Introduction to Web Designing

What is Web Design?

Web design refers to the design of websites. It usually refers to the user experience aspects of website development rather than software development.

Web design used to be focused on designing websites for desktop browsers; however, since the mid-2010s, design for mobile and tablet browsers has become ever-increasingly important.

Web design vs. website development

The first step in our web design journey is to clarify the difference between web design and website development, since the two are closely related and often (mistakenly) used interchangeably:

Web design refers to the visual design and experiential aspects of a particular website. We’re going to dive into more detail about web design throughout the rest of this article.
Website development refers to the building and maintenance of a website’s structure, and involves intricate coding systems that ensure the website functions properly.

The following are some basic markup languages most commonly used by web developers to build a website:

HTML or HyperText Markup Language, is a coding language used to create the front end of websites. It is written to include the structure of a web page and carried out by web browsers into the websites that we see online.
CSS or Cascading Style Sheets is a programming design language that includes all relevant information relating to a webpage’s display. CSS works with HTML to design the style and formatting of a website or page, including the layout, fonts, padding, and more.

However, if you use a CMS (a computer software application that manages the digital content of a website) you can learn how to make a website and make updates without the knowledge of using code. Wix is an example of a CMS, which functions as a user-friendly system for website content development. Wix even offers you a way to design a website with AI, as well as an advanced solution for web designers called Wix Studio.

What do web designers do?

Web design identifies the goals of a website or webpage and promotes accessibility for all potential users. This process involves organizing content and images across a series of pages and integrating applications and other interactive elements.

The professionals who perform this process are called web designers, and their job includes the following duties:

Selecting easy-to-read fonts
Choosing attractive color schemes that also enable easy-to-read fonts
Implementing a brand's identity into the colors, fonts and layout
Creating a map of the website's structure to ensure intuitive navigation
Placing images, logos, text, videos, applications and other elements
Using coding languages, such as HTML and CSS, to create layouts and to style pages
Making optimized versions of websites and pages both for desktop and mobile viewing

There are two common web design methods: adaptive and responsive design. In adaptive design, the website content is created using standard screen sizes as the frame for the layout.

In responsive design, content moves dynamically according to the screen size. Web designers use the various steps of the general web design process to employ these design methods depending on their client or employer's preferences and goals for the site.

8 Key Elements of a Website Design

1. Navigation

Focus on developing a site map that displays links to necessary information and is simple to use, allowing users to make minimal clicks to reach the desired destination. Information that is hard to access will frustrate the user, and they will switch to a competitor’s website.

2. Usability

Users have so many websites to choose from to access the same information. If your website is not user-friendly, they will quickly abandon it. The layout should be simple, with minimal words and more focus on graphics. The search tab should be easy to locate and efficient. You can achieve this by incorporating white space. As the name suggests, white spaces are blank areas. They add to the minimal style, but developers utilize them to draw attention to important links and buttons. Try to leave white space after every element, allowing information to be spread evenly and providing a user-friendly interface.

Most importantly, the website should be formatted to multiple screen sizes, including tablets, smartphones, and laptops. Most users surf websites through phones, so ensure the mobile layout is not only accessible but also user-friendly.

3. Appearance

Another critical component of web design is appearance. When focusing on the website’s visual look, think about your audience and the design that would appeal most to them. A safe layout option would be to choose a trending theme, like minimalism. An attractive design compels users to stay longer on the website.

The appearance should also reflect your brand identity. Choose colors, fonts, and graphics which you can repeatedly apply to the website. Over time this style will become synonymous with your brand name and help it stand out. Apply the same theme to your other platforms as well. After establishing a brand identity with your theme, changing it can have adverse effects. Ensure the theme you choose initially will carry across future trends.

4. SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a technique that helps your website rank higher compared to other websites following the same niche. To establish good SEO, you need to do keyword research to find what your audiences are searching for. You can use analytical software, consult a web development company like Rule Your Kingdom, or peek at competitors’ sites to find relevant keywords. Make sure you use your keyword knowledge in both the website’s metadata and content. It is vital to remember that Google’s algorithm for SEO keeps changing. If you want your website to remain relevant, keep up with the updates.

5. Call to Action

Websites must engage the user, and one way of achieving this is through call to actions. These are phrases that tell the user what to do, such as “buy now” and “contact us.” Call to action should be prominent and easy to find for users. By correctly placing them throughout your websites, users will stay longer on the site.

6. Emphasize Visuals

Users prefer to understand most knowledge through visuals rather than words. If your website displays products, ensure the images are of high quality. You can also incorporate a card layout into the homepage. The card layout represents the heading links with pictures and words. This web design gives the users a visual representation of each heading, which raises their interest and engages them longer.

7. Content Management System

A CMS, or content management system, is a feature many business owners overlook. However, it is crucial to keep your website relevant for the long term. Your website will probably have the proper design and layout at the launch. As times change, website interfaces will evolve, and your website is at risk of becoming outdated. To ensure you always keep up with trends by making changes, you require CMS. Without one, you will have to contact a developer repeatedly to make changes through coding.

8. Turnaround Time

Turnaround time is the time it takes your website to start and run. Elements you add to the design, such as links and graphics, all add to this loading time. Sometimes to make a website efficient, people continue to add links failing to consider the turnaround time. If a website takes longer than three seconds, users will not wait and instead turn toward competitor pages. Design your web so it loads quickly without sacrificing essential components.

A web designer has several job opportunities across various industries and roles. Here are some of the key job opportunities:

User Experience (UX) Designer: Responsible for improving the user experience by designing interactive interfaces and user flows.
Visual Designer: Focuses on creating visually appealing designs for websites and applications.
Graphic Designer: Creates visual content such as logos, icons, and graphics for websites and other media.
User Interface (UI) Designer: Designs the layout and interaction elements of a website or application.
Design Analyst: Analyzes design data to improve user experience and optimize design decisions.
Animator: Creates animations for websites and other digital media.
Web Designer: Responsible for planning, creating, and coding websites and web pages, combining text with multimedia elements.
Content Editor: Works on the content of websites, ensuring it is engaging and informative.
Graphic Designer: Creates visual content for various media, including websites.

These roles offer a range of opportunities for web designers to apply their skills and contribute to the design and development of digital products.

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