Web Design
Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it's decoration. Jeffery Zeldman, Author of Designing with Web Standards
Content
Make your content as concise as possible by using short sentences, summaries, and bullet points and headings whenever the content calls for it. Most of all, remember that people don’t read!
Font Size
Designate font sizes in "ems" or "%" so that users can increase the text in their own browsers. Begin with a legible size of at least 1em or 100%. Make sure your line lengths are not so long that the reader's eye get's tired by the end (you can usually judge this simply by having someone read it).
Navigation
Make navigation visible, consistent in placement and function throughout your website; this will create a higher level of usability.
Dimensions
Design your site to display on resolutions ranging from 52" (widescreen TV) to 120px (cell phone/mobile device). Keeping your design flexible ensures that it will be accessible to all users.
Color
Color can be used to create hierarchy or add emphasis to your content. Text should be black or a dark color. Background colors used behind text should be different enough to provide contrast.
Graphics
Images should be saved and displayed at the size they are to be used, and not resized using the html code. Photographs should be .jpg or .png files; vector graphics and logos should be .gif files.
You can obtain images and photographs from a variety of sources, including:
- NCSU Creative Services provides photographs of campus events, students, classrooms, etc. that are available for university use.
- Personal photographs are free and the person who takes the photo owns the copyright. Make sure to get permission from any individuals in your photos to use them on the Internet.
- Online stock photo websites are usually fee-based and have varying copyright policies. A Web search for "stock images" will yield a number of websites.
