You don't have to be a graphic design major to make a web page. However, to make attractive and interesting pages, it helps to understand a few basic principles.

Symmetry and Asymmetry
Nothing is more eye-catching than a symmetrical and an asymmetrical shape in contrast to each other. Symmetrical designs–e.g. text all on one side, pics on the other–are often pleasing to the eye, but get boring rather quickly. Asymmetrical designs grab our attention in a more active manner, but can quickly confuse and tire the eye. The task at hand, then, is to find that perfectly harmonious blend of symmetry and asymmetry.

The solution: create movement and rhythm. Put symmetry to work inside an asymmetrical design, or vice versa. Alternate the size, weight and density of graphic elements. Break up the vertical space with well-placed horizontals.

Color and Monochrome
Guess what, on the Web there are only 216 colors. That's in sharp contrast to the millions and millions of colors our eyes are used to in reality. However, when adding color to a site, you should be aware that even though there are only 216 browser-safe colors, most users have monitors that can display anywhere between 256 and 16.7 million colors.

As a graphic designer, that's a frustratingly limited palette. That makes color choice even more critical. When picking a color scheme for your site, it helps to know a little color theory. Be creative in mixing colors and greys (grey is your friend). Use darker colors to build cohesion, pulling together bright colors used for accents.

Copy and White Space
A bowl isn't important because of what it is but rather what it isn't. Pour your copy into the page. Use the empty space between colomns and paragraphs to break up the monotony of text and control where the eye goes next. The same principles of newspaper layout can easily be applied to the web thanks to the <table> tag.

<< intro

web design >>