Principles of web design

The modernists believed that architecture encompassed all the forms of design; exterior and interior design, object design, textiles and flat artworks.

Websites are similar; they can contain every other kind of art and design.

A good website is like a building, a tool and a book.

• Like a building, all its elements must be arranged in a cohesive architecture,
• Like a tool, it requires interface design to facilitate its use,
• Like a book, it requires information design; graphics & layout.

We'll go over these areas - architecture, interface and graphics. Each reflects the other, and all reflect the purpose and users of the site.

It's also important to understand the nature of the medium itself. The web has its own constraints; when you know what they are, and how to work with them, they can be strengths rather than limitations. This is where we'll start.

The Nature of the Medium >>>