Hey there, web wanderers! Ready to catapult your online presence into the digital stratosphere? Well, strap on your digital helmet because we’re about to embark on a wild ride through the quirky universe of web design. Read “Web Design 101: A Fun, No-Nonsense Guide to Rocking Your Online Presence” and say goodbye to bland and hello to grand!
1. Define Your Site
Before you start designing your website, channel your inner superhero and define your mission. What’s your unique selling point (USP)? Don’t worry; we’re not asking for your secret identity. Just clarify your purpose, and your site will be flying high.
Expert Tip: Punit Renjen from Deloitte suggests, “Have a culture of purpose beyond making a profit.”
2. Web Design Research
Let’s talk trends, darling! But beware, just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean you should too. Industry-focused research is a great place to start. Your site’s colour scheme and font style should scream YOU, not your neighbour.
Hot Trends Alert
Micro-Interactions: Tiny animations that say, “We’re cool!”. Micro-interactions are small, subtle animations or responses that occur when a user interacts with a website or application. These interactions are designed to provide immediate feedback and enhance the user experience. Examples include a button changing colour when hovered over, a notification pop-up, or a subtle animation when a user scrolls. Micro-interactions can contribute to a more engaging and user-friendly interface, making the digital experience more dynamic and enjoyable but don’t overdo it!
Brutalism: It’s not brutal; it’s bold and beautiful. Brutalism in web design draws inspiration from mid-20th-century architecture, featuring a raw, minimalist aesthetic. It embraces simplicity, bold typography, a limited colour palette, unconventional layouts, and a raw, unpolished look. This type of design may not be suitable for all types of websites. Visitors to brutalist websites may experience a departure from conventional design norms, and the style may not appeal to everyone’s tastes.
3. Choose Your Platform
WordPress, Wix, Squarespace – the heroes of the self design web design world but there are lots of other options available. The best thing to do is have a look around and see which platform aligns with your goals and experience.
Quick Reality Check: WordPress is great, it’s always our preferred choice but if code makes you panic, stick to the entry level, user-friendly builders. You might get less functionality but trying to learn WordPress may well give you a headache.
4. Select a Template
Templates are your website’s wardrobe. Try on a few until you find the perfect fit. One-page or multi-page? It’s like choosing between a studio apartment and a mansion. Remember, your visitors are window shopping; give them the grand tour.
Window Shopping Wisdom: People scroll faster than they flip pages, so make scrolling a breeze.
5. Decide On Your Branding Before You Kick Off
Colours, fonts, and images – oh my! Your website choices matter. Choose a colour scheme that doesn’t clash and most importantly represents your product or service. Fonts should be legible, not cryptic, and images should be high-res, darling, high-res. That being said, don’t make your images too heavy! Otherwise your website will load slow and become difficult to use. Find the balance.
Quick Facts: Blue is the colour of trust, but nobody trusts blurry images.
Why Your Palette Matters
Choosing the right colour for your website is like picking the perfect outfit for a special occasion — it sets the mood and leaves a lasting impression. Each hue on your digital canvas tells a story and decoding this visual language is key to creating a website that resonates.
Bold Blues: The cool, calming vibes of blue evoke trust and professionalism. Ideal for finance or tech websites, it says, “Relax, we’ve got this.”
Ravishing Reds: Passion, energy, and urgency — red means business. Perfect for creating a sense of urgency, think clearance sales or call-to-action buttons.
Glorious Greens: Symbolising growth and balance, green is a natural choice for eco-friendly brands or health-focused platforms.
Yielding Yellows: Sunny and optimistic, yellow is your go-to for a friendly, approachable feel. Great for creative industries or catching the eye.
Outrageous Oranges: The love child of red’s energy and yellow’s optimism, orange is the colour of action. Perfect for encouraging clicks and engagement.
Neutral Neutrals: Black, white, and grey—these classics embody sophistication and simplicity. Perfect for minimalist designs or letting your content shine.
Why Does it Matter? Different cultures and industries associate colours with unique meanings. For example, in Western cultures, white signifies purity, while in some Asian cultures, it represents mourning. It’s vital to research your industry, target audience and even location to ensure your colour choices speak the right language.
6. Website Design Tips
Now, for the real magic tricks:
Homepage Mojo: Minimalistic and clutter-free; think “zen garden,” not “junk drawer.”
Visual Hierarchy Magic: Size, placement, and contrast – the trio of design principles.
Simple Readability: Contrasts, fonts and hierarchy.
Effortless Navigation: Make it easy; your visitors shouldn’t need to hunt around for days to find what they’re looking for.
7. Stay Mobile Friendly
Your site should shine on phones too. Test it out; no one likes a website that plays hide-and-seek on mobile. Keep it clean, declutter and scale down.
Conclusion: May Your Website Sparkle Brighter Than a Unicorn’s Mane
And there you have it, aspiring web wizards! With these “Web Design 101: A Fun, No-Nonsense Guide to Rocking Your Online Presence” tips, your website will be the Gandalf of the internet, guiding users to the digital Shire. Now go forth, create and may your website sparkle brighter than a unicorn’s mane!
Disclaimer: No unicorns were harmed in the making of this article. Design responsibly.
If all of this feels too overwhelming, don’t panic! We can help. You can reach us at hello@reachfurtheronline.com and ask about our web design services.
