Tag: web design

Best Practices in Mobile Website Design

Researching the web I found this best practices that kept reoccurring:

Web content should be focused and concise. Each page should have just one central focus so that the user does not get overwhelmed or confused. Having too much information on your page could create chaos especially on a smaller screen (Jain, 2015).

The layout should be flexible and fluid to ensure that the site displays well on different screen resolutions. A best practice would be main content should be centered and to avoid multiple sections that would make it hard to translate in mobile (Girard, 2015).

Having a fixed and consistent navigation menu is crucial so that users can easily navigate through the site (Jain, 2015).

Designers should practice thoughtful Reduction- Keeping images and other dynamic content minimal (Jain, 2015; Girard, 2015). Speed is an important part of designing for mobile, anything that reduces the slow down is beneficial to the user. It best to keep what’s important and possibly delete what is questionable, and definitely delete the insignificant.

In observing my website, I really don’t have much I would change, as when I was creating the website, I was designing with mobile in mind. Here are some things I could improve on:

  1. I would reduce the number of photos, maybe create a photo album to showcase services.
  2. Each page on my site has a central focus, I need to remember to only add important elements and remove insignificant ones to create for a faster and friendlier user experience.
  3. Like the above tip, do not bombard pages with too much info. Keep the site simple and lite.
  4. My current pages are split in half, one half is information the other half images, maybe just keep the half with the info and send the images to a photo album
  5. I should design the site so that its more stacked vertical than horizontal. Since most mobile devices are viewed from the horizontal position, this would make sense.

Reference:

Jain, R. (2015, April 8). 7 Best practices for designing a mobile user experience. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://www.sitepoint.com/7-best-practices-designing-mobile-user-experience/

Girard, J. (2015, October 19). 10 rules of best practice for responsive design. Retrieved March 12, 2017, from https://thenextweb.com/dd/2015/10/19/10-rules-of-best-practice-for-responsive-design/#.tnw_6fdx7j0J

 

What is Web Accessibility?

By Dru Macasieb (March 1, 2017)

Web accessibility means allowing everyone the opportunity to access and utilize digital resources on the web. This compromises of creating hardware, software, and web content that can assist differently abled people. We are all not created equal therefore, some people have difficulty using the web due to differences in visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive and neurological abilities (Katsanos, Tselios, Tsakoumis, and Avouris, 2012).

A web page that is accessible, is one that benefits a spectrum of differently abled people. From users and developers to people with diverse needs and preferences, web accessibility empowers individuals and creates an environment of inclusiveness.

What is the importance of creating a website that follows accessibility guidelines?

Having accessibility guidelines is important because it allows for universal access to all, thus creating the same opportunities for everyone. Two key guidelines to follow are:

  1. Web design should be flexible and adaptable
  2. Accessible through different mediums such as mobile devices or assistive technologies

What is the difference between a website that is accessible and one that is not?

A website that is accessible recognizes the current trends and technology, as well as design, that allows for maximum participation, and makes diligent efforts to provide reasonable accommodation for all. A website that is not accessible ignores the fact that many people are differently abled, thus does not provide flexible and adaptable content.

References:

Katsanos, C., Tselios, N., Tsakoumis, A., & Avouris, N. (2012). Learning about web accessibility: A project-based tool-mediated approach. Education and Information Technologies, 17(1), 79-94. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10639-010-9145-5

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