Current Web Design Basics
Web design encompasses many different skills and disciplines in the creation, designing, production and maintenance of websites. The different areas of web design include web graphic design; interface design; authoring, including standardised code and proprietary software; user experience design; and search engine optimization. Web designers some times incorporate a team of members that specialize in certain aspects; graphics, layout, coding, content, etc. The term web design is normally used to describe the design process relating to the front-end (client side) part of a website including the visual and textual content. Web designers are expected to have an awareness of usability and if their role involves creating content then they are also expected to be up to date with current access guidelines
With today’s internet faster speeds, wireless, home/business & mobile alike, today’s website designs have become chunkier, bolder and more vibrant with larger full page photos, full background photos, video backgrounds and more graphic/photo intense styles.
There are several prominent newer styles that are becoming popular with both local business websites and larger company landing pages. Parallax/scrolling styles and 1 page (all on one page) types seem to be showing up everywhere.
Parallax sites are ones that have text over a background image/photo and the image in the background scrolls at a different rate to what the overlaid text does… hence a parallax view point where the background seems to be farther in the distance. check this simple example out – CouldBeYour.com
Full one page type sites have one big long scrolling page where all of the main components of a good local business style website (About Us, Products, Services, Portfolio, Staff, Location, Contact Us) are laid out one below the other on the page with the navigation links pointing to spots within the page. Here is a good example of a local plumbing/heating demo site – Sunshine Coast Plumbing & Heating
Full width, photo or video “above the fold” style sites are also becoming extremely desirable for businesses. Being able to establish an instant “connection” with the visitor and displaying high quality images that denote exactly “what the business is about” is a great way to win over visitors, turn them into clients and create memorable branding.
We at Greymouse Services believe that those 1st 3-6 seconds that a visitor spends on your site is CRUCIAL and the website absolutely MUST have impact, instant recognition and great staying power.
