In the process of redesigning the Cybermill website we got to thinking about our approach to design – how we treat each project we work on. Here are five elements that need to be considered when putting together your website: Usability, Accessibility, Branding, Presentation and Features.
1. Usability – does it work?
You have to treat every visitor to your website with care: attention-spans are short and your competition is just a click or two away. Usability ensures that everything you offer is clean, up-front and easy to use.
There’s nothing more frustrating than a broken site: missing pages, links that don’t work, text that doesn’t copy. There are other kinds of ‘broken’ too – such as confusing menus, hard-to-read text, inappropriate animation and lots more. Nothing on your site should annoy, irritate or confuse – everything should be clearly presented and simple to use.
Checklist:
Sometimes it’s tempting to let style overcome basic usability. Take the main site menu as an example:
- Is your menu always in the same place on each page?
- Does your menu follow the same style and appearance on each page?
- Do the items in your menu have clear concise names?
- Is the menu written in plain HTML (no Flash, JavaScript or plain images)?
If the answer is YES to all four above then you’ve passed a basic usability test!
How do we approach usability?
The only solution to the complex issue of usability is to employ professional web designers who understand these key principles; designers can offer experience and advice to help you get the very best out of your website.
2. Accessibility – does it work for everyone?
The web is available everywhere, on different devices – mobile phones, tablets, notebooks – different internet browsers. Your site also needs to work properly when the text is resized, or when using a screen reader. Websites must be built to be dynamic – to resize, adapt and to degrade gracefully if need be. You cannot always guarantee that your visitors will have up-to-date software so your site will need to fit their capabilities.
Checklist:
Did you know that some internet browsers interpret website code differently? Have you thought about how your site works on different screen resolutions?
- Install a range of the most commonly used browsers on your computer to test the site – see any bugs?
- Try viewing your website with a lower screen resolution – do you need to scroll left and right to see everything?
- Visit your website using an iPad or other tablet device. Does everything look OK?
How do we approach accessibility?
With a thorough understanding of the tech that runs your site; the coding language(s) that exist beneath the design. We’ll always use standards-compliant code written with search engines in mind, thoroughly tested and compatible with all modern browsers and devices.
3. Branding – does it fit?
Is your website appropriate for your business – does it send the right message? Does it fit with the rest of your branding? In an overcrowded market it’s vital to have something that stands out – something that’s unique. One of the great benefits of a bespoke website is that it is created to suit your business – using your branding, colour and content.
Checklist:
Sometimes having an effective design is just about being appropriate to your business message.
- Have you considered the target audience? Have you added something just because you like it?
- Is your choice of font appropriate? (Comic Sans and Papyrus are not appropriate fonts!)
- Do you really need extra snazzy illustrations and backgrounds, or would the site be better with a simpler colour scheme?
- Does the site match the style and colours in your logo?
How do we approach branding?
Each site we build is the result of collaboration between client and designer – with your input and our expertise. We offer a one-on-one relationship with the web designer who works on your site and years of design and branding experience for small to medium-sized businesses.
4. Presentation – does it look great?
Most visitors will form an opinion within the first three seconds; bespoke design will help your business make an immediate impact. Most web users regularly visit big brand sites so they can clearly identify the difference between a site designed by an amateur and one that’s been custom-built by a professional agency. You wouldn’t decorate your high-street store with designs done by the next-door-neighbour’s son – so avoid amateur prices and tired old templates.
Checklist:
Good design is about personal taste as much as anything – but there are some general guidelines to follow:
- Symmetry is more pleasing to the eye
- White-space (empty, neutral or negative space) allows breathing room
- Things look better in threes
- Contrast your colours, especially with text
- Drop shadows, embossing effects and any other gimmicks should be used only with subtlety
How do we approach presentation?
We only offer bespoke designs, done from scratch in Photoshop. We start with a blank document and take it from there. We aim to make every project striking, professional and memorable. We also offer unlimited proofs so you are 100% satisfied with the end result.
5. Features – what does it do?
The core of your site is its functionality. A brochure site needs to display your content and do it well – other sites might involve extra features, like galleries, contact forms, mailing lists, blogs, client areas and much more. These extra tools and services add value to your site and let it work for you 24-hours a day generating new contacts and sales.
Checklist:
The best advice here is simply to ensure that you don’t overdo the functionality of your website.
- Ask yourself: do you really need this feature?
- What’s the core job of the site. Does it do this well?
- Ask someone non-technical to use the site – how do they get on?
How do we approach features?
We offer an extensive range of popular and well-tested tools and add-ons as well as full custom development services for bespoke applications. Whatever your site needs to do we’ll be able to offer a comprehensive solution that’s carefully designed and flawlessly integrated.