Other Design Hints: [ Using Color ] Web Designer HintsHow to Get Client ApprovalA 'Back to the basics' concept is a good aide memoire for both professional and beginning web designers. First, gather requirements and base the site on those requirements. Then practice the universal
Seven Rules of Web Design 1. Just because you can does not mean you should. There are loads of new technologies which offer countless options and tools to build web sites. BUT just because the technology is available does not mean a designer should use that technology. Many times, adding technology can impede the performance of a site and/or irritate users enough to leave the site.
To decide if and when to use a less conventional design approach:; ask yourself “ Does the technology add value to the site or is it being added strictly as a novelty.”
2. There is always an exception. There are rarely any absolutes in Web design. Always be careful of discarding a technology or design method simply because it did not work for a previous site.
Keep your repertoire stocked.
3. Who is the ultimate judge? The User.Opinions are never lacking. While an experienced designer may think a site should function or appear a certain way, the designer’s boss or client may think differently. The bottom line is that the users are the bottom line. If they do not like or understand a certain aspect of a site, then they are the ones the site should satisfy.
note: The targeted user concept should be covered in the preliminary design stage discussions between client and designer when buyer demographics and customer profiling is done. Consistent and Practical Points of a good site:
Download time should always be as fast as possible.
Navigation should be intuitive.
Consistent Web terminology and metaphors, such as the shopping cart system, should be used (unless there is a valid reason for an exception).
Writing should be clear and concise to expedite use.
Sites should always be tested by a variety of users in a variety of browser environments.
Accessibility for users with disabilities (such as hearing, mobility, or sight impairment) should be considered.
A false perceptions of usability is to appeal to everyone. Usability is closely associated with accessibility. Content should be accessible to everyone. Will it appear the same for all users? No. Different users are using different programs and devices to access the content. It is impossible for them to all experience it in the same way.
4. A designer should strive for Cross-over experience.Professional Web designers will try to understand and use the best of all worlds in their designs. Whatever the issue may be, a designer benefits from understanding as many technical aspects as possible when designing.
A perfect example is the use of forms. Although it is important to make a form easy to use and attractive, the designer must also take technical considerations into mind. One pitfall for nontechnical designers is creating a form that looks and works great in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 5 and higher but that drastically stretches the page horizontally in Netscape 4.x, because Netscape handles the form’s field spacing differently.
In accordance with the fourth rule of Web design,
5. Humility is the best approach. Because there are so many intricacies of Web design, there are always going to be designers with more attractive sites, newer technology, or who used technology in a more creative way. If a designer does not let pride get in his or her way, learning from others can strengthen their skills.
6. It is truly impossible to please everyone. Whether it is the more than 400 million Web users around the world or 10 people in the office, a design is never going to make everyone happy.
Everyone has an opinion. However, there is a fine line between making the majority happy and attempting to please everyone by creating a site that pleases no one. A designer sometimes needs to make a stand to maintain certain functional and aesthetic aspects of a design. Logically, as the number of users increases, a design becomes “too complicated,” “too simple,” “too colorful,” “too short,” “too long,” “too wild,” or “too conservative,” depending on the user.
7. Stay on top of changing specifications and standards. Web specifications and standards are constantly changing, and will continue to change. The designer, however, should have a base understanding of the latest techniques, which will affect future work. One example is XHTML—the future of HTML. Unlike new technologies, XHTML can be applied and supported by browsers as outdated as Netscape 2.0 and IE 2.0, which makes it applicable for today’s broad Web audience.
 You have done the comps... Now get client approval for your site.
1. Be patient.
Most companies move slowly. A client with few people involved may quickly approve a comp on the phone, but it could take three to four weeks for a corporate client to approve a certain desired look and feel.
2. Attempt to document all communications. Email instead of phoning a client whenever possible. An e-mail less intrusive, and a good way of documenting communications. Whenever a client requests a change, the designer should ask for the change(s) to be submitted via e-mail. That way, it protects both parties. Most disagreements or misunderstandings can be resolved by looking back at previous e-mails.
3. Offer alternatives. Not all clients are as technically intelligently or as artistic as you are.. They may simply not know the various options a site can offer. Offering alternatives also lets the client know that the designer is keeping their best interests in mind. Color alternatives are always a good designer choice if the client does not have a set palette. Because the slightest misproportion of a color can change the entire look and feel of a site, it is difficult to imagine changes without testing.
4. Do not get attached to the work. For every client who trusts the judgment of the designer, there are two who would prefer that a design look the way they desire. It is always amazing how quickly a design can change for the worse, at least to the designer's viewpoint. It is important, therefore, that the designer not become attached to a design. The paying client has the final say. If there is an affinity to a specific design look, the designer can always ask for permission to use the preferred version in a portfolio.
5. Limit the number of changes from the outset. Many times the approval process can get out of control. What once was one design can turn into three or four versions without the client's paying for the extra changes. This is why the designer should explain the approval process before beginning work on the designs. That way, there are no surprises when additional charges for excessive changes are incurred.
Still confused about the steps to good web design? One helpful way of understanding the more than 20 million Web sites in the world today is to divide them into three distinct philosophies: usability, multimedia, and mortised. Depending on the designer, any of the three philosophies does the best job of satisfying the goal of a Web site: communicate to the user in the most effective manner. Although multimedia and usability represent the proverbial argument between form and function, respectively, mortising represents the coming together of these two philosophies.
When considering the pros and cons of each philosophy, a designer should take into account how each philosophy addresses the following three factors of any site: - Aesthetics: How professional is the look and feel of the site? Is it is consistent with the desired identity of the business or individual?
- Usability: How quickly and easily can a user find and process information while being able to perform necessary tasks?
- Functionality: Programming should enable the functional aspects of the site, such as forms and database-driven text.
Because of the vast discrepancy in hardware, software, and users on the Internet, no one philosophy is the perfect answer for everyone. However, by understanding each philosophy and its strengths and weaknesses, a designer can have a clear understanding of which one will best address the requirements of a particular client. A good web designer has to be both an artistic soul and a marketing wizard to produce sites that sell a client's product. Are you? If the idea of designing your website is just too much to contemplate, contact us at Momanson. Let us handle it all for you. CONTACT top of page
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