Aesthetics in Web Design - PowerPoint Presentation Example

Introduction Aesthetics in Web Designing covers visual, audio/sound and interactive means. Visual elements will include critical insight into the effects of color use, design, pictures, typography, video clips and flash animations. According to Lisbeth T. (2007), reality is obtained in visual communication when a word is typed/ written, a color is used, a message is displayed on the screen, intentional or unintentional visual expressions communicate to the site’s visitors or onlookers. In web designing, functionality (the user friendliness of an interface and Human Computer Interaction HCI) is the main objective in the bid to creation of an effective website to allow any user to quickly and efficiently obtain the desired piece of information with a lot of ease. Jacob Nielsen is recognized in the field of designing for his important roles played worldwide in giving directives as how to design hyper-functional websites in his book, “Usability Engineering” of 1993 and “Designing web usability” of 1999. In his descriptions, Web designs are based on five key components such as efficiency, easy to learn, level of satisfaction, easy to understand, easy to memorize and error free. Website design aesthetics anglicizes how much a web site engages its viewers at a first glance, demographic compliance; and market expectations or intended population. Web Design Aesthetic Considerations Simplicity Simplicity in a web design refers to an approach of expressing of putting forth any information in a complete yet economic way. All good designs always have little content but very communicative. Consistency Design consistency means that all the elements used in the design should be unified so as to make a coherent whole of ideas. Hence a design will be visually clear to the readers or viewers. Chronological flow of information i.e. from one single link to the other of the same subject or topic gives a chronological sequence in the ideas being passed. Color schemes A color scheme greatly influences the quality of a web page by either improving or destruct effective communication. It therefore advisable to judiciously use colors appropriately for good expressions of oneself and attraction. Audience Audience input influences every aspect of a design work. To incorporate audience, a designer has to contemplate on the levels of complexity and formality in the language usage. Structure Good websites are always well organized with their content presented vividly. Format All designs will involve text, image and hyperlink. One has to ensure that background doesn’t interrupt the readership of any text intended for viewers; allow for possibility to change font sizes; convey important information in an hierarchical order; and separation of larger paragraphs into smaller and easy to read segments. Always note that larger paragraphs sway so many people from reading all the contents presented. Navigation A possibility of readers getting round a Website is a plus to the good design. Navigation buttons must be easy to locate and use; allow visitors to know their locations within the cite all times if possible; avoid use of frames always since search engines do develop problems while crawling its contents; and ensure to include a site map. Links Good, functional and aesthetic web designs have all their links done in coordinated colors. Additionally, links within the content should be underlined and done in a different color of high contrast from the page background and text color. Aesthetics’ Roles in a contemporary Web Design i. To replace language with visual symbols i.e. in the marketing sector. Henrik Vejlgaard in his book “Consumption in the Designer Society” stated that in a situation or world where a good picture has meaning more than words; none has all the time to read lengthy advert copies (Vejlgaard 2004, p.49). For example, young people majorly communicate through the use of signs – visual symbols. Web designers are entitled with the task of balancing the different ways in which the visual aesthetics impact on Web sites’ creation. For a successful site, a designer has to create the aesthetic aspects in line with sender image, functionality, targeted audience and genre as discussed below: ii. A critical analysis of the perceptions viewers have or develop regarding the source information as put to the through the website. iii. The aesthetic effects have to support the content and any functional aspects involved in the website navigation. iv. Adaptation of the genre of the web site to its aesthetic effects. v. Adaptability of the aesthetic effects to the targeted audience. Aesthetic support sender image In creation of a good profile of the information sender or the sending organization, aesthetic effects are key players. Hence, a designer has to ensure that his/her design has the impressive aesthetic effects to the intended viewers. Danish Railroad Services (DSB) is an example of an organization that has done a simple, untraditional and dynamic interface that gives impression of how clean and well-organized they are. DSB web interface has all its contents well planned, contemporary typeface, good used of images, and perfect layout. An illustration of a Web design that is expected to proliferate in the future Future developments and designs suggest that an increasing number of websites will be based on aesthetics rather than function, constructed with priorities on experience-oriented aspects. Another example of a company Website that is full of aesthetic aspect of design is Nike.com which lives up to the philosophical proof that a good product would rather be accompanied by aesthetic experiences having into considerations the taste of both adults and children. An advantage of this aspect to the business or enterprising organizations is larger number of viewers who reciprocate to bigger sales. Works Cited Cloninger, Curt: Fresh Styles for Web designers. Indianapolis. Indiana: New Riders. 2002. Fleming, Jennifer: Web Navigation. Designing the User Experience. Sebastopol: California. OReilly & Associates. 1998. Jakobsen, Poul Erik & Jakobsen, Louise Byg: Trend Sociology. Horning: Pej Group Publications. Second edition. 2003. Nielsen, Jacob: Usability Engineering. Boston, San Diego, New York: Academic Press. 1993. Siegel, David: Creating killer websites. Indianapolis: Hayden Books.1997. Thorlacius, Lisbeth: "A model of visual, aesthetic communication focusing on web sites". I: Nielsen, Janni (red.) Digital Creativity. Vol.13. No. 2. Netherlands. Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers. Maj 2002. Side 85-98. Read More