|
|
Table of Contents
|
Andleigh and Thakrar (1996) correctly point out that
there is never a single "correct" user interface design for a particular
application, only good or bad designs. Listed below are five main principles of good web site designs.
For additional information concerning these five principles, please read below and then check out some of the Web sites listed at the end of this page. |
1. Have a clear purpose in mind.
Web sites should have a clear purpose for existing. They should concentrate on a
particular theme or topic. The purpose of this web site is to summarize the principles of
good web site and page design and to offer links to other sites which cover these
principles in greater detail.
2. Know your intended audience.
Often the perceived correctness of a particular interface design is largely dependent on
the personal preferences of the individual user. For this reason, an important first step
in the design of a user interface is to know who will be using the interface (Lewis and
Rieman, 1994). This site is primarily intended for those people who are new to web site
design principles.
3. Have a well structured site.
Many authors such as Marcus (1990), McFarland (1995), Andleigh and Thakrar (1996), and
Levi and Conrad (1996), mention that a user interface needs to communicate clearly with
the intended user. In order to communicate clearly, a user interface should be well
organized and structured (Vaughan, 1996). Web pages within the site should have a
consistent and predictable appearance, so that it will be easier for users make sense out
of the web site. The best approach is to consistently apply a few basic design principles
to each web page in the site (Lynch, 1995). Specific structuring principles will be
further discussed in the "WWW Page Design" section of
this site.
4. Make your site easy to navigate.
If your web site is going to be useful, it must be easy to navigate. Navigation occurs at
two levels; within a particular web site and between web sites. Menus are often used to
aid navigation within a web site. Menus should be neither too shallow nor too deep and may
lose their effectiveness if they don't have at least four or five links (Lynch,
1997).
Zimmerman (1997) points out that one way to enhance the navigability within a site is to
include navigation aids such as "return to home page", "previous
page", and "next page" links on each web page. This not only increases the
navigability within your site, but allows users who enter your site on a page other than
your home page, to easily find their way around. While you don't have control over other
sites, you do have control over the links from your sites to other sites. It is up to you
to ensure that these links are pertinent to your site's topic and current.
5. Keep your site current.
The World Wide Web is constantly changing, as new sites are developed and old ones are
changed or go out of existence. It is up to you to keep your site current and accurate.
Check your links from time to time to be sure that the external sites still exist, and add
new links that are pertinent to your site's topic as you discover them.
Designs on Glass
A series of informative articles on Web site design, including
Rules of
Thumb (http://www.firelily.com/opinions/thumb.html)
&
A Web Site is a Harsh
Mistress (http://www.firelily.com/opinions/mistress.html). The
special focus is on complementing Web design skills with competence in interface design.
(http://www.firelily.com/opinions/index.html)
WELS Web Help
An excellent online guide to help build an effective web site. Contains sections on Web
Site Wonders, Design Desisions, HTML Tag Basics, Buzz Words, and Resources. (http://www.wels.net/sab/webhelp/web-home.html)
Yale Web Style Guide
A comprehensive web style manual for the construction of WWW sites. Includes sections on
navigation, site structure, and the efficient use of the World Wide Web. (http://info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/)
Five Principles of Good Web Site Design