Article Directory

Designing and publishing a web site is easier than ever using modern software tools. These easy-to-use software tools provide a simple, intuitive, graphical interface to take the place of cryptic computer codes. However, a simple interface does not guarantee the production of a good web site. For people who disregard thoughtful web site design, the simplicity and usability of these programs makes it easier to produce lousy, unreadable, unusable web sites. This article offers general guidelines for good web site design applicable to any web design software package.

The most important thing to remember about using graphic design to create a web page, is to keep it easy to read. The fancier web sites use complicated backgrounds that cause the text to become unreadable. The background should highlight the color of the text. When a fancy background is appropriate to use, the text blocks should be offset and use a single color background using only a single color, such as a black background with white lettering.

Text size should be large enough to read, but not so large that a small block of text dominates the page. Link colors should likewise be easily distinguished from regular text. Text should be centered for headlines, and justified on both sides for paragraphs. Most modern browsers support fully justified text. Older browsers which don't support fully justified text will simply disregard the command and present the text aligned only on the left side. Fully justified text will make the page more appealing to the majority of web site visitors.

Simple navigation of a website by a user is the focus of the next step in graphic design. Users must be able to access to every page in your site in no more than three clicks. A table of contents makes the site more organized and therefore easy to navigate. A frame containing a table of contents can be inserted on the left side of the page and then the links will open in a frame on the right side. This will allow the user to be anchored to the main page.

A website should not be difficult to find. Using carefully selected keywords placed in various locations throughout the site will make it much easier for the various search engines to list the site properly according to its purpose. This will then make it easier for those using search engines to find the site. Many of the search engines out there have search engine submission forms that help the search engine to both find and properly categorize the site.

The software tools available today allow even the novice web designer to create an appealing web site that will captivate a large audience. By following these suggestions for good graphic design, the web site content will be presented in a concise and attractive manner. With practice, someone new to world of web design can prepare themselves for one of the various professional web design jobs.