Web design has been an essential aspect of the internet and a large part of our daily lives. A low quality or outdated web design can have a massive effect or a detrimental effect on the experience of the users. According to a survey by the web design company Brightcove, 40% of web users will leave a site if the design and layout are unappealing. But, avoiding the common web design pitfalls can be challenging. So, we will discuss the most common web design mistakes and ways to avoid them in this article.
Poor User Experience and Navigation Design
Improving the user experience (UX) should be your top-most priority when designing a website. The navigation design is one of the key aspects of the user experience. Poor navigation design can ruin the user experience. The navigation should be carefully crafted and should be simple and easy to use. It should be intuitive so that users don’t have to think much before they click on a link or menu. Avoid the use of drop-down or fly-out menus as they can confuse users. It can also be difficult for some users to access such menus.
Ineffective Use of Colors, Fonts, and Images
It is very important to create an appealing web design with the use of colors, fonts and images. The colors and fonts should be appealing but not too overpowering. Make sure that the colors and fonts chosen are legible. Avoid the use of too many colors on the website as it can be overwhelming for the user. The same goes for fonts. Avoid the use of too many different fonts on the same page. Stick to a few fonts and use them consistently throughout the website.
Make sure that images used are of high quality and relevant to the content. Avoid the use of large images that take too much time to load. Images should complement the content and should not detract from it.
Slow Website Load Time
Studies reveal that 47% of users expect a web page to load in 2 seconds or less. If your website takes too long to load, you will lose a significant percentage of users. Make sure to optimize the images and other media files. Reduce the file size of the images without compromising the quality. Also, use a content delivery network (CDN) to speed up the website load time. A CDN is a network of servers that store the website’s content and delivers it to the user’s device from the closest server.
Not Optimizing for Mobile Devices
More than half of the world’s web traffic comes from mobile devices. Therefore, it is essential to optimize the website for mobile devices. Responsive web design is a practice where the website layout and content is automatically adjusted based on the screen size of the device. Make sure the website is easy to navigate and all the content is accessible on a mobile device. Also, ensure that the images and scripts used are optimized for mobile devices.
Cluttered and Overloaded Web Pages
A cluttered and overloaded web page can be a major distraction and an annoyance to the users. Keep the web page design simple and straightforward. Give the user enough white space between sections to make it easier for them to navigate and read content. The use of too many unrelated elements such as too many colors, fonts, images, and animations can make the web page look cluttered and messy.
Conclusion
Creating a well-designed website is not an easy task. There are many things to keep in mind when designing a website. But, avoiding the common web design pitfalls will ensure that your website will be easy to use, appealing and not overwhelming. Make sure to focus on the user experience and navigation design, and ensure that the website is optimized for mobile devices. Also, make sure to properly use colors, fonts, and images and avoid the use of too many unrelated elements. Lastly, make sure to optimize the website for fast load time.