Week One Readings - Part 1

Required Readings:

• Good Design Features by Robin Williams- Considers elements that must be addressed to have a decent web page. The elements include text, navigation, links, graphics and general design. When reviewing these, I wonder if I need an index or site map. Also, my links are capitalized. In the new web site I will change this.
  

• Bad Design Features by Robin Williams - These pages are what makes a web site look "dorky". Elements to be considered are backgrounds, text, links, graphics, tables, blinking and animations, junk, navigation and general design. I need to be careful about text that stretches across the page, consider breaking it up and using columns. Remember also not to use default blue links. I also need to make sure I alt label all graphics. No borders on tables (I sometimes leave them on, I guess I am a dork). Animations that never stop (I must figure out a way to get them to stop, like in my AP Assignments wave/sand graphic). They suggest you avoid counters. I suppose this is a good idea but I do keep track for my statistics at the end of the year.
  

For Beginning Web Designers (Skim the following and read two in depth):

• 9 Essential Principles for Good Web Design by Collis Ta'eed -

1. Precedence (Guiding the Eye) with position, color, contrast, size and design elements
2. Spacing (Simplicity) , pay attention to line spacing (css default too tight), padding (no touching) and white space (adds elegance).
3. Navigation, Where can you go? Are buttons easy to find (at top) if rollover, change the color or image on rollover. Where are you now? Consider breadcrumb trails, subheadings and site map.
4. Design to Build, think about what can be done, consider screen resizing options as it will effect backgrounds and alignment. Simplify.
5. Typography includes font choices, font sizes, spacing, line length (longer the line the harder to read), color (watch out for low contrast text) and paragraphing (left align, do not justify).
6. Usability means adhering to standards, thinking about what users will actually do on the site (list different tasks people might need to do and how they will achieve them).
7. Alignment makes site more ordered and "digestible"; more polished look.
8. Clarity (sharpness) particularly pay attention to borders (consistency) and sharpness of text.
9. Consistency means making everything match including heading sizes, font choices, coloring, buttons, spacing, design elements, illustrations and photos. There should be a theme across all pages.

• Everything Else: The Top Fifteen Mistakes of First Time Web Design by Holly M. Burns

1. Using Frames - don't.
2. Going Overboard with High Tech - avoid too many tricks like input boxes, background music, opening in new browser window.
3. Under Construction Signs - don't put up a page until it is ready.
4. Misusing Graphics - graphics should add value, shrink large graphics.
5. Ransom Notes Fonts - limit to one or two fonts, use normal size and headers a little bigger, no BIG.
6. Complex Backgrounds - avoid busy backgrounds, use contrasting colors for background and text.
7. Too Many Animations- one or two page per page only.
8. Orphan Pages - all pages should indicate what site they belong to, all should have a return home link.
9. No Organization - consider an index or menu, all pages should have similar layouts.
10. No Unique Content - forget the site, don't just create a web search tool there are plenty out there already.
    
11. Too Many Ideas - focus on one element, create a menu page that takes you to separate topics.
12. No Authoritativeness - include name and credentials on web site.
13. Outdated Links or Information - check for broken links and current information.
14. Negative Declarations - bad approach, stay positive.
15. Link Problems - "keywords should be highlighted and link-able within the text", text should stand alone and be printable.

Time: 7/4 2.5 hrs.