It is easy to make a dorky web page. It's also easy to make a very nice, clean, professional-looking web page even. Often the difference, even for beginning designers, is simply a matter of eliminating certain features that are guaranteed to make a page look amateurish. Let KielyNet help you produce a professionally designed web page.

Some Basic Principals to consider

1. Don’t make users think

If the navigation and site architecture aren’t intuitive, the number of question marks grows and makes it harder for users to comprehend how the webpage works and how to get from point A to point B. A clear structure, moderate visual clues and easily recognizable links can help users to find their path to their aim.

2. Don’t squander users’ patience

On every page when you are going to offer your visitors some service or tool, try to keep your user requirements minimal. The less action is required from users, the more likely a random visitor will actually stay on your site. First-time visitors are willing to play around a bit so let users explore and discover your services without forcing them into sharing private data.

3. Manage to focus users’ attention

As web-sites provide both static and dynamic content, some aspects of the user interface attract attention more than others do. Obviously, images are more eye-catching than the text — just as the sentences marked as bold are more attractive than plain text.

The human eye is a highly non-linear device, and web-users can instantly recognize edges, patterns and motions.  The goal should be to  capture a users’ attention.

4. Strive for feature exposure

Modern web designs are usually criticized due to their approach of guiding users with visually appealing 1-2-3-done-steps, large buttons with visual effects etc. But from the design perspective these elements actually aren’t a bad thing. On the contrary, such guidelines are extremely effective as they lead the visitors through the site content in a very simple and user-friendly way.

5. Make use of effective writing

As the Web is different from typical print media, it’s necessary to adjust the writing style to users’ preferences and browsing habits. Promotional writing typically won’t be read. Long text blocks without images and keywords marked in bold or italics will typically be be skipped. Exaggerated language will be ignored.

6. Strive for simplicity

The “keep it simple”-principle (KIS) should be the primary goal of site design. Users are rarely on a site to enjoy the design; furthermore, in most cases they are looking for the information despite the design. Strive for simplicity instead of complexity.

7. Don’t be afraid of the white space

Actually it’s really hard to overestimate the importance of white space. Not only does it help to reduce the cognitive load for the visitors, but it makes it possible to perceive the information presented on the screen. When a new visitor approaches a design layout, the first thing he/she tries to do is to scan the page and divide the content areas into digestible pieces of information.

8. Communicate effectively with a “visible language”

In his papers on effective visual communication, Aaron Marcus states three fundamental principles involved in the use of the so-called “visible language” — the content users see on a screen.

• Organize: provide the user with a clear and consistent conceptual structure. Consistency, screen layout, relationships and navigability are important concepts of organization. The same conventions and rules should be applied to all elements.

• Economize: do the most with the least amount of cues and visual elements. Four major points to be considered: simplicity, clarity, distinctiveness, and emphasis. Simplicity includes only the elements that are most important for communication. Clarity: all components should be designed so their meaning is not ambiguous. Distinctiveness: the important properties of the necessary elements should be distinguishable. Emphasis: the most important elements should be easily perceived.

• Communicate: match the presentation to the capabilities of the user. The user interface must keep in balance legibility, readability, typography, symbolism, multiple views, and color or texture in order to communicate successfully. Use max. 3 typefaces in a maximum of 3 point sizes — a maximum of 18 words or 50-80 characters per line of text. 

9. Convention

Conventional design of site elements doesn’t result in a boring web site. In fact, conventions are very useful as they reduce the learning curve of your visitors. With conventions you can gain users’ confidence, trust, reliability and prove your credibility.

10. Test early, test often

Test, test and test again... this should be applied to every web design project. broke links, missing graphics are a big NO NO... Testing  often provides crucial insights into significant problems and issues related to a given layout.  Bottom line: if you want a great site, you’ve got to test...

11. The Price

This is the most important principal... Everybody wants a killer design, especially after seeing one that they lust over. Problem is, nobody wants to pay for it... A good design shouldn't cause you to run for the hills. At KielyNet , are prices could actually be considered totally reasonable by comparison. Don’t believe me?  Let us give you a quote.

To put our price into prospective, check out the following website: http://marinereefhabitat.com/  This site ran Gerardo approximately $600.00

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