Web Design 101 for Businesses in Pittsburgh, PA
Written By: Shane Clark on February 8, 2022
If you are a business owner in Pittsburgh with a digital presence that is not as competitive as you had hoped for, your website may be due for a redesign or revamp. In addition, if you have neglected your website’s overall design for years, you likely need professional web design in Pittsburgh, PA.
Since the nineties, web design as we know, has come a long, long way. However, it’s no surprise that this industry is here to stay, given that there are currently over one billion sites on the internet. Creating a website that the entire world can access and share is the goal of good web design.
Web design combines both aesthetic and functional elements. For example, it determines how a website looks and how users interact. Having an active and navigable webpage is one of the most critical aspects of establishing today’s online presence. Web design is as dynamic as ever because of this. It is constantly evolving for both website owners and visitors to meet their ever-changing demands.
Web design is a collaborative workflow that incorporates knowledge and tools from other industries, including UX, SEO, and graphic design. In addition, web designers frequently collaborate with experts to ensure that the overall process and outcome are highly optimized.
Elements of Good Web Design
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, professional web design incorporates several principles and elements to achieve a visually pleasing and functional composition (i.e., the Website). Therefore, it’s essential to know what a good web design is and how to achieve it to understand web design.
The design principles, a theory used by designers and artists alike, outline the various qualities any visual composition should strive for. Web designers of all skill levels can benefit from applying these principles to their work. Of course, these aren’t rules to be followed religiously, but are essential suggestions on putting together the various components.
Balance
It’s important to maintain visual balance in a single composition by ensuring that no one element is too overbearing. In web design, this can be done by drawing a line down the middle of a page and then organizing the elements. The goal is to have equal visual weight on both sides of the line bisecting the page.
Having equal visual weight is known as symmetrical balance. This can evoke feelings of harmony, beauty, and cohesion in your web design.
If there is balance, but the elements on either half of the page do not mirror each other, we can say that the page has an asymmetrical design. Websites with asymmetrical design are considered modern. They tend to provide a more dynamic experience while still maintaining a harmonious feel to the composition.
Contrast
Contrast refers to the juxtaposition of opposites, such as light and dark, rough and smooth, large and small, and so on. The purpose of contrast in web design is that it draws attention to differences. The exciting and often dramatic qualities of contrasting elements in web design can captivate visitors.
Emphasis
Website elements aren’t all created equal, according to the emphasis principle. However, applying the principle of emphasis with size differences, animation, and bright colors ensures that the essential elements of your page are the ones that are most noticeable to visitors.
Movement
Making people’s eyes move strategically while on the page is crucial for good web design. To control the eye’s movement throughout your pages, be mindful of the direction, order, and sizes of the elements on your pages.
Rhythm
Cohesiveness, consistency, and amplification are all examples of rhythm. Your brand’s identity and online presence will be strengthened further if you repeatedly use the same typeface and logo.
Hierarchy
We can say that a site has bad design when the main banner containing the logo and name of the business is on the very bottom of the home page. We know this because of the principle of hierarchy, which says that the actual content should be placed prominently. This is so visitors can see it and interact with these elements right away.
White Space
“White space” is an area within a composition that is devoid of any visible visual elements (hint: this includes areas that aren’t even white). Unfortunately, web designers often overlook the importance of intentionally arranging white space to give their visual elements more breathing room. Hierarchy, balance, and emphasis are just some things that require the intelligent use of white space.
Unity
Your site’s design aims to achieve unity. This is achieved by combining all of the elements you’ve added so far into one cohesive whole. The goal of web design unity is to prevent visitors from becoming overwhelmed, perplexed, or abandoning your site altogether.
Even if it takes a few tries to get it right, having a unified web design means that every part of your site contributes to the overall functionality and performance of your Website. What you include, where you place it, and whether it serves a purpose all play a role in this process.
Common Mistakes in Web Design
Now that you’re familiar with the multitude of design principles that guide professional web design in Pittsburgh let’s look at the common mistakes that plague sites that are usually DIY-ed by their owners.
Awful Fonts
A site will be difficult to read if it still uses the same Papyrus font popular in 1998. Today’s online consumers move quickly between websites, and if they land on yours and find it difficult to read your content, they are likely to move on to the next one.
The Website Doesn’t Work with Mobile Devices
It’s time for an update if you launched your Website and completely excluded mobile from the equation. Your clients will be grateful to you. It’s time to launch a new website with responsive design. Using responsive design, your website will look great on any device, regardless of the operating system or browser.
There Are Too Many Colors
When it comes to engaging website visitors, websites with stark color contrasts or an overabundance of colors fail miserably. It may be time to change the colors you use on your website if you’ve recently received negative feedback about your website’s color scheme or if your website traffic has taken a nosedive.
The CTAs are Missing
To encourage and guide visitors to take the desired action, use CTAs (calls to action). They serve as a link between random web surfers and potential customers. A well-placed call to action on your website can significantly impact sales and brand awareness. Conversely, when a customer lands on your site and sees no call-to-action buttons or messaging, your site’s purpose may very well be lost.
Summary
It’s easy to get web design wrong because so many elements and principles are involved. However, professional web design in Pittsburgh, PA, will help solve many of the issues that may be preventing your digital business from flourishing. Contact Shane today to get started.
