Web Design Tips
May 15, 2009 by Mathias Gelment
Filed under Website Design
I have been doing web design for about five years now. I started doing web design as a side job in college, and it turned out to be something I continued to do as a fulltime job once I graduated. Through all of this time, I have learned a great deal of lessons. The lessons I learned have been the hard way, but I?d like to share a few of them with you so you can learn some the easy way. The tips I have focus on the client; from determining what they do and don?t like to hammering out the specifications for the web site, I?ll relate to you some of the experiences I?ve had and my best practices.
The best thing that I developed for working with clients is what I call the favorites document. The favorites document is a template I give the client to fill out that has a slot for them to list four of their favorite web sites that are in the same niche as their site. Then, underneath each web site, I have them write a paragraph or two about what makes the site so good to them. This is very helpful because it helps me get some insight into the clients design tastes. Knowing this will help me when I start designing because all know what elements to include.
Likewise, just as you asked for a list of sites in their industry that they like, you?ll also want to ask for a list of sites in their industry that they don?t like. Just like with the other list, you?ll also want a full description of exactly what they don?t like about the sites. I found that some of my clients don?t like drop down menus using this method. I?ve also found that some clients don?t like to have to scroll. You find out little things like this that you wouldn?t normally get from just a conversation. Having these two documents has helped me immensely.
Another key eve aspect of a web site that you should dedicate a good amount of effort and studying on is navigation. The navigation is critical to the usability of the site and thus it demands that you fully understand what the client wants. After understanding this you want to develop the cleanest method to organize all of their information. Once you have the client lock into the peaches that they want in the hierarchy of how to let the navigation, you can really begin to think about where you?ll place the navigation on the web site.
These are just a few tips for you to think about. They certainly are not things that I was thinking about when I first started out as a designer. Now, they are some of the first things that I think about and talk to the client about. These few simple things have drastically reduced the number of revisions I?ve had to do because I already have a good idea of the client?s likes and dislikes.
Thanks a lot. It’s cool!!
kind regards,
harry
myboodesign