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Guide 7. How do I create my website?

Web design principles: an overview of Web design and designing your welcome screen (screen 2 of 17)

An overview of Web design

The design of your website is crucial to its success. Design encompasses:

• The way your site looks.
• The way the user navigates around your site.
• The way you use graphics and other elements.
• The ease with which your site can be maintained and evaluated.

Designing for the Web is not the same as designing for a brochure or magazine. The Web is an interactive environment that should encourage interactivity, so that when you analyse your site you should ask what users will do with it when they visit.

There are some fundamental design rules for Web screens that need to be kept in mind.

A couple of websites which provide some general assistance in website preparation are Cosmos Internet Services (1)and Web Reference(2).

You must particularly keep in mind what you think your users will do with your website. Who are your users?(3).Design your site with them in mind at all times.  

Designing your welcome screen

Most websites benefit from a welcome screen, usually the first screen at the website a user encounters. This may also be called the home page, the main page or the site index.

Your welcome screen should:

• Load quickly.
• Engage the user's interest.
• Indicate what can be found at the website.
• Present the main menu options for the user, with some indication of what is found at each option.

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References

1. Cosmos Internet Services http://www.cosmos.net.au/html/cosmos_webrules.htm
2. Web Reference http://www.webreference.com
3. Guide 5 screen 2 http://culture.gov.au/resources/guides/g5/s2.htm

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