6 Principles of Web Design: A Comprehensive Guide

Calls to action must be clear and conversions should always be a priority when it comes to web design. The Reciprocation Rule, Coherence, Consistency Rule, and the Rule of Taste are all important principles to consider when designing a website. Color, typography, images, simplicity, functionality, navigation, visual hierarchy, and loading speed are all key elements of effective website design. Alignment is also an important principle that helps to unify the elements of a page.

If you understand the fundamentals of visual design and UX principles, you can create a website that is both visually appealing and easy to use. When it comes to web design, calls to action must be clear and conversions should always be a priority. The Reciprocation Rule states that people feel obligated to pay someone when they have provided them with something. Coherence makes thinking easier because it requires little effort from the user.

The Consistency Rule states that if you can get someone to commit to something small and seemingly inconsequential, they will be more likely to commit to something larger. The Rule of Taste can best be explained by the example of Tupperware parties; when products were sold in person by people who knew each other, they became a success. Forever 21 uses soft colors in its color scheme; research has shown that pleasant color combinations increase customer engagement and make the user feel good. When it comes to typography, fonts must be legible and use only a maximum of 3 different fonts on the website.

Navigation is key to retaining visitors; it should be simple, intuitive, and consistent on every page. The visual hierarchy is the arrangement of elements in order of importance; this helps establish a focal point and shows visitors where the most important information is located. Waiting for a website to load will lose visitors; optimizing image size will help your site load faster. When choosing a color scheme, pay attention to the perspectives of your brand or industry along with the demographics of your target audience.

As for typography, formal roles such as lawyers and accountants should stick with distinguished serif fonts while photographers may use a very light and airy sans serif font. The text must be easily readable; generally this means that the body of the text must be at least 16 pixels. Alignment is one of the most basic and important principles of design; it helps to unify the elements of a page by creating a visual connection between them. If you understand the fundamentals of visual design and UX principles, you can create a website that is both visually appealing and easy to use.

Gloria Foulke
Gloria Foulke

Wannabe twitter lover. Freelance social media maven. Friendly twitter nerd. Hipster-friendly zombie advocate. Avid zombie practitioner. Amateur baconaholic.