Basic Web Design Guidelines

You don't need to have an education in web design in order to design a functional web page. You don't even need a working knowledge of HTML, java, javascript, or cascading style sheets (CSS). All you need is to understand what you wish your content to accomplish, know how to point and click, drag and drop, and how to update your site. Another way to think of it is "What You See Is What You Get" or as it is euphemistically called, "wizzy-wig" or "wysiwyg."

Design Concepts

There are many programs that allow you to design by wysiwyg. "A web site is visual, so you want your presentation to be pleasing to the eye as well as easy to read. Remember that you are designing for the reader, not for yourself. Keep your design simple, leave the time-consuming "bells and whistles" applications off. The last thing you want is to have your reader waiting for a gadget to upload. Keep in mind that you have to engage your reader in the first few seconds that he lands on your site--and that it takes that reader just a click of the mouse to leave your site if he has no immediate gratification.

Concept Design Tools Much like a cartoonist's storyboard, concept design should be your first step in designing your web site. For the advanced beginner.

The Web Design Library Find web design basics, usability, color theory, and free templates.

Aptana Web Page Development The open source alternative to Adobe Dreamweaver, this is a good start for advanced beginners.

WYSIWYG Web Builder Freeware download. After 30 days, there is a license fee, although some older versions remain free on the Net. For absolute novice web designers.

Web Design Tutorials These tutorials will guide you through beginning HTML and CSS for advanced beginners.

Web Guidelines

Designing for the web is not like designing for print publication. You have to design for maximum usability, not just readership and readability. This means keeping in mind that your web site will be viewed not only on desktop computers, but on laptops and phones as well. Your site should be as compatible on the Mac as it is a PC. The browser should not cut off information and your site should be fully accessible to those who have disabilities.

Usability Guidelines Best practices for designing and developing usable web sites.

Designing Websites for Maximum Usability Covers accessibility guidelines and tools for those readers with disabilities.

Checklists Prelaunch and promotion checklists for web site usability.

Test Your Site's Usability Whether you are launching a business site and need maximum return on investment or a personal site, testing your site's usability with this tutorial will help you keep visitors to your site from clicking off your site.

Browser Testing Tool Make sure that your site can be seen in as many browsers as possible.

Style Guidelines

Your chosen web design program should include a style guide, but there are some generic versions on the Net, and you can create your own. Think of the style guide as an extension of a marketing plan, unless your site is non-commercial. The style guide documents how you use your name, keywords, search engine optimization, or SEO, guidelines, fonts, themes, CSS, scripts, graphics, and other style issues that you want to maintain. Style guides are great for personal sites as well as they give you focus on what you want to accomplish for your site.

Web Style Guide Online Covers usability, architecture, interface design, site and page structure and design, typography, editorial style and graphics, forms, applications and multimedia.

Developing a Style Guide for Your Site Article about creating a custom style guide for the needs of your site.

Style Guide Links Good practices style guides, web design style guides, general style guides.

Recommended Books

Here are a few recommended books and lists of books to guide you through your design process:

Learning Web Design Lists all the links to the beginner's guide to HTML, CSS, and Web Graphics. Best if you know a bit about the process, but total novices can manage the online text.

Designing Web Usability Jakob Nielson's comprehensive "go-to" resource for both beginner and advanced web designers. Helps to simply build a strong online presence.

List of Books for Your Bookshelf Includes books on web design mistakes, information architecture, usability, web design overviews and more advanced books.