We get a lot of questions about our method when it comes to putting together our client’s websites, so I figured that I would sum it all up into one post.
There are many things to consider when we start a new website project. Therefore, it’s always good to have a process and follow a method so that we don’t miss any important details.
- Begin Sketching: The first thing we do is grab a piece of paper or stand by a whiteboard, which allows us to organize and create the structure of the project. Sometimes we also sketch a framework, so that it will help surround content, perform actions, and aid navigation. Sketching the basic lines will help resolve UX problems and to produce the layout.
- Decide Typography: One of the most common recommendations is to use a maximum of two different typefaces on a website layout. However, it depends on the nature and the type of website needed to use more or less. Studying different typefaces and styles is part of the project development. It’s valid to try big and unusual fonts to call to actions and titles, while it’s better to keep the clean and simple fonts for long lines of text.
- Choose Colour Scheme: When we are are building a website for a company, starting by their official colours is a good step. We try to incorporate colours from their artwork guides, or from their logo and go from there.
- Images: Images and graphics can be powerful when they are use the right way. We incorporate them in a way which improves your branding and connects with your target audience. We also seek out images, or source them to ensure good quality images. Videos and infographics should be considered too in order to avoid explaining things with tons of text.
- The Rule of 5 Seconds: We ensure that users know exactly what kind of website they are on, and what kind of information they can find here, otherwise users might just click the go back button. We make people go to your website, make them stay to read your name/logo and to immediately after see the reason your website is there for them.
- Incorporate Social Media: Social networking is a great way to spread your voice, drive traffic and create loyalty with your audience. Your users will love the share buttons because it’s just a few clicks of work to share your content. This is a simple element to grow business, sales and attract new customers. If you don’t already have a social presence for your business, it should be a priority.
- Site Map & Search: We try to imagine ourselves in the user’s shoes and constantly look for ways to improve their navigation experience. Therefore when developing a website that has a large number of pages it is very useful to place a site map and a search bar to ensure your visitors can easily find what they have interested in.
- Essential Elements: We establish important elements to the user from the get-go. Many websites out there miss the point of focusing on the important elements on the website. While this task may not be simple because many things can be important, it is dire that elements are prioritised so that call to actions are visible.
- Navigation: It is important that visitors are not overwhelmed with too many links and options of navigations. It would be more productive for them to have just less roads to get where they have to. For example, long multi-level dropdown navigations can represent more clicks and moves than needed to find the right link. So we try to reduce the options on the header or sidebar of your website.
- White Space: Remember that less can be more and your website layout needs space to breathe, your visitors won’t draw their eyes to every single area and white space can lead them to points of interest. We incorporate this into a websites to give them a more spacious feel, to establish an inviting feel to the website.
