Elements of Good Design

Elements of Good Web Page Design

Use a consistent approach to layout, background, and design, so that users can quickly adapt to your design. Using a hodgepodge mix of design, graphics, and backgrounds will slow download time and confuse the viewers of your site.
Take a minimalist approach. Employ graphics to clarify or illustrate meaning. graphics used for decorative purposes should be kept to a minimum because they can be distracting and slow navigation. If you want to employ a graphic theme such as a banner or logo, use it throughout the site.
Use white or subtle pastel shades of color makes the best choices for backgrounds. Avoid bold, primary colors unless you want maximum emphasis, and even then use them sparingly.
Type must always contrast sharply with any background. Black on while is always safe.
Empty, or white space is encouraged. It provides balance to a page. Use plenty of it to break up the space between paragraphs and sections.
Keep the pages short because long, scrolling pages may be harder to navigate, making it more difficult to find specific information. In general, it should not be longer than three monitors full.
Longer pages are desirable when it is anticipated that the viewer will want to print the page. For example, in this workshop each page associated with a topic is included on a single page.

Provide navigation tools in a consistent fashion so that users can count on finding navigation tools in the same location throughout the web site. Navigation buttons should be marked clearly and logically.
Links to another site should include clear description about the content as well as download time if it is a site which contains multimedia (such as video clips or movies) or exceptionally slow download time. Also note if specific plug ins are required.
Users should be able to easily return to the Home Page, thus every page should include a link back to home and to other main navigation points within the site.
Avoid dead end pages. Every page should include at least one link.
Top level of menus should include no more than 20 categories in order to minimize the need for scrolling.
The entire Home Page should fit on the screen without scrolling - or a least with minimal scrolling.
Build clear navigation help if necessary to assist visitors in navigating your site. Readers need a sense of where they are within the site because it is so easy to get lost. Providing a graphic overview may be helpful to the concrete-sequential visual learner.
Include an e-mail address, contact names and institutional affiliation on every major page. Not all visitors will enter through your Home Page.