Lesson Answers: Web Design and You
3 Rules for Web Design:
1. Use intuitive navigation
Navigation is one of the most important aspects of a good website, as it allows users to easily find their way around the different pages of your site by increasing the overall usability of the site. Confusing navigation layouts will result in people quitting a page rather than trying to understand it, making the website much less appealing. Having an easy-to-read, main, horizontal menu bar at the top of the page, and/or a sidebar in the left-hand margin, allows for flawless navigation and makes your website much more attractive to possible users.
Navigation is one of the most important aspects of a good website, as it allows users to easily find their way around the different pages of your site by increasing the overall usability of the site. Confusing navigation layouts will result in people quitting a page rather than trying to understand it, making the website much less appealing. Having an easy-to-read, main, horizontal menu bar at the top of the page, and/or a sidebar in the left-hand margin, allows for flawless navigation and makes your website much more attractive to possible users.
2. Spacing
There is nothing more bothersome than trying to find information on a website that is completely covered in text that is either entirely too small or close together. Successful spacing is an essential part of a website when ensuring that a user can easily gather information, while helping to create clarity. Spacing considers three main aspects: line spacing (the space between lines in a group of text), padding (space between different elements), and white space (allowing an appropriate amount of blank space), which should all add consistency and clarity when done properly.
There is nothing more bothersome than trying to find information on a website that is completely covered in text that is either entirely too small or close together. Successful spacing is an essential part of a website when ensuring that a user can easily gather information, while helping to create clarity. Spacing considers three main aspects: line spacing (the space between lines in a group of text), padding (space between different elements), and white space (allowing an appropriate amount of blank space), which should all add consistency and clarity when done properly.
3. Consistency
Consistency in a website means making everything match, which adds to the overall visual appeal of the website. Heading sizes, font choices, colouring, button styles, spacing, design elements, illustration styles, photo choices, etc. should all be complementary of each other and contribute to the common theme of the site. This adds coherence, style, and most importantly, makes your website appear professional, rather than sloppy.
Consistency in a website means making everything match, which adds to the overall visual appeal of the website. Heading sizes, font choices, colouring, button styles, spacing, design elements, illustration styles, photo choices, etc. should all be complementary of each other and contribute to the common theme of the site. This adds coherence, style, and most importantly, makes your website appear professional, rather than sloppy.
Rating Website-Building Tools
I have rated the following tools used for creating websites in order of worst to best:
5. Webs
I rated Webs as the worst tool simply because it was blocked from the TDSB browser, which is obviously not an ideal quality for a website.
5. Webs
I rated Webs as the worst tool simply because it was blocked from the TDSB browser, which is obviously not an ideal quality for a website.
4. Google Sites
I have rated Google Sites as the second worst tool as I was unable to even view a promotional or help page without having a previously-existing google account, making judging its effectiveness difficult. I am also aware that when using Google tools, it places all of your Google needs under one account. Although this appeals to many people, I much more prefer having a separate account for all of my different projects.
I have rated Google Sites as the second worst tool as I was unable to even view a promotional or help page without having a previously-existing google account, making judging its effectiveness difficult. I am also aware that when using Google tools, it places all of your Google needs under one account. Although this appeals to many people, I much more prefer having a separate account for all of my different projects.
3. WordPress
Although it is not the best of the group, WordPress does offer redeeming qualities that makes it a good tool for creating a website. To start, it was easy for me to navigate my way around to find their “Features” page, which allowed me to view some of the sites features. However, this page was not as clear as some of the other tools, and made reading the information a little bit hectic. Due to this, I was not as intrigued to use the services that this site provides. However, I did enjoy the variety of themes that WordPress offers, and it seemed that creating a website would be relatively simple.
Although it is not the best of the group, WordPress does offer redeeming qualities that makes it a good tool for creating a website. To start, it was easy for me to navigate my way around to find their “Features” page, which allowed me to view some of the sites features. However, this page was not as clear as some of the other tools, and made reading the information a little bit hectic. Due to this, I was not as intrigued to use the services that this site provides. However, I did enjoy the variety of themes that WordPress offers, and it seemed that creating a website would be relatively simple.
2. SimpleSite
Due to various factors, SimpleSite seems to be the second most effective tool for users looking to create a professional website with ease. After easily finding the “How it Works” and “Features” pages I quickly noticed that the site’s layout was very simple and neat, allowing me to effortlessly read about the features that SimpleSite offers. This included different designs and background colours, domain names, maps, image choices, and much more, while also offering very helpful examples of websites already created on their site. However, I did not rate SimpleSite as the best tool due to the fact editing the website is very complicated (it takes you to a separate page) and it is not as flexible for moving elements around and changing their designs.
Due to various factors, SimpleSite seems to be the second most effective tool for users looking to create a professional website with ease. After easily finding the “How it Works” and “Features” pages I quickly noticed that the site’s layout was very simple and neat, allowing me to effortlessly read about the features that SimpleSite offers. This included different designs and background colours, domain names, maps, image choices, and much more, while also offering very helpful examples of websites already created on their site. However, I did not rate SimpleSite as the best tool due to the fact editing the website is very complicated (it takes you to a separate page) and it is not as flexible for moving elements around and changing their designs.
1. Weebly
I rated Weebly as the best tool because of its overall clarity, simplicity, and user-friendly appeal. Weebly seems to offer tons of themes, domain name options, mobile-use accessibility, and website statistic opportunities to users. Weebly also offered the most effective way for users to edit their website, by allowing them to pick up and “drop” certain elements to their site (including text, images, youtube links, etc.) extremely easily to whichever position they choose. Users can also change fonts, colours, and themes mid-editing. All of these elements work together to create the most user-friendly environment for creating and editing professional and casual websites.
I rated Weebly as the best tool because of its overall clarity, simplicity, and user-friendly appeal. Weebly seems to offer tons of themes, domain name options, mobile-use accessibility, and website statistic opportunities to users. Weebly also offered the most effective way for users to edit their website, by allowing them to pick up and “drop” certain elements to their site (including text, images, youtube links, etc.) extremely easily to whichever position they choose. Users can also change fonts, colours, and themes mid-editing. All of these elements work together to create the most user-friendly environment for creating and editing professional and casual websites.