web design - visual decisions & user experience

web design

visual decisions & user experience

who am I ?

the project process

sales cs design

front-end dev

development

QA/testing launch

the design process

● mood boards

the design process

● mood boards

● static mocks

the design process

● mood boards

● static mocks

● client feedback

the design process

● mood boards

● static mocks

● client feedback

● front-end development

● design QA

the evolving process

● mobile first design

● interactive mock-ups

● new tools = new methods

what makes “good” web design?

tastes evolve

● “Flashy” sites were cool

tastes evolve

● “Flashy” sites were cool

● being unique was a must

tastes evolve

● “Flashy” sites were cool

● being unique was a must

● background music!!

● load intro...

today’s expectations

● users want familiarity

○ buttons, menus, interactions

○ usability

today’s expectations

● users want familiarity

○ buttons, menus, interactions

○ usability

● heat mapping & analytics

today’s expectations

● users want familiarity

○ buttons, menus, interactions

○ usability

● heat mapping & analytics

● unique to the brand

basic design principles

● less is more

○ simple is hard

basic design principles

● less is more

○ simple is hard

● typography matters

“95% of the information on the web is written language. It is only logical to say

that a web designer should get good training in the main discipline of shaping

written information, in other words: Typography.” - Oliver Reichenstein

basic design principles

● less is more

○ simple is hard

● typography matters

● typography vs. typeface

basic design principles

● color palette

○ Adobe Kuler

○ set styles across site

● white space

● grid systems

tools & applications

themes & hosted sites

● purchased CMS themes

● hosted subscriptions

thank you

karla@blendinteractive.com