Basic Web Design Principles

Being able to design a decent web page doesn’t require innate talent. But it does require an understanding of basic design principles. We’ll talk about the principles outlined in Williams & Tollett’s The Non-Designer’s Web Book.

We’ll critique some web pages together as a class, and then break into small groups to formally evaluate others.

Readings on Basic Web Design Principles

For class, please read Chapters 5-8 of The Non-Designer’s Web Book.

If you want to go beyond the basics, you can try these:

• Web Style Guide, 2nd edition
• the Design section of Webmonkey
• Web Page Design for Designers

In-Class Exercise: Design

Working with 1-2 other students (you may not work alone, and you may not work in groups of more than 3 people), go to The Viola Site. Look over the site, and then evaluate it based on the basic design principles laid out by Williams & Tollett:

• Alignment
• Proximity
• Repetition
• Contrast

Summarize your group’s opinions of the site, and provide some suggestions for how the site design could be improved. (Post that information as a comment to this exercise; be sure to include all group members’ names.)