Design Decisions

Consistency

When designing a web site it is very important to be consistent. Design rules should be chosen and applied consistently throughout the different pages. Below are some of the things that should be chosen and consistently applied.

Fonts

It is important to choose font styles and sizes - and to use these consistently throughout the site. There are only a few generally available fonts that are compatible throughout the web and they are listed below. However varying spacing and capitalization can create many effects.

Arial   Times   Verdana   Tahoma   Georgia

Colors

A color palette should be chosen for the web site. A core set of key colors that look good together.

Backgrounds

Background colors and imagery can have a strong impact on your site if designed well. However make sure that any text above is clear and readable.

Links

Links should be presented on screen differently to general text - either by underlining or by using a different color. A consistent links scheme should be put in place so the user becomes familiar with what is text and what is a link. Roll over effects also need to be chosen.

Menus

Menus are key for guiding the user around the site and need design and testing to make sure navigation is easy. The design of the menu is not just how it looks like but also its ease of use.