Chapter 2 - Successful website layout

Demographics! And the technology the user is likely to be using. Website standard size 760x420 pixels.

Create a site map of navigational links

Enhance the content!

Layout types
Classic inverted ‘L’
-Good for corporate companies – large demographic.
-Defined by top and sidebar – Navigation/Logo

Top header
-Navigation and logo
-Simple and clean
-Used for drop down menus/navigation

Side navigation
-Clean and simple

Box shape
-Information in the middle – focus is drawn
-Classic header, content and footer

Left/right justified
-Stays fixed size

White space
-No sense of interface
-Simple and elegant

Full design
-Covers entire browser window
-Can be busy

Middle
-Interface middle – clarifies information

Classic black background with green/red text
-Not to be used for business websites
-Good for music sites

3D design
-Created using 3D software
-Drawback – download speeds

Horizontal scrolling
-Commonly used by artists, photographers and online stores
-Don’t over do it!

Unconventional
-Have layout but do not conform to typical layouts
-Free to design whatever you like

Emphasis
-Bold, Big, italic, different colours, shadow, glow, texture, shapes, borders, white space.
-Questions you need to ask yourself to decide what to emphasise.
What’s the message?
Which elements communicate the message?
More than one message?
Which visual element is most appealing?
Any elements that could be removed?