Animation can be a very effective tool in web design. An animated page can capture the attention of a visitor and keep them engaged for longer periods of time. In addition, animation can be used to communicate information or create a sense of emotion or personality on a web page.
However, using animation effectively can be challenging. It’s easy to go overboard, and too much animation can distract from the message the page was intended to deliver. For this reason, it’s important for web designers to use animation judiciously and strategically.
Using Animation Judiciously
Do not use too much animation on one page. The more animation a page has, the slower it will load; and a slow-loading page can frustrate your visitors. In addition, too much animation can become visually overwhelming and distract from the key message the page was intended to deliver.
Have a purpose for your animation. Before using animation on a page, it’s important to have a clear and defined purpose for its use. For example, is the animation being used to communicate a message or to enhance a particular section of the page? Having a clear purpose will help you to remain focused and ensure that the animation is serving its intended purpose.
Make the animation subtle. While some forms of animation, such as moving images or video, can be quite subtle, other types of animation such as flashing graphics or scrolling text can be overly obtrusive. The subtler the animation, the less likely it is to distract from the message.
Using Animation Strategically
In addition to using animation judiciously, it’s important to use animation strategically. This means choosing the right type of animation to use and ensuring that the animation is placed in the right location and timed correctly.
Choose the right type of animation. Animation can take many different forms, ranging from simple transitions to complex 3D effects. The type of animation you choose to use should be appropriate to the message you are trying to communicate and the overall aesthetics of the web page. For example, if you are creating a clean, modern and minimalist page, you may want to opt for a subtle, non-intrusive form of animation such as a smooth transition between pages. On the other hand, if you are creating a more traditional, formal and traditional page, you may want to opt for a more dramatic form of animation.
Place the animation in the right location. Once you have chosen the type of animation you want to use, it’s important to place the animation in the right location on the page. A general rule of thumb is to ensure that the animation is placed in an area that draws attention to it but doesn’t distract from the message the page was intended to deliver. For example, the animation should be placed in a sidebar or a pop-up rather than directly in the main content area of the page.
Time the animation correctly. It’s also important to ensure that the animation is timed correctly. For example, if you are using an animation to draw attention to a particular section of the page, it should be triggered only when a visitor scrolls to that section of the page. In addition, the duration of the animation should not be too long, as it can become distracting and detract from the message.
Conclusion
Animation can be a very effective tool in web design but it’s important to use it judiciously and strategically. Animation should be used to communicate a clear message, and it should be placed in the right location and timed correctly. By using animation judiciously and strategically, web designers can create a visually engaging and effective web page that keeps visitors engaged for longer periods of time.