Chapter 1

1. When preparing to design a website it is important to be clear about the message you as a designer wish to convey. So much of the communication which comes through a website is not conveyed by the text but by the font choice, imagery, color palette, and the level of user interaction. The designer must consider all of these elements, as well as the knowledge about the most likely users of the site in order to develop and effective solution to convey the intended message.

2. It is important to know the client well, for it is their goals which you are trying to fulfill with the design. Identify the client’s problems before beginning to identify possible solutions. Design solutions will be more effective if you first develop a clear understanding of what exactly the client needs to accomplish. By following this method it is easier to avoid creating elements that are irrelevant or unnecessary.

3. So many times we’ve been told to “know your audience” but it is a crucial aspect of web design and as discussed in this section, it is important to anticipate your audience’s needs.
If a user can come to your site and quickly retrieve the information that they are looking for, the site is more likely to build user loyalty and satisfaction.

4. As a follow up to the last point, a designer should tailor the site to the user as opposed to the client. The site should solve the client’s problems but it should be designed in a way that makes for easy usability and provides what the users are looking for.

5. To develop a clear understanding of what your website should accomplish, it can be useful to compose a mission statement. This can be referred to throughout the design process and also when you feel the site is complete. It can serve as a test to help ensure that the site accomplishes everything you intended it to.