People approach web sites in very different ways to how we design them

  • They skim pages for clues, instead of reading
  • They make snap decisions, instead of evaluating and judging carefully
  • They might not even be looking at the complete picture
  • They are driven by their goals, not ours

Designers need special skills to succeed in this environment

  • We must gain the best possible insight into our users’ goals, so that we can help achieve them.
  • We must get clear on our design’s purpose, and have the mental discipline to stick to it
  • We must pursue simplicity ruthlessly – if an element adds complexity but not value, it must be changed

To start learning ways of designing for real users, we can gain insights into what the brain is good at. This provides a useful foundation for developing and evaluating design techniques.

Fortunately, the mass experience of digital design is at our disposal, and provides us with patterns and conventions that are proven to work.

 

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Articles in Design Process

Do You *Really* Need a Website Redesign?
Web site redesigns can be a colossal waste of money. We take a closer look at why re-designing your website might not be the answer.
Top 10 Productivity Tips for Being a More Effective Web Designer
Top web design tips to help you work more productively as a web designer. Tips for web designers on how to be more productive when designing websites.
Don’t Decorate, Communicate! Web Design vs. Content Design
Why it's important to focus on the message your website content is communicating rather than purely visual web design for its own sake. Writing copy for your website.
The Complete No-Nonsense, Step-by-Step Guide to Designing Websites
A complete step-by-step guide to web design. A process model for website design and development by Ben Hunt of Scratchmedia.
Work Smart, Not Clever
Why web designers should practice working smart instead of being clever. Save time designing your websites by creating simple, functional web pages.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
How web designers can apply their creative energy more efficiently by re-using existing design solutions to prevent duplication of web design work.
Design Like No-One’s Watching
Web designers should learn to view their designs through fresh eyes. When designing a website for a client it can be easy to ignore their ideas and design a website that you love, not your client.
Why Web Designers Should Code by Hand
Explains the numerous benefits of coding HTML web pages by hand, rather than using WYSIWYG editors. Find out why web designers should learn HTML/CSS.
Think-Then-Do
An article about the web design discipline 'Think, Then Do' that helps web designers manage their time for maximum effectiveness and productivity.
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