What Are The 7 Principles In Web Design?

Many of us are familiar with the digital world, spending a great deal of our time scouring social media or online shopping. A quick scope on the web shows that the best-performing websites have the most attractive websites, and it’s crucial to have an effective and visually appealing website for any business looking to make an impact online. 

But how can you create a website that engages users and delivers a great user experience? Easy: remember the following web design principles…

The principles of beautiful web design 

When it comes to the basic web design principles, it’s important to understand that web design refers to the process of creating and designing websites, focusing on their appearance, layout, and functionality. A well-designed website not only looks great but also considers user experience, navigation, and accessibility.

1. Purpose and clarity

Every website should have a clear purpose — and you need to communicate that purpose to your visitors. If a potential customer visits your page and is met with a website that does not align with your business’s purpose — either because what you’re selling isn’t clear, or the web design is misleading — they’re likely to click away from your website. 

Establishing a clear purpose involves understanding the goals and objectives of the website, whether it’s to inform, sell products, or provide a service, the purpose should be evident through the design and content. So, keep the design simple, organised, and focused on delivering the intended message, and no doubt your website will be a success!

2. Consistency and branding

Consistency in web design is crucial for creating a cohesive and memorable user experience. For example, when you think of the Nike logo, you automatically associate the brand with fitness and quality sportswear, and all with just a simple tick. 

When you maintain the use of colours, typography, and visual elements throughout your website, this helps establish a strong brand identity and makes your website more attractive. Consistency also extends to the navigation, layout, and overall structure of the website, allowing users to navigate easily and find what they need.

3. Visual hierarchy

Visual hierarchy refers to the arrangement and presentation of elements on a web page, emphasising their importance and guiding users’ attention. In short, this is almost like signposting your potential customers to the parts of your website that are going to garner you the most leads, and more specifically, sales. This could be a subscription service, a product, or even just a sign-up for your business’s email marketing.

By using size, colour, contrast, and placement, you can create a clear visual hierarchy that guides users through the content and directs them to the most important information. Well-implemented visual hierarchy improves readability and engagement.

4. Responsive design

How many times have you decided to close your browser because the page you were visiting wasn’t responding to your clicks, or didn’t fit onto your phone screen? With the increasing use of mobile devices, responsive design has become a fundamental principle of web design. Responsive design ensures that your website adapts and displays correctly on various devices and screen sizes, this is great for customers who are looking at your website on the go.

Long story short, excessive page loading times and a website that glitches are an instant switch-off for site visitors. A responsive website provides a seamless user experience, regardless of whether users are accessing it from a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.

5. User-friendly navigation

Navigation plays a critical role in helping users find their way around your website. A well-designed navigation menu should be intuitive, easy to understand, and accessible from every page. 

Use clear labels, logical grouping, and hierarchical menus to create a user-friendly navigation system. It’s also a great idea to include a search function that can further enhance navigation, enabling users to find specific content quickly if what they’re searching for isn’t immediately noticeable on your website.

6. Readability and typography

The readability of your website’s content is essential for engaging visitors and delivering your message effectively. After all, if they can’t ready your content easily, they’re likely to cut their visit short. It’s also very important to make sure that your website is accessible to everyone. 

Choose fonts that are easy to read and ensure an appropriate font size and line spacing for optimal legibility. Use headings, subheadings, and paragraphs to organise your content, and pay attention to the contrast between text and background colours to enhance readability.

7. Performance and loading speed

In addition to a responsive interface, the performance and loading speed of your website is also crucial. A beautiful design is not enough if your website takes too long to load, and customers will simply click away and look for a site that shows results fast. 

Did you know that page loading speed directly impacts user experience and search engine rankings? Optimise your website’s performance by minimising file sizes, reducing images, and using efficient coding practices. Regularly test your website’s loading speed and make necessary improvements to ensure a fast and seamless user experience.

Master your web design principles with Narwhal Media Group

If any part of your business operates online, it’s essential that you invest in a well-designed website. Knowing where to start can be daunting, so why not contact one of our web design experts at NMG? 

Our approach involves harnessing the power of data and expert web design to deliver your business a high-ranking, efficient, and beautifully designed website that gives your business the exposure it deserves.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help your business thrive online.