Typical Web Page Design Styles
In this article we will talk about typical web page design styles that are used in the web today. What’s that? Are there standards to designing a web page? Can’t I just use my own. Of course, you can. The “standards” are not necessarily standards, but more the norm. These layouts are time-tested and have proved to work.
Why am I saying this? Well, in case you want to get your web page designed externally you need to be aware of what is best for you, what is in use, what people expect etc. etc. Not what your graphic designer or site builder tells you.
As a software developer, I used to frequently fall into that trap. Build what I think is cool, not what the customer/user wanted. That was way back in the past. Now, I focus on what the user wants, not what I think they need. Of course, there is an entire process that can go with building your web site, but I will talk about that in a later article.
Fundamentally, a web page can be divided into sections or columns. Some of the most common layouts are the 3-column and the 2-column layout.
C1 C2 C3
In this case, Columns 1 and 3 generally contain navigational items and advertisements etc. while Column 2 is your content area. Of course, this is generally modified to include the header and the footer like below.
Header
------------------------------------
C1 C2 C3
------------------------------------
Footer
------------------------------------
The other classic is the two column layout. This can go one of two ways.
Header
----------------------
C1 C2
----------------------
Footer
----------------------
Many times, designers will change the navigational column from the left to the right. This is generally a design decision.
Why deviate from the norm?
Well, frequently you will come up with sites that have an entirely different look and feel. Think back to the sites you have visited and found to be a navigational nightmare. Ask yourself, how long did you stay on such sites. Of course, on the other end of the spectrum are sites that have images flying all over the place and very flashy graphics. Arguably, some of these sites do look good.
However, before you jump into developing a site that “looks good” ask yourself,
Is this the norm? Will my visitors get confused in having a different layout?
Are flashy graphics contributing to my web site? Am I putting them just because I think it looks “cool”?
Are the graphics and colors I am using taking away from my actual message on the page?
Am I focusing more on looks rather than content?
I have told this in my previous posts and will tell it again. In the end, content will rule over style. If I have a slick web page that can somersault on one hand but don’t have any content, it would be like going to a circus. You see it once and won’t see it again. Why? The novelty wears off.
People, by default, resist change. If a visitor landed on your page via a search engine query, they are visiting your site for a reason. If you don’t fulfill that reason, they are bound to leave and (perhaps) never come back?
Can I get a pleasing web page AND have content?
Yes. The web has made considerable progress in aiming to please and satisfy most web designers and developers. Some of my later articles will discuss these in detail on topics like Cascading Style Sheets, Frames and the impact on search engines, as well as critical questions you must ask every web developer who designs for you.
Elvin Picardo
Delivering Net Results to Small Business
Author of numerous articles on web development and Internet Marketing for small business
10723 159th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3J1 Canada
NetMedian.com
Contact Elvin
Why am I saying this? Well, in case you want to get your web page designed externally you need to be aware of what is best for you, what is in use, what people expect etc. etc. Not what your graphic designer or site builder tells you.
As a software developer, I used to frequently fall into that trap. Build what I think is cool, not what the customer/user wanted. That was way back in the past. Now, I focus on what the user wants, not what I think they need. Of course, there is an entire process that can go with building your web site, but I will talk about that in a later article.
Fundamentally, a web page can be divided into sections or columns. Some of the most common layouts are the 3-column and the 2-column layout.
C1 C2 C3
In this case, Columns 1 and 3 generally contain navigational items and advertisements etc. while Column 2 is your content area. Of course, this is generally modified to include the header and the footer like below.
Header
------------------------------------
C1 C2 C3
------------------------------------
Footer
------------------------------------
The other classic is the two column layout. This can go one of two ways.
Header
----------------------
C1 C2
----------------------
Footer
----------------------
Many times, designers will change the navigational column from the left to the right. This is generally a design decision.
Why deviate from the norm?
Well, frequently you will come up with sites that have an entirely different look and feel. Think back to the sites you have visited and found to be a navigational nightmare. Ask yourself, how long did you stay on such sites. Of course, on the other end of the spectrum are sites that have images flying all over the place and very flashy graphics. Arguably, some of these sites do look good.
However, before you jump into developing a site that “looks good” ask yourself,
Is this the norm? Will my visitors get confused in having a different layout?
Are flashy graphics contributing to my web site? Am I putting them just because I think it looks “cool”?
Are the graphics and colors I am using taking away from my actual message on the page?
Am I focusing more on looks rather than content?
I have told this in my previous posts and will tell it again. In the end, content will rule over style. If I have a slick web page that can somersault on one hand but don’t have any content, it would be like going to a circus. You see it once and won’t see it again. Why? The novelty wears off.
People, by default, resist change. If a visitor landed on your page via a search engine query, they are visiting your site for a reason. If you don’t fulfill that reason, they are bound to leave and (perhaps) never come back?
Can I get a pleasing web page AND have content?
Yes. The web has made considerable progress in aiming to please and satisfy most web designers and developers. Some of my later articles will discuss these in detail on topics like Cascading Style Sheets, Frames and the impact on search engines, as well as critical questions you must ask every web developer who designs for you.
Elvin Picardo
Delivering Net Results to Small Business
Author of numerous articles on web development and Internet Marketing for small business
10723 159th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3J1 Canada
NetMedian.com
Contact Elvin
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