Web Designing is a tough job. We understand the tight deadlines, the multiple iterations, the late nights so we’ve put together some best practices & some design hacks to help you work smart & deliverer nothing short of excellent. Here’s how:<\/p>\n
Before You Start<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n 1) Have a Plan<\/strong><\/span>: Before you get to work on your project, it’s a good idea to draw out what you’re about to execute – the layout, the design, the images, icons placement, navigation, etc. Writemaps<\/a> is a good tool to use to plan out your website layout. Many designers will tell you it’s useful to follow the 80-20 rule. What 20% of your content gives 80% value to your audience? It could be images, icons, the copy, stickers etc. but focus on the 20%<\/strong>. This will help you narrow down your content to what you actually need and omit the clutter.<\/p>\n Elliott Fienberg suggests you ask one question: Does your design fit on a post-it?<\/strong> “One exercise I like to do is to write down your core content on a small piece of paper like a Post-it note,” he says. “This will help you figure out what is really important and what can be omitted. The small piece of paper simulates the attention span of most users these days.”<\/p>\n Before you start, also make sure you’ve got your the requirements and scope-of-work between you and the client clear. To eliminate ambiguity between you and the client and keep track of billable time, use Toggl<\/a>, a hugely useful tool to measure your work & add value to your efforts.<\/p>\n While You’re Working<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n So you’ve got a blueprint and are all ready to start. Here are some things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n 2) Images Are Vital<\/strong><\/span>:\u00a0 For every design & every website, the images you use make all the difference<\/strong>. We suggest you invest in a good, professional photographer for your images. If your budget doesn’t allow it, get a hold of amazing stock images at Gratisography<\/a>, Pic Jumbo<\/a>, Pixabay<\/a> and the like.<\/p>\n Icons are necessary too. Small as they are, they too contribute to your website design. Move away from too much copy and replace it with icons that represent what you want to say.<\/p>\n 3) Simple is In<\/strong><\/span>: You’ve probably read this in our previous articles but we cannot emphasize this enough! A good web design is always one that has a clutter-free feel. Try these tips:<\/p>\n 4) Build Responsive<\/strong><\/span>: Although this seems like a no-brainer these days, designers still struggle with building some bits responsive. Screenfly<\/a> & Browsershots<\/a> are great tools to help build responsive sites. Videos can be the tricky part when it comes to responsive sites. FitVids<\/a> is a jQuery plug-in that eliminates the problem of responsiveness and Flash embedding with videos.<\/p>\n 5) Keep Everyone in the Loop:<\/strong><\/span> As a designer answerable to clients all the time, it’s a good idea to show you’re in control. That doesn’t always mean say all’s well when it isn’t. It’s quite the opposite. Being control includes calling out problem areas and roadblocks<\/strong> in your projects so everyone’s in the loop with the process and knows you’re trying your best. It makes you look more professional and builds credibility & reliability. Tools like Google calendars<\/a> and Evernote<\/a> help create checklists, reminders and keep up to date. Being proactive is a huge plus point.<\/p>\n Cheat Sheet<\/strong><\/span> (Bonus!)<\/p>\n Eg. http:\/\/dummyimage.com\/640×480<\/p>\n Eg. To change all the fonts on a page to sans-serif, you just need:\u00a0<\/span>*{font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;}<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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