proper heading to let user know which section they are reading now. Just like a book, you wouldn't read an entire book without knowing which chapter you are in.

  9. Navigation
    Ensure your navigation is clear cut and precise. Do not design a navigation that users will not understand.

  10. Design for your targeted audiences, ask for feedback before you finalise your web design with your users.
Good looking or bad looking design can be subjective however, a user friendly web design can never be disputed. It can be tested if a web site is user friendly or not.

Posted by VibrantStyle Team on Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 1:31 AM |  

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