30 professional web design tips every non-designer needs to know

I hope you’re not reading this article because you’ve been trapped in creating your own website for months now. Or even worse, the client’s deadline is coming up soon, and a freelance designer ghosted you?

Let me admit that the best solution to your problem is a Deer Designer subscription, but you’re here for the list, so let’s go!

1. Choose a clean and simple layout: Keep your website’s layout clutter-free and easy to navigate. A clean design will make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.

2. Use white space effectively: White space, or negative space, refers to the empty areas on your website. It helps to create a balanced and visually pleasing design. Don’t be afraid of leaving some space between elements.

3. Select a cohesive color scheme: Stick to a limited color palette that matches your brand or the theme of your website. Use colors that complement each other, and avoid using too many different colors.

4. Make use of high-quality images: Use high-resolution images that are relevant to your content. Blurry or pixelated images can make your website look like it was made by an amateur.

5. Optimize your images: Compress your images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality. Large image files can slow down your website’s loading time.

6. Don’t forget responsive design: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and adapts to different screen sizes. A large percentage of internet users access websites on their mobile devices, so responsive design is crucial.

7. Keep fonts legible: Choose easy-to-read fonts for your website’s content. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts that may be difficult to read.

8. Use font hierarchy: Create a visual hierarchy by using different font sizes and styles (such as bold or italic) to highlight important information and headings.

9. Pay attention to typography: Consider the line spacing, letter spacing, and paragraph spacing to enhance readability. Proper typography can make a significant difference in how your content is perceived.

10. Use consistent headings and subheadings: Maintain consistency in your headings and subheadings throughout your website. This helps users navigate and understand the structure of your content.

11. Make buttons and links stand out: Use contrasting colors and proper styling to make buttons and links easily recognizable. This encourages users to click on them.

12. Simplify your navigation: Keep your website’s navigation simple and intuitive. Use clear labels and organize your menu in a logical order.

13. Include a search function: If your website has a lot of content, consider adding a search bar to help users find what they’re looking for quickly.

14. Optimize page loading speed: Minimize the use of large files and unnecessary plugins that can slow down your website. A fast-loading website improves the user experience and boosts search engine rankings.

15. Make important information easily accessible: Place important information, such as contact details or a call-to-action, where users can easily find it, preferably above the fold (the visible part of the page without scrolling).

Web design samples from Deer Designer

16. Use bullet points and lists: Break down complex information into bullet points or lists to make it more scannable and digestible.

17. Incorporate social sharing buttons: If you have a blog or shareable content, make it easy for visitors to share your content on social media platforms.

18. Ensure cross-browser compatibility: Test your website on different browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari) to ensure it functions correctly across all platforms.

19. Implement proper SEO practices: Optimize your website’s meta tags, headings, and content to improve its visibility in search engine results.

20. Add alt tags to images: Alt tags are descriptive text alternatives for images. They help search engines understand your content and improve accessibility for visually impaired users.

21. Make sure your website is accessible: To ensure that people with disabilities can use your website, abide by the accessibility guidelines.
This includes providing text alternatives for non-text content, using descriptive link text, and creating a logical reading order.

22. Test your website on different devices: Check how your website looks and functions on various devices, including smartphones and tablets.

23. Use a grid system: Grids help to align elements and create a consistent and balanced layout. Grid-based designs are appealing and give a sense of order.

24. Avoid excessive animations: While animations can enhance the user experience, too many of them can be distracting and slow down your website. Use animations sparingly and purposefully.

25. Include a clear call-to-action: Every page on your website should have a clear and prominent call-to-action, whether it’s to make a purchase, sign up for a newsletter, or contact you.

26. Test and iterate: Regularly test your website’s design, functionality, and user experience. Use analytics to gather data and make improvements based on user behavior and feedback.

27. Get feedback: Ask friends, colleagues, or users to provide feedback on your website’s design and usability. Fresh perspectives can help you identify areas for improvement and revision.

28. Stay up-to-date: Keep an eye on current web design trends to ensure your website doesn’t look outdated. However, don’t blindly follow trends if they don’t align with your brand or your users’ needs.

29. Use reputable website builders or templates: If you’re not comfortable coding or designing from scratch, consider using website builders or templates that offer professional-looking designs.

30. Continuously learn and improve: Web design is an ever-evolving field. Stay curious, explore new techniques, and keep learning to enhance your design skills.

31. (Bonus!) Subscribe to Deer Designer, and you won’t even have to do half of everything on this list!

Use this list as a checklist

Let’s say web design is not really one of your strong suits, and you eventually hire a designer or subscribe to an on-demand design service. Use this list as a guide or checklist if your designer has indeed created a high-quality web design.

By following these 30 easy web design tips, you can create a website that captures attention, delivers information effectively, sells your service and provides an enjoyable user experience.