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Web Design Principles

By: Nigel VideoPix

There are many components that go into making up good website design. However there are four main principles that contribute the most impact to an effective overall design. These four design components are as follows: emphasis, balance, unity and rhythm. To create a website that is professional in it's design, is easy to navigate and communicates well with your visitors, these four design elements play a crucial role.

Balance

First of all we're going to look at the principle of 'balance', which illustrates how the different colors, text and images of the website are coordinated. Good website design needs to incorporate a high level of visual stimulation, yet at the same time, should not distract the visitor with too many inconsistent or conflicting components. Each part of the page has its own visual emphasis that is dependent on the color, shape or size of the images or the text blocks. This is not to say that good balance on a website is simply achieved by having all the elements placed symmetrically on the page layout. For example, you might create good balance by having an image on the right hand side of the page with a strong block of text on the left hand side. An even more challenging design principle is achieved with asymmetrical balance. This is achieved by adding different design elements on each side of the page which have an alternative visual emphasis, size, color or shape. An illustration of this kind of asymmetrical balance might involve placing a strong visual component in the middle of the page where the balance might be achieved by adding lighter element on the outside edge of that same page.

Emphasis

The next style element we're going to look at is 'emphasis', which is intended to draw the viewer towards the focal point of the page. In other words you want the most important design elements to really stand out on the page. Quite frequently the focal point is an element that is unique from the other components on the page. Naturally there very different ways that you can achieve this emphasis, you might decide to use highly contrasting image colors, you may go for a bold font or you may just use a larger font. However you use emphasis on your page the end goal is to enable the most important design features to really stand out.

Unity

The next of the style elements were going to examine is 'unity'. This can be defined as how all the different components on the page appear to be very coherent and that the page has an unified structure. Another way to express this might be that each of the elements on the page: the headers, sub headers, pictures, other graphical effects and the various text blocks all appear to be part of the same cohesive idea. Unity can be accomplished on the page by using the same font, colors that match or by using similar design elements throughout the page.

Rhythm

The final element were going to look at is called 'rhythm'. Rhythm has to do with the repetition of elements that helps your visitors to recognize the pattern of the web page. The idea here is to attempt to generate a consistent pattern or structure to the design of the page. For example the continuous repetition of the same components creates an even, smooth rhythm to the page, whereas abrupt or a contrasting elements in the text or the graphic images can produce a much more active or upbeat pace. The end result should be that your visitor should feel an overall sense of coherence in your website even though there may well be differing design elements and styles on each page.

The reality is that people visiting your website for the first time will gain an immediate impression of the design priciples. They subconsciously rely on visual cues to assess the overall balance and harmony of the web page. This assessment contributes towards their decision on whether to stay and explore your website in more depth or to immediately hit the 'back' button and search for another site. If the website is coherent and visually appealing and appears to have intuitive navigation, they are much more likely to explore the site further, buy your product or service or sign up for your newsletter. They're also much more likely to become engaged with your company and return to your website at some future time.

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There are many ingredients that go into making good website design. Having said that, there are four major design procedures that have the greatest impact on the overall design of the site. These four primary design procedures involve the following elements: balance, emphasis, unity and rhythm.

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