The web has revolutionised every aspect of modern life, from commerce and communication to media and education. In our digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for business and organisational success. A well-designed website is the cornerstone of this presence, as it serves as a virtual storefront and a powerful tool for engaging with audiences. Read on to learn more about the Web design principles every development firm should know and follow.
If you’re in the market to get a new website and are looking to hire the services of a developer, below are a few of the principles of good web design that every development firm should follow. If you’d like to discuss these points further, get in touch with Deepbluemedia (a Tenerife web design company with international clients) to see what we could do for your firm. Also, before partnering with a firm, here are some questions you should ask your developer.
It’s worth nothing a good development company should have no issues showing you examples of previous work – in fact, their website should have a dedicated portfolio section showing what they can do. By studying the points below and comparing them to the dev firm’s work, you should be able to get a pretty good idea if the company knows what they’re doing.
The importance of good, aesthetic website design
Good website design goes beyond just aesthetic look and feel; rather, successful design and development is a marriage of many factors that are pulled together to give a positive user experience. Good development should, at very least, cover these main points:
- First impressions matter: Aesthetically pleasing websites instantly captivate visitors and establish credibility for your brand or business. A first-time visitor to your site should have an immediate impression of who you are, what you do and what you can offer them.
- User-friendly navigation: Well-designed websites make it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need. Remember, in most cases, clients will have found you through Google – meaning they’re just one click away from engaging with one of your competitors. User-friendly websites are far more likely to engage your users.
- Enhances engagement: Engaging design elements, such as compelling visuals and intuitive layouts will help keep visitors on your site for longer. Note, images should be optimised for SEO and fast load time.
- Builds trust: A professionally designed website instills trust in visitors, fostering a sense of reliability and professionalism. It will also help build your online profile.
- No 404s or text errors: There are few quicker ways to drive users away from your site than by featuring spelling mistakes or broken links with 404 Page Not Found errors.
20 design principles every web development company should follow
While all website projects are unique – and a professional web developer should realise this – there are still some common conventions and guidelines that should carry through all projects to ensure site success and a smooth production flow. Below are just a few:
- Simplicity: Keep the design clean, uncluttered and easy to navigate. There should be standardised website fonts.
- Visual Hierarchy: Organise content to guide users’ attention and prioritise important information.
- Responsive Design: Ensure the website is optimised for different devices and screen sizes (aka responsive design).
- Consistency: Use consistent typography, colors and branding elements throughout the site.
- Clear Call-to-Action: Make it easy for users to take desired actions.
- Accessibility: Ensure the website is accessible to users with disabilities.
- Fast Loading Speed: Optimise the website’s performance to minimise loading times.
- Intuitive Navigation: Use clear and logical menus to help users find their way around the site. Where appropriate, you could decide when to use megamenus (ie where you have a lot of content).
- Engaging Visuals: Incorporate high-quality images, videos and graphics that enhance the user experience. Remember to always optimise images for SEO and fast download speeds.
- Readability: Use legible fonts and appropriate font sizes for easy reading.
- White Space: Utilise white space strategically to create visual breathing room and improve readability (note this space doesn’t need to be white as such, depending on the base colours used in your site).
- Error Prevention: Design forms and interactions to minimise user errors and provide helpful feedback.
- SEO Optimisation: Structure the website in a way that enhances search engine visibility and can accommodate further Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
- Mobile Optimisation: Prioritise mobile-friendly design for an optimal user experience on smartphones and tablets. See the importance of responsive format websites.
- Cross-Browser Compatibility: Ensure the website functions well across different web browsers.
- Content Organisation: Arrange content logically and use headings, subheadings and paragraphs to improve readability.
- Branding Integration: Incorporate branding elements consistently to reinforce brand identity (this also carries into your social media branding). A client (potential or existing) should know immediately that your site, socials, letterheads, emails, etc belong to your company.
- Social Media Integration: Include social media buttons or direct in-page feeds to encourage social sharing and engagement.
- Usability Testing: Conduct usability tests to identify and address any user experience issues.
- Regular Updates: Keep the website up-to-date with fresh content and design improvements. With this in mind, you might want to consider setting up a company blog.
Reasons to use a professional website design company
While there are website builders and platforms like WordPress available, there are many compelling reasons to enlist the services of a professional web design company to make your website for you. Not least of these is the fact that designers and developers have skills far beyond the typical web user, including:
Customisation: Professional web design companies can create unique designs tailored to your specific brand and goals.
Expertise and experience: Web design companies have the skills and knowledge to create functional and visually appealing websites.
Time-saving: By outsourcing web design to professionals, you can focus on other aspects of your business while ensuring a high-quality website.
Technical proficiency: Professional web designers are adept at implementing advanced functionalities, coding and design / User Experience (UX) / UI techniques to ensure seamless website performance.
The affordability of professional web design
Contrary to popular belief, professional web design is no longer as expensive as it used to be. With advancements in tools, coding languages and technology and increased competition, web design services have become more accessible and affordable. Moreover, the growth in popularity of web templates has also slashed production times and costs – yet without any sacrifice in the final quality of the production. Investing in a professional web development company ensures that you receive a high-quality, customised website that meets your specific needs – one that provides a solid foundation for your online success. Click here for typical website development prices.
While it’s true all design projects vary, by following these design principles and working with a professional web development firm, you can create a visually appealing, user-friendly website that strengthens your brand, enhances user experience and drives business growth. Remember, your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers, so investing in its design is an investment in your overall success.
