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Is Your Site full of C.R.A.P.?
With the advancements of the internet many people are now able to design their own web pages, MySpace pages, and social networking profiles. Yet unfortunately many of these same people do not have the time or opportunity to take courses in web design. Nevertheless, listed below are some tips and tricks to ensure your website is full of Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, & Positioning!
C- Contrast
Contrast is the difference between elements. This difference can be size, color, etc. Contrast adds visual interest to a page. The following are a list of various contrasting tips.
- You should always use enough contrast between your sites’ background color and text. People with a visual handicap can have a very hard time reading your site.
- Avoid busy backgrounds
- Don’t be afraid to use different fonts and font sizes. Make your headers big and visible. Make notes small.
- Use contrasting colors to make the distinction between menu’s, header and content on your page. Big differences in color make navigation easier. It’s easier to recognize a menu bar or info box if it’s in a different color than the rest of your site.
R - Repetition
Repeat aspects of your design. Repetition adds consistency to your pages. If you repeat elements of your design throughout your entire site, your visitors will know they are still on the same site. Repeating elements can be colors, certain lines, images, bullets and anything you can think of. The following are a list of various repetition tips.
- Use consistent fonts and font sizes for the same types of information – (make sure to use standard fonts because users of your site can only see a specific font if they have it on their PC)
- Be consistent in font’s size and type throughout your entire site. You should use only two or three variations at the most.
- Repeat headings and make them consistent (same size, color)
- Repeat elements like your navigation bar, background and menus across all of your pages
A - Alignment
Alignment is the key to making a page look neat. Good alignment will make your page look coherent and professional.
- Include plenty of white space (space between text or elements) - balance the page, give the eyes a break with empty space.
- Use the same margin size between page elements like menus and content areas. For example, stick with 10 pixels throughout your entire design.
- If you use padding, try to use the same padding everywhere.
- Align menu bars, advertisements and other element vertically with the content of your site.
- Use text alignment. Sometimes aligning text in the center or to the right can look great. Justified alignment (like in the news papers) can sometimes make an otherwise messy text look neat and professional
P-Positioning
The last principle is positioning. You should be mindful of how and where you place items on your pages. A typical rule of thumb is, order your items of importance from the top down on your page. In fact, all items of importance should be placed “above the bar”. In other words, all items of importance should be placed on the page where your viewers can see them without scrolling.
- If you group items, make sure there is enough space between the group of items and other groups
- Organize your groups of elements in such a way that the reader does not have to jump his eyes around the page to get the information he or she is looking for.
- Items that are not related to each other should not be placed close to each other
- Images should not be too large, distorted, or not compressed at all, this causes delays in loading.
Ensuring these C.R.A.P. principles are used throughout your site can progressively increase the quality of the design. People who hear of your product, service, or business will most likely look at your website. Your credibility as a business person will tie directly to how professional your website looks. Following these principles can guarantee your success.
