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University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Web AuthoringWeb Authoring
Web Design
The main principles and the main guru
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
The art of Web designThe art of Web design
• "Good Web design is something that has to be practised and mastered. While it's easy to pick up the rudiments of putting a Web page together, creating a cohesive, easy to use site is a different matter entirely. The essential questions are: can it be seen anywhere by anyone?" Computer Arts Special, Issue 10, 2000
• ………..then, will they like it enough to come back?
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Why should I consider Why should I consider design when I produce a design when I produce a
Web site?Web site?• ‘The user is all’
• You might like the site but if nobody else does nobody will visit
• To make users return again and again...
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
But surely it's just a But surely it's just a question of personal question of personal
taste?taste?• Yes
– But it must also appeal to as many of the target audience as possible
– Using Web research may improve your site making people return to it
Remember, normally a ‘client’ is paying forthe Web site so their views may over-ride alldesign decisions
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Form Form versus Function Function
• Originally, HyperText Markup Language (HTML) was designed to only show the structure of a document without much regard to its meaning or presentation– e.g. many academic/research web sites which
where text based and simply communicated data
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Design Aims
Typographic aims
Visual Layout
Useable
Indexable
Searchable
Maintainable
Designers Structuralists
Form Form versus Function Function
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
StructuralistsStructuralists
• Validated HTML– Conforms to agreed W3C standards
• Benefits– Search engines– Helps special needs users view the web – i.e. visually impaired people– permits users to turn off images
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
DesignersDesigners
• Want to be able to create an online experience– they have worked previously in
television, CDROM development and time-based events
– aim to create online galleries, games, movie sites
i.e. web sites that grab people’s attention andgive them a good time …. then they will return
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Web BrowsersWeb Browsers
• Web browsers permit the end user to change the appearance of the page– e.g. change the default font size
• Different browsers may display pages slightly differently or may not support certain advanced features– Netscape, Internet Explorer, Opera
• Different platforms support different multimedia formats– Windows, UNIX, OS X (Mac)
Additional difficulties in web design
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
So, what makes a So, what makes a 'good' Web site?'good' Web site?
• The main design issue is:
– Navigation– This should be largely intuitive– Try to include a menu bar which is always
visible on every page– If user jumps into the middle of the site it
should be apparent as to where they are and what the bigger picture is.
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
• Download Speed– The most important aspect of design at the current time.
• Interactivity– Can make the site more interesting
– Avoid bells and whistles which add little !
• Predictability– e.g. The menu bar is always in the same place
• Consistency– e.g. use the icons/menu bar on each page
So, what makes a So, what makes a 'good' Web site?'good' Web site?
Other important design issues are:
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Design StagesDesign Stages
1 - Conceptualise: Define Goals
2 - Plan: Outline site from the start
3 - Design: Creating a coherent structure
4 - Implement: Develop the HTML
5 - Evaluate: Does the site meet the original specification?
6 - Maintain: Step 1 to 5 forever !
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Web site structuresWeb site structures
• Consider purpose of site before choosing structure
• An overview four types of structures– Sequence– Grid– Hierarchy– Web
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
SequenceSequence
Simplicity- Basic content- Used often for training
Start End
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
GridGrid
No obvious start or end butthey may exist !
Sometimes used witheducated audiences
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
HierarchyHierarchy
Some structurei.e. a menu to a number of sequences
Menu/Start
End of Unit
End of Unit
End of Unit
End of Unit
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
WebWeb
Non-linearFlexible be often confusing
No obvious start or end butthey may exist !
University of Sunderland CDM105 Session 2
Machine Based TutorialMachine Based Tutorial• The tutorial session again requires you to read over web
based materials and complete the exercises contained within them
• In the machine based tutorial session you will learn how to add multimedia assets to web pages.
• Then you will review the issues surrounding web design and then learn how to control the layout of web pages using the TABLE constructs and then experiment with web FRAMES.
• You will also learn about the Web Guru – Jakob Nielsen - of the last few years by looking at his web site on web design http://www.useit.com/
• You should aim to complete the machine based tutorial session 2 before the next lecture.