In our previous article we provided some tips to design your website with a focus on content. Today we would like to bring you more resources from web design specialists:

• Using White Space Effectively In Web Design
• 10 Principles For Readable Web Typography
• Designing for Feature-Rich Websites: Best Practices
• The Principle of Proximity in Web Design

Today it is not enough to have a great looking website for your business; visitors use search engines and type specific keywords to cut through to the information they need. Content is especially crucial when it comes to SEO, and our mission for today (should you choose to accept it), is to blend the content with the design and “Voila”! a website pleasure waiting to be discovered by your visitors.

Here are some tips that will help you design websites with content in mind:

• Use grids. A good grid system needs planning and will help deliver just the right balance of content. For instance, use the same width for columns containing similar information and dedicate a bigger column to important messages and information. Although it’s nice to allow variations within a grid system, for content-heavy websites use a grid and stick to it.
• Negative spacing is important in all web design so that the content does not appear chaotic. It keeps the viewer’s eyes focused where you want it, which is on the specific content.  Plan for negative spacing intentionally, as it will be pleasing to the eye and offer the contrast needed between content resulting in a more pleasureable reading experience.
• Consistency. Everything from typography to navigation should be the same throughout the entire website. The more accustomed to a structure the eyes of your visitors are, the easier they will tune to your website’s important messages.
• Borders and boxes. To divide text elements, both borders and boxes work effectively. Creating enough space in the correct areas can help separate and organize content and define hierarchy among different ideas. Empty spaces can be filled with simple design elements that separate and determine unique areas.
• Readable typography. Readable content is one of the most important characteristics one should keep in mind when designing a website.  Use only a few fonts and don’t think of using smaller fonts in order to integrate larger amounts of information. Use the same color for specific text elements like titles, subtitles or quotations to generate consistency.

Additionally, for websites that require a lot of content, the design will have to be specifically tailored around it.  The challenge with content-heavy websites, is to know where and how long introductions, calls-to-action or other pieces of content will be.

At CodeMyIMAGE, we know that quality web design means effective balance between content and images, backgrounds and white spaces.  Furthermore, we are aware that there are many websites that can’t escape from large amounts of content, like online shops or news sites.  Our professional team can assist with design and tips on content to bring the user experience you are looking for to life, right in front of your visitors’ eyes.

In our last article we provided some tips and tricks to develop your web design creativity. Today we would like to bring you more resources from those who already found the methods to remain creative:

• Creativity, Inspiration, and Brainstorming
• Should Graphic Designers Sketch For Their Design Projects?
• Website Brainstorming Techniques
• Sketching: How a Simple Pen and Paper Can Transform Your Web Designs

Don’t know where to start? It’s easy to get stuck when designing innovative websites. When working on a new web design, one can get into the habit of using the same solution to a design problem that you used in the past. Web designers who have implemented unique and creative design ideas are tempted to follow the same path over and over again. However, it will just be a matter of time before you will be forced to step out of your old habits, and force yourself to take a new approach to designing a website, pushing your creative “Mojo” to new limits.

To develop your creativity back into your web designs, here are some tips to consider:

• Mind Maps. A pioneering approach for web design brainstorming sessions, mind maps are an effective and useful method for generating new ideas by associations. Because of the large amount of associations involved, mind maps are very creative and generate associations that have not been thought of before. You only need to start with the basic issue as the center, and generate associations from it in order to derive a large number of different possible design approaches.
• Sketches. Make lots of rough pen and pencil sketches to explore layout options.  This way you can rule out many design ideas quickly, before wasting time in your web design programs.
• Study current trends in web design. Constantly look for and read about the latest trends in web design. Analyze and evaluate what makes specific websites successful, and implement new techniques using your own style.
• Get inspiration offline. Nature, clothes, interior design, buildings, printed publications, paintings….are all real sources of creativity that can be translated into effective web designs.  There’s a whole world of inspiration outside and you should not get stuck in the habit of being a modern web designer spending with 24 hours a day spent online.
• Try different designing programs. Generally most of the designers use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to implement their designs but you may want to explore some other design programs. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Experiment with new features and try using new tools.
• Get opinions from others. Talking and brainstorming with design experts, and even non-creative types are effective ways to exercise your creativity. Smart and creative people could draw the best ideas out of you.

We know how important is to create attractive websites and what challenge being a fulltime creative involves. CodeMyIMAGE web developers are always trying new solutions to improve design development and can assist you in creating a website that stands out from the crowd.