Web design encompasses a variety of disciplines and skills in the creation and maintenance of web sites. These include web graphic design; web user interface design; web authoring, which include proprietary software and standardised codes; and search engine optimisation. There are many subtopics in web design. Some of these are graphic design, website development, usability and user experience, logo design, and website marketing. Web developers create web pages from scratch or modify existing web pages. Website designers create the appearance and layout of web sites.
Some of these subtopics overlap, while some are unique to their own area of expertise. User experience and user interface designers deal specifically with the interface or the user interface of a web site. User experience designers are involved in designing websites for individuals as well as businesses. User interface designers are also known as graphic designers. They usually have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or graphic design.
A number of small companies specialise in web development. They can help to improve the website design by adding graphics or adding interactivity. Many web development companies offer a myriad of tools and packages, ranging from simple website templates to fully interactive web pages. Some designers specialise only in web development, while others specialise in graphic design. A number of smaller boutique web design companies offer services for both freelance web designers and established web development companies.
Web designers work on either a freelance basis or in-house for a company. They communicate with clients and provide a range of web design services. Most freelancers begin their freelance career working as freelance web designers for larger firms. Web designers can choose to work for one particular firm or work for a number of smaller firms through freelance agencies. There are a number of agencies that specialise in web design and development. These agencies may be run by individuals or companies, and they offer a comprehensive service.
The most important aim of any web designer is to provide a user experience. They need to create a website that is easy to navigate, has functional elements that are clear and well organised, and provides a user experience that gives the best chance of success. A user experience is very different to an interactive design, and both have to build on a basic web design and fit seamlessly with each other. Interaction design is about creating aesthetic experiences, while usability is more about the precise interactions that will take place within the website. Both are very closely related to user experience and the way they relate to search engine rankings.
A great deal of research has been carried out into how people find information online. A user experience is considered to be critical for directing people to the right pages on a website, and it can influence whether or not they click on a link, make a purchase or find another product on the web. Web designers must pay close attention to usability and the way a website operates to help users get the most from their visits. In order for a website to have a good user experience it needs to be simple, clean and well organised. It should be clear what users are trying to achieve and any confusing elements on a page should be removed. This applies to navigation too, the placement of images and links must be just right and clear.
Designers also have to think about how websites look like. Many people compare website design to a website for a company, and while a company’s website is going to consist of several different design elements, these elements should all work together in harmony to achieve the company’s goals. Website look like a company may have a header section that contains its mission statement, and side panels that display products and services, logos and product images. All of these design elements need to work in harmony so that the website looks like a cohesive unit rather than a series of unrelated links.
Emotional design is another important consideration for web designers to make when creating a website. Although typography can be an easy way to communicate ideas, many people don’t feel comfortable with typefaces and can lead to feelings of anxiety and frustration. Web designers often make use of emotional design techniques in order to create an overall atmosphere or feel within a website. A common technique is to use typography to evoke certain feelings in the viewer. For instance, if a website is designed with dark colors, then this will evoke a feeling of sophistication and seriousness to a lighter font could cause someone to feel happy or relaxed.