Essential Web Graphics
What All Web Designers Should Know
Chapter 3: The Web Designer's Task
A designer’s primary task is to create a strong, cohesive, and consistent visual hierarchy. All designers must accomplish this task while considering the way the medium for which they are designing can affect and restrict the design. For Web designers, this includes considering how the Web site will display in different browsers, on different monitors, and on different platforms.
Unique to Web design is the additional consideration that must be given to such end-user factors as ability to set font and color preferences, variations in screen sizes and access speeds, and users with special needs.
The addition of wireless devices also gives a unique facet to Web design. In short, a Web designer must give added consideration to the use of graphic elements. The restrictions of the Internet do not allow luxury of graphics that serve no constructive purpose.
A constructive graphic should do one of the following:
- Enhance the presentation
Use graphics to help breakup and organize information on a Webpage and provide a logical and intuitive visual structure for the navigation of a Website. Graphics used to build a consistent visual hierarchy are rarely wasted weight on a Webpage. Web designers should always be consistent. Remember, enhancing presentation does not mean decorating.
-or-
- Clarify or facilitate the
delivery of the message or content
Often a graphic can impart a clearer message than words. For example, take the word draft, it could mean a rough draft, a draft of beer, a light breeze, a military draft or subscription, or a transfer as with money. A graphic symbol can say the same thing to many people of many different languages. Used in this manner, graphics can be a vital part of communication or a key message.
Always ask these three questions:
- Is the wait (weight) really
needed?
Every K counts . . . and so does every second! No matter which type of connection users have, they always want Web sites to load faster.
- Is the graphic delivering
the message efficiently?
The image must clarify, not distract. Also consider simple line art. If your message can be communicated with a lightweight GIF rather than a weighty photo, your visitors will appreciate your consideration.
- Will the intended audience
understand?
Keep in mind that culture can affect interpretation. There is no point in using a graphic symbol that the audience doesn’t understand.
This is where I'd like to introduce a acronym being kicked around; KIS(S) - Keep It Simple (Stupid). The idea behind KIS(S) is easy: simplify everything!
