A hectic week this is, but luckily I got some time to do some reading on the net. The hype nowadays among web developer is of course the web 2.0, and currently designers are very concern to produce websites that is up to this standard. Let’s focus now on the web design aspect first where we will cover the programming part in later postings.
Although still debatable (and controversial sometime), there is loose definition on the term itself, making it harder for designers to create a standard guideline in designing a website. Gradient? Rounded edges? Flash?
Design wise, I got a great site to share. According to the page, among the crucial (but not in certain cases) approaches in web design for the 2.0 bandwagon are:
- Simplicity
- Central layout
- Fewer columns
- Separate top section
- Solid areas of screen real-estate
- Simple nav
- Bold logos
- Bigger text
- Bold text introductions
- Strong colours
- Rich surfaces
- Gradients
- Reflections
- Cute icons
- Star flashes
From our definition here at Digital Gaia, web 2.0 is not really design-centric. It’s not about beauty. It’s all about user experience. It’s about delivering your message in a very pleasing way that it can enter your web visitors mind effortlessly.
Of course beauty will always help, but don’t let it detract your message away. The elements above will mostly help as it is the trend of beauty- in the eye of the general web user, not in the web developer’s.
The question: Does your web visitor belongs to the general group? Sometimes, your targeted web user might be those senior citizens, which rich media content might annoys them. Or they might be located in low-speed internet access areas, who find the extra loading time for those heavy yet subtle detailing (and sometimes mega-rich flash animation) painful.
Consider your web user carefully, and choose a design theme that can accommodate their needs and preferences, not yours.
