Website Design Archives - Page 2 of 9

The Big and the Bold with Typography

Written by Webfoot on January 18, 2018. Posted in Blog, Website Design, Websites (General).

There is a belief held by many that typography has to be both big and bold for it to have an impact with the design of a website. However, that is not entirely true as there are so many variations when it comes to fonts and their sizes that it can easily become rather a complex issue to ascertain as to which font to use.

Of course, there is also the train of thought that it is going to be dependent on the placement and what you hope to achieve with your typography, so merely putting any old thing on your website could certainly prove to be counter-productive.

This then brings us to the question as to how on earth you deal with this rather pressing issue because you will clearly want to get things correct at the first time of asking. Remember, approximately 95% of all of the information that appears on the Internet is in the written word, so just throwing anything onto your website with your fonts is not advised.

Avoiding Mixing them Up.

Even though it may be tempting, you are strongly advised against mixing up the fonts and having numerous different styles all over your website. This not only makes everything look messy, but it will also prove to be rather confusing for the visitor, and that will hardly be conducive to them enjoying their visit.

You should really look at using no more than three different fonts on a website, but also keep in mind that you can use different sizes of fonts as well, so you do have slightly more scope than you would have perhaps previously imagined.

Consider Font Combinations.

If you are looking at using more than one font, then there is a very real requirement for you to consider font combinations. This will involve you using two fonts with the same characteristics to provide at least a certain sense of unity across your page.

Deciding to make use of fonts where one is naturally in bold and in your face while the other is more slender will only confuse your visitors as well as looking extremely messy.

Stick to Standard Fonts.

Even though it is clearly very tempting to go ahead and make use of a number of the cool fonts that are out there, it has been shown that standard fonts will often prove to be the winner. In fact, visitors react better to the standard fonts as opposed to anything else, so if you think that you are using an elaborate font to make things stand out, then you are wasting your time.

Instead, stick to what everybody already enjoys viewing as there is nothing at all wrong with that approach. However, say that there is a very apparent need for a custom font, then it is still advisable to not overdo it whenever you can. Just constantly remind yourself that people already know what they like, so doing something just to be different is not the best option.

Remember Line Length.

Finally, there is one last point that needs to be covered as it is often overlooked by designers and that is connected to the concept of line length. You simply do not want your text to go on for an eternity as it will not only look messy, but will also become difficult to read.

Keep line lengths as short as possible especially when you are dealing with main headings. The theory that a heading needs to be as descriptive as possible to garner attention is not as accurate as you may initially think. Instead, it is the typography that will often draw people into parts of your website rather than the text itself.

As you can perhaps see, there is more to the typography than just choosing some font and throwing onto your website in the hope that it looks good. Instead, careful selection of the font, how it is used, and also the size will play a major role in the overall appearance of your website. Uniformity will often be key in ultimately producing something that is pleasing to the eye, and considering you want to do everything and anything possible to not only attract visitors but also keep them there, then the last thing you want is for your use of typography to be your downfall.

Are These the Web Design Trends for 2018?

Written by Webfoot on January 4, 2018. Posted in Blog, Website Design, Websites (General).

We’ve reached the end of 2017, and it is always useful to look at the potential trends for web design that are expected to become more prominent in 2018. Of course, there is no guarantee that these ideas are going to take off and become mainstream over the next 12 months, but there is certainly the potential for that to be the case.

Furthermore, understanding what the trends are going to be in advance does also allow you to possibly think about changing your website slightly so it can remain contemporary and not look out of date.

It has to be Clean.

The first thing is that the design has to be very clean. This is linked to the very real rise in cell phone usage for browsing websites, and those users only want something that is not cluttered or too difficult to navigate around.

The most important point here is that you get your main reason for a page across in a simple message but do not go over the top with all of the added extras that you feel is filling some blank spaces. It just is not worth it.

The Typography.

The ideas behind typography change on a regular basis especially when it comes to the design. In 2018, it is anticipated that typography is going to become bolder and more artistic with it being used to draw the visitor towards certain actions and grabbing their attention.

You will also find that the use of buttons is going to reduce in popularity as text links will become more prominent.

The Use of Subtle Animation.

Animation has been quite popular, but in 2018 it is going to be the time of being subtle that will come to the fore. We are talking about slight animation whereby there is limited movement on a graphic that is complete in next to no time at all. This could include the use of animated logos on websites and it is all thanks to the way in which browsers, as well as devices, are now better equipped than ever before to deal with the power that is required for these animations to work smoothly.

The Bespoke Illustration.

Illustrations can be an effective tool in your design, but in 2018 it is not going to be about using the same illustration as a number of other websites. Instead, the bespoke illustration concept is going to take off and it does mean that there is the opportunity to do something that is very individualistic right from the beginning.

The idea of having this unique illustration is that it can be built into your brand development which is also going to be very useful when it comes to the marketing of your website.

Imagery that is Authentic.

Photography has always been important in web design, but there is going to be a further push on making sure that the images are directly related to what your website is all about. Furthermore, there will be an increase in the hiring of professional photographers to take bespoke images specifically for that website and its aims so the use of stock images is certainly going to decrease.

Video is the Star.

Video has been used extensively in recent years, and that is a trend that is going to continue throughout 2018. The fact that devices are becoming more powerful does mean that a website is less likely to be slowed down, so using video is certainly going to be a good move.

The only advice with this part is that the video should be related to what you are doing so do not think that you could just go ahead and include it so that everything looks nice because that is just not going to work.

Those are just a few of the potential ideas and trends that are expected to play a major role in web design over 2018. Of course, there is no reason for you to actually go ahead and use these ideas as your website is your design and if something works for you, then stick with it.

However, just being made aware of what the industry is looking at can always prove to be useful. If you feel like a change is required, then contact your designer and see what changes they feel they can make.

Perhaps Your Ultimate Tips For Choosing Your Color Scheme

Written by Webfoot on December 19, 2017. Posted in Blog, Graphic Design, Website Design, Websites (General).

Let’s face it, no matter how good the information or products on your website may be, people will be immediately turned away if your website is not pleasant on the eye. One major area where there is often cause for concern is with the color scheme as it’s fair to say that some schemes are rather sore on the eyes.

So, with that point in mind, you may be interested to know how you should even go about selecting your color scheme in the first place. After all, this is something that you want to get correct at the first time of asking as it is a costly business to change it later on.

Thankfully, there are several key points in mind that should make a difference.

Remember People are Color Blind.

The first point is to remember that some individuals are color blind. If you use colors that are difficult for those that are not color blind to comprehend, then you are going to be eliminating a percentage of your market.

This is something that your designer can look into, but it is certainly something that has to be kept in consideration during the design process.

Keep Your Audience in Mind.

When choosing colors, you need to keep your audience in mind at all times. After all, you need to choose colors that will be pleasant to them rather than making it difficult to even read what they see on the screen. This can even include looking at whether your main audience is local or international, in which case understanding the way in which different colors can be perceived culturally will also prove to be important.

Remember Your Brand.

At all times you must remember your brand because there is absolutely no point in having your brand and color scheme at odds against one another. When that happens, you simply give the impression that you are not in control of what is going on with your brand and it will ultimately lead to everything appearing to be rather disjointed. Clearly, this can then have a negative impact on your brand in general, so having continuity across the board will only ever reflect well on your online presence.

Create a Palette First.

There are different options available when it comes to creating a color palette before the design part is then in full swing. You don’t want to have too many different shades or completely different colors all on the one page as this makes it too busy for people to even concentrate on anything.

You are best to choose perhaps two main colors and then start to work from those two incorporating shades that blend in well with them. Look at color charts and build from that point, but do remember that you should not really have more than five colors on the one page, excluding photographs, or it can start to look messy.

Create a Rough Template.

Prior to becoming fully involved in the design process, it makes a lot of sense for you to create a rough template of a page with the color scheme that you have chosen incorporated into it. With this, there will be a number of potential ways in which it can go as you may decide that the color scheme just doesn’t work at all, or you could decide that you need to cut out a color or two.

Alternatively, you may look at the template and feel that the color you had initially chosen to be your primary shade should not be in that position as something else seems to be working better. However, the good part is you have not invested a considerable amount of time and effort up until this point, so making the relevant changes will prove to be rather easy to do.

As you can see, there is so much more to selecting a color scheme for your website than simply settling on shades that appeal to you on a personal level. Instead, you need to think about things in a more widespread manner as well as being sensible with your entire approach. Color schemes make a huge difference to the way in which your website is ultimately viewed by your visitors. Remember that they will make their decision as to whether or not they will go ahead and spend money within the first few seconds, so getting the colors correct will prove to be essential.

Should 2018 be the year you update your website? Yes, it probably is.

Written by Webfoot on November 21, 2017. Posted in Blog, Uncategorized, Website Design, Websites (General).

2018 is around the corner and it’s time to look forward! In today’s world, it’s important for a business to have a user-friendly, mobile responsive website. The days of looking a company up in the phone book are behind us, and today people are looking you up on the internet. What will they see when they find you?

If your website hasn’t been redesigned within the past 2-3 years, it is considered out of date. Visitors tend to use companies with an updated site. Why? It shows that they are continuing to grow and want to keep up with their company to improve customer experience and service.

Cell phones, tablets, desktops, etc. How does your website look and respond to each of these devices? This is incredibly important today. 80% of internet users own a smartphone. That is a high percentage, and that means you need to be ready for them to visit your website from that phone. Mobile first web design is becoming a staple at Webfoot, and we strive to ensure user experience on all devices is smooth and friendly.

What is your business model? If your website has not changed in 5+ years, there is a strong chance that your website no longer reflects your business properly. Redesigning your website gives you the opportunity to give visitors a fresh take on who you are as a business and what you can offer your customers. A very important thing to consider is that your website is less about you, and more about your visitors and potential clients/customers. Build your website with them in mind.

Content is king, however, too much content will push your visitors away. Once someone lands on your website you only have a few seconds to capture their interest. Interesting bullet points and dynamic images need to be front and center. Consistency in design and content will keep users on your website longer improve your chances of that visit converting into business.

Lastly, consider security needs for your website. Any site is at risk and can be hacked. With that said, old sites have old code and that code is more susceptible to attack. Consider a screen door leading out to your backyard. When it’s new, the screen is strong and taut. You never worry about any bugs getting through and you are able to enjoy the fresh air worry free. After time, the screen weakens a bit and a small hole begins to develop. You notice little gnats making their way into the house so you put a patch over the little hole. One day, you notice a small cut in your screen and now mosquitoes and flys are getting into the house. You continue to patch the screen, but now it looks terrible and the patches don’t stay on very well and the holes keep growing.
This is your website. You can patch the site and hope that the bugs won’t get in, but unless you replace that screen, you’re going to continue to have issues. By redeveloping your site every few years, you are not guaranteed to keep all bugs out, but you are definitely making it more difficult for them to find their way in.

Let’s work together to start your companies year off strong. We, at Webfoot, look forward to working with you on your new site, and helping your business to grow.

Are You Aware of the Weight of Your Web Page?

Written by Webfoot on November 17, 2017. Posted in Blog, Website Design, Websites (General).

Within web design, there is an understanding that you need to be aware of the potential weight of a web page before a site can go live. The heavier the page, the longer it takes to load leading to users becoming frustrated and having a negative experience that could ultimately stop them from coming back.

The actual average weight of a page has increased over the years, but this is seen as being in line with advances in technology and faster connections. Previously, the average weight was 1MB, but that has now gone up to 3MB, and there is every chance that it could rise further.

Of course, as this is the average, it does mean that there are websites out there that weigh more than this, but there is a pretty good chance that they will suffer from a high bounce rate, which is always a negative thing to deal with.

But then, why are they getting heavier? The answer is partly linked to design trends and people being capable of getting away with more when it comes to what they can put on individual pages. Take for example the explosion in use of video on the home page, and in particular with the header image. This is something that is now all over the Internet, but video is heavy even when it is parsed down as much as possible so that the loading experience is not hampered too much.

Also, people have a tendency to use more creative fonts that can also be heavier in weight, and then there are various plugins that bring in data from elsewhere and display it on your website. All of this makes a difference, but it often does so quietly and without anybody being aware of what is going on.

However, looking at the way in which pages are created, it is also interesting to note that the load times have stayed pretty static over the years. They have only increased ever so slightly and certainly nowhere near the increase of the average weight. Clearly, this is due to the way that technology has kept pace with these changes. If you cast your mind back to when you first came onto the Internet and compare it to how things are today, then you will see for your own self how this is something that has completely changed.

So, if technology has kept pace, then why is looking at the average weight of a page so important?

The answer is more obvious than you may think, and it is all to do with where this is all heading.

For some experts, there is the belief that it is going to increase further to at least 4MB within the next 18 months. There is the fear that technology will be squeezed and have to try to adapt to fit in with the changes as people demand more from websites and the information that they can access in an instant. People want speed. They do not want to hang around waiting for a website to load, so there is more emphasis on speed rather than power in technology, and that is where a problem can occur.

There is the real possibility that websites could almost outstrip the capabilities of technology to provide the user with a pleasant experience. There is every possibility that more people will become frustrated with a website and blame it on the technology when it is the actual website that is the problem.

What is required is a re-think about what should actually appear on a page and whether or not it does contribute to the overall experience. In the past, using Flash on websites was seen as being cool, but it had a negative impact on the way in which the site would load resulting in people walking away and Flash being disbanded in the near future. It was too heavy and it would still cause some problems today for some people.

That in itself is a lesson that we should remember or else we could repeat the same mistake, but this time it is connected to the need for more value for your money. Yes, you should always want to provide the user with everything they need on your site, but to do it in as fancy a way as possible is not going to be the wisest decision that you have ever made.