Welcome to ForMinistry Web_builder Tips

The Wonderful World of Web Design:
Lesson #4 - Getting the Layout of the Land

This is the fourth in a series of WWWD Tips on how to design a better website. You can also read it at http://www.forministry.com/webbuilder/tips.dsp.

Introduction

Usually, the problem is not so much getting good material on your website, but how to arrange all the good things you want to put up.

Here you've got all your schedules, important facts, dates, and material ready to go, and you find youself asking, "How am I going to organize all this stuff on this webpage?" You want to highlight everything that's important, of course, and keep similar items together, but how will you design your page so that it looks good and makes sense?

Whe n most people look at a website they don't usually linger for long periods of time. Most lose intereste quickly - generally just a few glances is all it takes. So make sure that when you lay out all your great material on your webpgage, you do everything possible to make it look as good as you can.

Keep it Simple

As you may have noticed, simple is a common theme when it comes to good web design, whether it's page layout, images, or text.

The general rule is - each item you add to a webpage creates one more thing that demands attention. At some point, the page can contain too much information and/or too many things to look at. Group similar or related material together, and if needed, create a separate page from them.

When you lay out your page, choose a design that works with your material. Whether you design your page using columns or blocks, make sure it doesn't become a distraction from your page items.

Whites and Colors

"White space" refers to the areas on your website that are blank - for instance, that have no images or text. White space is usually a white or a lighter background color. Good use of white space not only keeps your page looking clean, but emphasizes the material that is there. Dark and uncommon colors, as well as background images, can sometimes be a distraction.

Remember, contrast and emphasis are the keys to highlight your priority items. One hint is to start on a blank page with the important stuff first - then add the secondary items and any design enhancements. Backgrounds should emphasize and bring out the important details, not take away from them.

You may see many different colors and color combinations on the web. This does not mean, however, they are all good to use. Unless there are specific reasons for using uncommon colors, it's a good idea to stick with colors and color schemes that are simple and easy on the eyes.

How Much on One Page?

Most computers will open up website pages similarly, viewing each page about the same size. So what you see on your computer is pretty much what others would see when they open up your website. Obviously, the more material you have on a page will cause the viewer to have to scroll down to see it, and lengthy pages are usually a deterent to keeping interest.

Try to keep you pages as close to the viewable size (without scrolling) as possible - about 700x700 pixels. If you need to publish more than that on your page, try to keep the height less than four scroll lengths (about four times the initial viewable height). When you run out of room, just create a new page.

Design away!