Web design is the process of creating a website. This could be any type of website like a blog or an online store. Anything related to how the website looks falls under “web design”. In creating a website we usually hear the terms HTML, CSS code, flash, or javascript. These are the different coding languages used to create a website.
Two Types of Web Design
Generally, there are two types of web design and these are adaptive and responsive web design.
Adaptive Web Design
Adaptive web design uses different versions of a website to fit different devices. This means that there is a different website version for desktop use and a different one for mobile. There could be features present on the mobile version that is not present on the desktop version depending on how the website was designed. This type of web design is considered the older version of how websites are designed for mobile use. With adaptive web design, you will most likely notice a slight difference in the URL of the website when you go mobile compared to what you see on a desktop.
Responsive Web Design
In responsive web design, the website changes automatically depending on the electronic device you use. The features are not affected, it is just the look of the site that rearranges itself depending on the device where the website is displayed. So for example, the website would look different when you view it on a mobile phone compared to when you are checking the site using a tablet.
Responsive web design is now the trend and most new sites today are responsive. This is because more and more people are using mobile phones to access websites. Thus, website owners want their websites to look perfect on both desktop and mobile.
Things to Consider in Web Design
There are certainly a lot of factors to consider when you do web design. Below are some of these factors.
Color
Due to the limitless option you have when it comes to color, choosing one has become a daunting task. Generally, you have two options when it comes to the color scheme of a website. You can either go monochrome where you use one color with different hues and saturation – or go for a complimentary design where you choose two colors that complement each other. Whichever you decide to use, it must complement the business where the site is intended for.
Layout
A good website design is one with an excellent layout. Layout refers to how everything is arranged on the site. There are no specific rules on how it’s done. A good practice to follow is to keep things simple and make sure the important details are properly highlighted. The important parts need to stand out and be easily visible.
Images and Icons
Images and icons are not just for visual appeal. These parts of the website also carry a lot of information. This is why you need to carefully select the images you use and how your icons would look.
If you need a new website or want a redesign to your current site, get in touch. We will work with you to design a website that will enhance your branding and presence online.
Where do I look for web design inspiration?
When it comes to your website’s design, you must express to your designer what you like and don’t like. This can often seem like a challenge to some, and others don’t know what they want for their website. Your logo and brand colors are a few things you will need to consider, but features are also important. But, where would one research this sort of thing? We are glad you asked, as we will take a look at places you can get web design inspiration!
If you have ever been on Pinterest, you know the time warp that can happen. However, it is a wonderful place for inspiration. Just don’t get stuck in inspiration and not go to the next step, which is actually designing the website. You can search for web design ideas or web design inspiration on Pinterest, and you will quickly have many, many pins to look through. We like Pinterest as there are so many options in one place. Pinterest is all about visuals, so this might not be a great place to find features.
siteInspire
This is another amazing place to visit to get those web design ideas flowing. siteInspire is a website that pulls other websites onto its platform to show amazing websites in one place. Here you can search by platforms, subjects, types, and style, giving you a little more control. This allows you to see others in the same group for comparison. If you find a site you like and want to look at further, you can simply click the visit button.
Designspiration
Designspiration is a website that is sort of like Pinterest but for design elements. This is a great place to get inspired by the imagery you would like to see on your website. Unlike Pinterest, the only issue with this site is that it doesn’t show a snippet of the entire web layout of specific sites. This means that you will have to click through to see but still a lovely place worth mentioning.
BWG
BWG is a website design inspiration company that has been around for a very long time. It offers a very easy-to-navigate style that allows you to see many websites in a grid-like fashion. This will enable you to like the various designs, and of course, you can click through to see the design more clearly. This is another worth mentioning place if you are looking for web design inspiration.
Awwwards
The Awwwards is another place to go to for web design inspiration. This is a wonderful place that offers unique elements to take a look at. Here, you can browse through the sites under various categories or by the sites’ awards. You can even sort the designs by color. So, perhaps you have your brand’s colors and want to see designs that feature those, then this is the site for you. Whether you are looking for a design idea for e-commerce or something to do with the fashion industry, Awwwards has plenty to look at.
About Salterra Digital Services
Salterra was started in 2011 by Terry and Elisabeth Samuels; nothing fancy and nothing pretentious. Quality work at a fair price. Starting with a web design focus, they both quickly learned that while having an amazing website to highlight your business is a great start, marketing is intrinsically foundational for our clients. When several clients were not seeing results through the search efforts of other companies, Terry took it to the next level. While digging into SEO and marketing, he found something he was very passionate about. His inner geek pushed him to focus solely on the data and analytics side of the business while Elisabeth built on her creative and visual strength and expanded the design side. In the industry, it is not always common to have both designers and digital marketing so closely connected, but to them it made perfect sense. Salterra’s World Headquarters is in Tempe Arizona
Terry and Elisabeth are the Hosts of Roundtable SEO Mastermind Series and SEO Spring Training Conference.
