12 Principles of Good Web Design that You Simply Can’t Ignore

A website serves as more than just an access point to a good or service; it offers a tale about a brand and piques the user’s interest in what the company has to offer.

A website’s colors and design principles should complement the objectives and guiding principles of the company it represents, just like other marketing materials.

Effective web design is assessed by website visitors rather than the website owners, similar to the adage “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

The usability of a website is influenced by a variety of elements, including both form (how appealing it is to the eye) and function (how easy is it to use).

This becomes even more important for companies because they need a strong website design to compete and attract clients.

They need to have a website that is both aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly to the viewers. However, creating a functional web design requires adhering to a few tried-and-true design principles.

Keeping things simple is the key to developing the finest website. After all, striking a balance between aesthetics and usability is one of the most fundamental web design ideas.

Sites can be lovely but challenging to use when designers place a strong emphasis on design for design’s sake. Consider creating a website as you would a physical storefront for your company.

Even though the building’s exterior is stunning, the design won’t work if no one can find the entrance. Websites that are simple to use, very engaging, and user experience oriented, perform better.

That is simple to say, but how do you build a website with the user in mind?

There is a lot that goes into successful site design, from visual hierarchies to clean navigation and enticing content arrangement. Let’s examine the characteristics of “excellent” website design across the board.

Also Read: Reasons Why You Should Update Your Web Site this Year

What Is a ‘Website Design Principle’?

Web design principles are overarching guidelines for creating web-based media, including fundamental criteria for interaction and layout design.

Conversions depend more on your website’s design than you would realize. The best conversion-boosting strategies in the world won’t help you much if your website is poorly designed.

Despite how vast and varied the field of web design might be, certain principles apply to all designers. These are general guidelines that skilled designers will automatically follow in their work.

In addition to the construction and updating, this concept calls for attention to the user interface, the information architecture, the layout, the colors, the content, the ergonomics of navigation, and the designs of the numerous icons.

Search engine optimization, user experience designs, standardized coding, graphic design, and interface design are some more aspects of web design.

Also Read: Importance of Web Design in Digital Marketing

The Web Design Principles You Can’t Afford To Ignore

Today, building a nice website is simple. Simply register for one of the many free website builders, and you can have a professional-looking site with a slick web design in no time.

You may be excused for assuming that this website design is efficient. However, while having a nice appearance, a website may not be functional or appropriate for its target audience.

This incorporates a variety of elements into a website design that goes well beyond aesthetics. Usability – or the marriage of form and function – is at the heart of great online design.

Think of the following web design guidelines as the “ten commandments” for online design, except we have 12 of them. Take these web design tenets to heart if you’re an aspiring designer or even just someone creating a DIY website.

  1. Know Your Purpose
    A very creative industry is web design. There is a lot of room for creativity to push the boundaries and take the design in new directions.
    Having said that, web design may also be quite goal-oriented, so this talent isn’t just mindlessly posted online for anybody to enjoy for whatever reason.
    Design teams constantly have a goal in mind and work to attain that goal by adjusting every little aspect of their designs.
  2. Keep It Highly Intuitive
    The first rule or principle of usability of a website is that a web page must have a very logical structure and should be easy to comprehend so that users won’t have to consider which way to turn. It must be self-explanatory in a straightforward manner.
    Follow the standard page layout rules, such as placing your menu at the upper left and your logo there. By living up to expectations, your website visitors will feel comfortable and at home.
  3. Strive for Consistency
    All of the pages on your website should have the same general layout and style. Instead of being a collection of separate pages, every web page should appear to be a component of the overall offering.
    Consistency in both the visual (colors, typefaces, and styles) and functional (UI controls) design will increase the usability of your product overall and make your website more predictable for visitors.
  4. Follow the ‘Golden Ratio’
    The enchantment of the number 1.618 (φ) is the Golden Ratio. It is widely held that designs that make use of the golden ratio’s proportions are aesthetically beautiful.
    The Fibonacci sequence comes next. The terms 0 through 12 are equal to the sum of the two terms before them. The fascinating thing is that the results from the two seemingly unconnected topics are exactly the same.
    Can the Golden Ratio work for web design? Absolutely YES!
  5. Remember that ‘Less Is More’
    Many websites have an excessive amount of items on the page, which detracts from the site’s intended use. The rule of thumb for good web design is simplicity.
    An attractive, modern design not only makes it simpler to navigate the website, but it also has a more timeless look. A site should not be loaded with design elements that are not needed or distracting.
  6. Apply Visual Hierarchy
    Visual hierarchy is vital for web design. Navigation tools, page headings, calls-to-action, and user controls must all be given top priority by web designers, who must also take care to avoid making the more vital aspects distracting.
    One of the foundational concepts of graphic design is visual hierarchy. In essence, it relates to what, when a collection of pictures is present, draws the greatest and least attention (like a web page).
    The sequence in which the observer notices each distinct feature is known as the “visual flow,” and it can be theoretically controlled by a designer by playing with the visual hierarchy.
  7. Keep the Design Mobile-First Responsive
    Responsive design is the process of creating a website or web page that displays properly on all smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other display devices regardless of their aspect ratios.
    Today, the web design focuses more on being mobile-first, based on the massive and still expanding smartphone penetration around the world.
    The height and width of a display device are its aspect ratio. The website must be designed for smaller displays in addition to larger ones, which is the designer’s responsibility.
  8. Use White Space
    The empty area on a page is referred to as white space or negative space. This refers to the space between columns, margins, graphics, and other elements.
    However, designers and even website building tools perceive it as an important design element and do not view it as a “blank” space.
    In the white space, there is an object that was produced that deals with the intelligent use of the hierarchy of information in the form of images, colors, typefaces, etc.
  9. Emphasize What Matters Most
    Increased visual weight places more focus on particular elements. Utilizing color contrast, item size, and the amount of space between parts, one can increase the visual impact.
    For instance, if you want to be certain that visitors will see your call to action button, make sure it is big enough and colored differently.
  10. Speed Up Load Time
    Everyone is familiar with the anguish of a sluggish website. If it takes too long for your pages to load, you’ve already lost the user’s interest.
    The truth is that the decisions you make about your website’s design can significantly affect how quickly it loads. Start by reducing the size of your image files and enhancing them for the web.
    You can speed up your website by using browser caching features, cutting down on HTTP queries, and hosting movies on a different website.
  11. Use Simple, Clean Fonts and Colors
    The fundamental, yet sometimes disregarded, fundamentals of web design are colors and typefaces. They ought to coordinate with your brand’s general aesthetic.
    Try to make your font and color scheme as simple as possible. Try to limit the number of fonts to three or fewer. Make use of three: one for the main text, one for headings, and one for accents.
    In terms of color, contemporary web design frequently employs monochromatic, or just one, color. Try to use one dominating color and two to four accent colors when using many colors.
    A website seems disorganized and unprofessional when it has too many font and color choices.
  12. Content Remains the KING!
    Never forget that content is what draws people to websites, so web designers should make an effort to offer their audience good material.
    Make sure the material is pertinent to your industry and user requirements. Every piece of information on your website should be beneficial to visitors.
    Always begin with a content assessment and inventory before designing a website. Determine the content you have and rank it in order of the value it offers your users.

The Bottom Line

You should adhere to a few tried-and-tested design concepts to deliver an engaging and intuitive web design experience. These include the golden ratio rule, the F-pattern, providing viewers fewer alternatives, the law of visual hierarchy, etc.

With the help of these ideas, your website may keep readers and viewers interested and glued to your web pages.

It’s crucial to test your design with actual consumers after you’ve finished. You’ll be able to tell which aspects of your design need improvement after you see how actual users engage with your website.

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