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The Basics of Web Site Design
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When it comes to designing a web site there are a number of things that you can and should do, in order to end up with something that gives you pleasure, is easy to maintain, and adds value to the Web community. For me this breaks down into two logical parts, the web page contents and the design of the site.
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Before you go getting yourself some free web space (yes it's available - the links are at the bottom of the page) you need to have a plan of what message you want to deliver, yes that's right, what message do you want to deliver? Why do you want a web site, what do you want to tell people? It is this simple part of the process that is often overlooked. I have visited many magnificent looking web sites full of beautiful graphics but no message, and I can't remember where they are. It's important to realise that the key to a successful web site is the text content, the message. That's what keeps people coming back to your web site not just the graphics.
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If you want a pot of gold.......first find a rainbow.What's your message?
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Yes graphics are important and people have grown to expect them but they should add value and be a part of the site, not the site its self. If you have nothing but graphics you will get few return visitors and you will have lost your opportunity to make your mark on the web community. You may be surprised how far some people will have traveled to get to your site!!
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Having decided what message you want to communicate to people you can now start to write the all important text part of the site. This will in turn help you to logically lay out on paper the structure of the site, what will it look like when it's complete, how many pages page titles, links, references and of course graphics. So by now you should have a clearer picture of what it is you are trying to achieve - just like a treasure map! Next you need to consider the general page layout.
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You need to design a basic page layout that will be fairly constant though your site, in both colour and style. Users like to be able to move from one page to the next and know that they are still within the same web site and where the menu's and other features are. If they came from a red page with a menu at the top to a blue page with a different menu style positioned at the bottom it causes confusion and is a little bit unsetting.
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Sticking to a basic layout also allows you to use the page as a template , greatly speeding up the site building process. Now we need to blend in the intended content in to the basic page design. This may make us change some of our original projections about the number of pages etc. But don't worry as the site will now be starting to come together as a cohesive entity. By now 90% of the job is done. All we have to do now is learn to write HTML - it's not as difficult as you think!
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