• Mobile Web Design,  Web Design,  Web Development

    Basics of a Good Web Design

    The success of any websites depends on the way in which the website was designed. It doesn’t matter how nicely designed your website is, if it doesn’t have the usability and utility then your website will not be successful. Just like the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Effective web design is judged by the users and not the website owners. There are a lot of factors that affect the usability of a website and its not just about form but also functions.

    Websites that are not designed properly tend to have poorly and have sub-optimal Google Analytics metrics. Highlighted below are some of the principles that will make your website aesthetically pleasing, engaging, easy to use and effective.

    Purpose

    A good website design should cater to the needs of the user. Are your visitors looking for information, entertainment or some type of interaction? Each of the pages in your website needs to have a clear purpose and be able to fulfill the specific needs of your website users in the most effective way possible.

    Communication

    People around the web tend to want information quickly hence it is important to communicate clearly and to make sure that the information they receive is easy to read and digest. Some of the most effective tactics you can use in your web design include organizing your information using headlines, sub headlines, bullet points and cutting the waffle.

    Typefaces

    In general, Sans Serif fonts such as Arial and Verdana are very easy to read online. In a website regardless of the niche you intend to market. It is always recommended to use Sans Serif fonts that do not have decorative finishes. The most ideal font sizes for reading easily is 16px and range around 3 typefaces in a maximum of 3-point sizes so as to keep your designs streamlined.

    Colors

    A color palette that is well thought off can go a long way to enhance the user experience. It is highly recommended that you use contemporary colors as they help to create a balance and harmony. If you choose to use contrasting colors for the text and the background will make your reading easier on the eye. Vibrant colors tend to create emotion and should be used sparingly. The power of white/negative space should never be ignored as it helps to give your website and effective, modern and uncluttered look.

    Images

    A picture conveys a very strong message and choosing the right images for your website will help with the brand positioning as well as connecting with your target audience. In case you don’t have a high-quality professional photo on hand then you should consider purchasing stock photos as they will help in lifting the look of your website. You should also consider using infographics, videos and graphics since as they can be seen to be much more effective at communicating than even the most well written piece of text.

    Navigation

    Navigation is all about how easy the user finds it maneuvering around the website. Some of the tactics for effective navigation include logical page hierarchy, designing clickable buttons, using bread buttons as well as following the three clicks rule which implies that users will be able to find the information that they need within just a few clicks.

    Grid based layouts

    Whenever you are placing content randomly on your web page one may end up with an appearance that is haphazard and messy. Grid based layouts arrange contents into sections, columns and boxes that tend to line up and feel balanced which leads to a better-looking website design.

    “F” Pattered design

    Studies carried out have established that most people scan the computer in a “F” pattern. What people see mostly is the top and left of the screen. The right side is rarely seen and instead of forcing the viewers visual flow, effectively designed websites will work with a reader’s natural behavior so as to display information in order of importance.

    Load time

    Nobody likes a website that takes a lot of time to load. In order to make a web page load more effectively, it is highly recommended to optimize image sizes, combine codes into central CSS or Java Script.

    Mobile friendly

    It is a common practice to access websites from multiple devices through the use of multiple screens hence it is highly recommended that you make your website mobile friendly. In case your website is not mobile friendly then you can choose to build it in a responsive layout or you can build a dedicated mobile website.

    In summary, it is very easy to build and create a beautiful and functional website by keeping the above-mentioned designs and elements under consideration. Incase you have a website design that needs reviewing, posting or optimizing or even perhaps planning then the above-mentioned principles will be of great help.

  • Web Careers,  Web Design,  Web Development

    How to Start a Career in Web Development

    Web developers are at the forefront at the rapid change in internet technology. The kind of websites we browse, the gifts we order, the news we peruse online are all possible thanks to the highly skilled web developers who make it their top priority to design, implement and develop websites. Web developers are involved in the entire process of web creation from the time of helping designers get aesthetic properties such as layout and color to technical considerations such as designing a website and handling a given amount of traffic. The best thing about web developing is that it is an exciting field that is at the forefront of digital age and in addition it is an ever-growing field.

    Job description of web developers

    Web developers are usually involved in the process of designing and developing websites as well as their applications. The make use of a variety of programming languages and technologies in order to manage a web sites functionality and implement application features as well as integrate security measures. Most of the web developers have expertise in object-oriented programming language, multi-platform development as well as building of web applications. Web developers have the ability to blend creative vision along with project management skills so as to plan, design and build websites and integrated applications. Due to the complex nature of websites the developers traditionally specialize in one or two tracks from front end to back end. Entering the field of web designing can be a daunting task since there is a lot of things to consider.

    Get a college degree

    You don’t need to fall for the common notion that you need a college degree. As much as its not a necessary requirement in the field of IT tech heavyweights such as Apple, Google and IBM no longer require their employees to have a degree. Most of the smaller software companies have been operating like this for a very long time. They are more interested in the skills than what you have learned in class. The challenge with teaching web development in colleges is the fact that the curriculum approval process is not able to keep up with the rapid change and advancement in web technology.

    Fortunately, there is an overwhelming number of coding and designing platforms where one can advance their skills for free or at a cheaper cost. Going through conventional college is still a great idea but you will still need to go through the online learning platforms to keep up-to-date. College is and will always be a valid option even if it is not a necessary requirement in most job postings. It is a great place for directed learning, personal growth and offers a great exposure.

    Bootcamps

    Bootcamps are the best alternative to traditional college. Such programs tend to hone in one specific discipline within the web and design development platform and generally only takes a few months. By focusing heavily on current skills and theory the condense base learning time significantly reduces the cost from traditional college route. Bootcamps tend to cost a lot more since they tend to replace traditional college hence you will need to find truck that is best suited for your particular field.

    Get comfortable with self-learning

    Internet technology is constantly evolving and will always have something to teach whether you go to college or you use bootcamp or even use the web itself for learning opportunities. Acquiring the necessary skills to learn will be an added advantage. A good design and development principle stay the same and learning the best way to implement those principles through the use of current tools and technologies is the best part.

    Online courses more often are very expensive. They often put some of the best curriculum and its one of those rare cases where you get more than what you paid for. They also tend to add new content at a very fast rate in that one is more likely to find up-to-date courses.

    Specialize in one field

    Web development is a very wide project and it is a very complex project to build a website. Depending on the specific job, developers are proficient in using diverse types of software applications such as CSS, JavaScript Framework and version control. This will not only help them have a characterized role but also understand the process as a whole. You need to make up your mind whether you want to be a front end developer, back end, interface design or you want to get into mobile application development.

    Online communities

    There is nothing more fun in web development than getting to meet and interact with other folks who are doing the same thing as you. Online communities help individuals to connect, interact and explore ideas through sharing with peers. It is very helpful for beginners and advanced learners and can be even interesting and rewarding if you have joined an international online community forum. The advantage with online community is that they don’t meet in a physical space. They meet occasionally over the internet making it cheap and very convenient for everyone.

    Develop experience by building things

    The best way to master your skills in web development is through working on real world projects as it turns out to be very necessary. You can’t just claim to be a web developer if you have only gone through tutorials. You need to have practical skills and you can only achieve that by solving real problems. When developing something real you get to not only engage in practical skills but also put what you have learned into practice. Many successful websites and apps started as projects for aspiring web developers. When websites go down for one reason or another many people see it as an opportunity to capitalize on a void. This was the case for the popular site Backpage. Sites like Doublelist and Bedpage arose quickly as replacements with the work of those looking to capture the demand that Backpage left behind.

    Launch online portfolio

    Every employer out their desires to know what you have actually done in your career. They want results such as successful sites and application builds. Through the use of portfolio, the developers are able to test new technologies, demonstrate their coding talent and technical capabilities. Once you have a portfolio that stands out then it will be a great avenue towards landing a job in web development. There are also plenty of websites such as Freelancer, Fiverr, and Upwork where you can use your portfolio to get freelance jobs from companies and individuals.