Designing for the WWW: Observations, evolution, and processes
Date
1999
Authors
Nieland, Jennifer Lee
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Advisor
Herrnstadt, Steven
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Abstract
Designing for the WWW is a compilation of research and practice in the field of Web design. It is a combination of observations on the state of Web design, the evolution of a Web designer, and the processes the author has formulated in order to efficiently design Web sites, visually and structurally, from the very simple to the very complex. Designing for the Web involves more than designing the outward visual appearance of a site. It pervades every aspect of a web site, from the placement and type of navigation, to the structure of the entire site. A web site is designed to communicate a specific idea or group of ideas. The design of a site will affect how well that message is communicated, or if it is communicated at all. This document will give educators and other production and management people, a guideline to planning and creating, from the inside out, a well-designed, effective web site, through the experiences of the author. It will define procedures for planning and producing a web site, as well as more visual design related issues, such as color and graphics, layout techniques, and other important production tips. As in art, web site design is somewhat subjective; a person's idea of a good site may be the choice of color, or font, or any of the other countless design choices available to the designer. In reality, what determines if a web site is "good" is the combination of four major elements: readability, usability, speed and efficiency, and the over-all appropriateness and aesthetic qualities of the visual design. If all of the elements combine to give the user a good experience at the site, that site can be considered successful.
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