Dos and don’ts of good web design

Last year, I was part of a team that redesigned a website for a consultancy company. Two in-house designers were in charge of the design, while I was assigned to revise the copy. 

Our designers were fantastic; I loved the first draft of their design.

Unfortunately, despite numerous revisions, the new design looked like the previous one 90% of the time. Why would they spend that much money if they didn’t trust the designer enough to overhaul their web design?

I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they had no idea what a good web design looked like. 

They probably didn’t know what kind of change they wanted to see, so they went back to a familiar design? Perhaps a new website had so many components that they didn’t know what to look for?

A good web design is essential for any business that wishes to succeed online. Excellent web design does not imply flashy designs, animations, or buttons. You can have all of that and still have a bad design.

Let’s take it one step at a time. This article will go over the fundamental aspects of web design that you should be aware of. I’ve outlined the essentials you should not overlook to ensure your web design is of the highest quality.

10 things to do to make a good website design

1. Be original. Adopt what is effective for your brand. Keep an eye out for design plagiarism.
2. Make your website easy to read on various devices.
3. Keep your copy in a conversational tone.
4. Use visual cues to direct your users’ attention.
5. Make the user experience enjoyable.
6. Make it simple for your users to get around and explore.
7. Consider using an on-demand design service to improve your and your client’s web design.
8. Make your design relevant and useful to your target audience.
9. Make use of negative space to balance the design.
10. Make sure that the design is accessible to people with disabilities.

10 things to avoid when creating a web design

1. Don’t be satisfied with a first impression. Make absolutely sure your web design is flawless on all pages.
2. Avoid making it difficult for your audience to read and find information.
3. Don’t forget to incorporate typography into your design.
4. Prevent from including unnecessary filler content. Clear the clutter from your website.
5. When designing navigation, keep the user journey in mind.
6. Don’t use “Adobe Flash” due to its long history of security flaws, malware, and bugs.
7. When using images, remember to include an alt tag so that your images can be found.
8. Remember to include a title tag for SEO purposes.
9. Refrain from using stock photos. They make your website appear outdated and uncreative.
10. Stick to your brand’s guidelines. Your website is your “home court,” and it must accurately represent your brand.

Seek professional design help

What a long list!  It seems that a website redesign can be overwhelming, especially for non-designers.

Keep in mind that you can ask for help from professional web designers. Most importantly, you must trust them to create the best design for your brand.

I hope this list helps you identify which aspects of your website can be improved. You will feel less overwhelmed and will be able to focus on what really matters: your brand and the user experience.