In fact, around 8% of all web users still have their screen resolution set to 800×600 pixels.Ī website that launches today might be viewed on hundreds of different screen types, in any of 4 major browsers. We all know that guy who bought his monitor back in ’96 and still swears by it in 2008. It’s true that computers and Internet browsers evolve quickly, but don’t forget that consumers are slow to change. Some of the elaborate, flashy sites we see these days are in fact invisible to search robots.Ī good interaction designer won’t let this happen: she’ll respect your SEO needs and create an attractive, content-ready design that search engines will love. If you’re concerned with your rank in search listings, you need to choose a designer who’ll help you speak to search engines. vertical navigation, or the need for standard fonts (critical for dynamic text).Īnd, with content managers putting updates into the hands of site owners, web designers must create templates and style sheets that will continue to look great every time you update content, add pages, or change images on your site. Important considerations might include text vs. To make sure your site continues to feel current long after launch, your designer should forego the cutesy, clever, or trendy in favor of the clear, classic, and lasting. Interacting with an out-of-date site is like talking to a wall: it feels futile, lonely, and downright silly. The Internet, on the other hand, is all about change. Once it rolls off the press, the text on that paper will be the same forever. The web is an extremely useful tool for those with physical impairments.Īnd keep in mind that accessibility serves all users: in the words of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, “accessible design is good design.” Ease of UpdatesĮvery print piece is frozen in time. It’s not only possible to make websites accessible to people with disabilities – it’s often mandatory, as in the case of many government projects. This goes hand-in-hand with usability: make a site more accessible, and you’ll make it more user-friendly.Īccessibility is also a key area of difference between print and interactive: a graphic designer might not consider how a print piece will work for blind people, but a web designer must think about how a site will work for every potential visitor. Think of it this way: if graphic designers are warriors in the battle against ugliness, web designers are warriors in the battle against ugliness and confusion. If your web page takes too long to appear – or if it fails to update users on loading status – you’ll lose visitors. Many designers get so caught up in creating fancy-schmancy landing pages that they forget the user. It communicates in the target audience’s language, and it doesn’t leave visitors frustrated, confused, or lost. On the web, your visitors take an active role in their own experience – meaning that if they don’t enjoy the experience, they’ll take action and leave.Ī user-friendly site provides clear pathways to tools, products, or information. UsabilityĮver clicked on a brochure or a business card? I didn’t think so. In this article, we’ll look at what makes web design so different, and we’ll talk about what to look for in a site designer. Can a graphic designer design a website? Of course!īut there are risks involved when someone who thinks in terms of paper and inches starts creating designs for screens and pixels.
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