Designing for Web: Presenting Information

What encompasses Web design and what does it mean to us? Well, it would be challenging to narrow down a short list of specific keywords that describes the importance of Web design. I feel Web design is vital in presenting information to the end user in a fashion that is not only easy to read but more importantly accessible on different devices other than the browsers we use on our desktop computers.

The Web design landscape has changed dramatically over the years. You have the business perspective, in which design is still an important vehicle to build brand awareness or recognition. In regards to the personal user, we all tend to remember the places we like to buy our products from and we note the places that we don’t. Whether the design is for business or pleasure, it still all boils down to accessible information displayed or not displayed in an organized manner. A better way to put it, does this design meet the needs of the user? I read this interesting article on smashing magazine. The article talks about how many of the Flash only Websites are disappearing because of the growing use of javascript, and the upcoming HTML 5.0. I want accessibility to what’s important to me, and could care less about company legal battles over codecs or plugins. I know I’m not the only person that feels this way.

When I read this article on avoiding getting stuck in a design rut, it reminded me getting into safe zones at times whether it’s with a certain way of writing code, or maybe a style of texture or font. We all get inspiration from many different things and sometimes this allows us to lose focus on the end goal of satisfying the user needs. Design doesn’t have to be solely about visual appeal, for usability is just as important.

If you haven’t jumped on the Google Chrome bandwagon…Uhh, what on earth are you thinking? Read more.