Simple vs. Busy Design

Even as technology and times have changed, there is one principle of design that has remained relatively unchanged - the principle that less is more. Over the past few years, designers have become disenchanted with all the flashy bells and whistles they could incorporate into websites. When these capabilities emerged, it seemed as though they were included simply because they could be. Now people see that it's far better for the user if things are kept simple and clean, and that is why minimalism is taking off in the design community. As you contemplate what sort of design you want, keep the following in mind.

Busy design can be overkill. Too many elements can disrupt the balance on the page. The worst thing you can do is try to fill every bit of white space on the page. White space acts as a frame around the elements, emphasizing them. It helps lead the eye towards what you want your users to see, and properly utilizing it takes just as much skill as creating the elements and content. What's more, filling every possible amount of space can lead to disarray and confusion; the user won't know where to start and the page content won't have a distinct flow. The best way to prevent this from happening is only to include elements that are absolutely necessary. Make sure your text is free of all "happy talk" and gets right to the point. Above all, remember that white space is just as much a part of the design as the other aesthetic elements.

Busy design is more difficult to navigate. This goes hand in hand with the above point. If you have too many elements cluttering your design, users won't know what you want them to do next. They might have trouble finding your navigation if it's buried in tons of flashy pictures and ads - especially if you place it in an area that they aren't expecting it to be. Speaking from experience, if a site is cluttered and navigation isn't intuitively obvious, then users won't find the site professional or reputable and will click the back button.

Simple design is more universally usable. I cannot stress universal usability enough. Too many sites forgo this rule in order to be "ingenious" and "innovative." In all actuality, it is far more complex to create a simple design that works the way it's supposed to. Creating a simple design involves a lot of thought, planning, and laying out. But it's worth it in the end when all your users are able to find what they need to find with little hassle. So skip the Flash intros and take the time to clean up your design and code to make it more accessible to everyone. Not only will you satisfy your users while maintaining a pleasing aesthetic appeal, but you'll also gain more search engine visibility as well.

When conceptualizing the design for your site, be sure to keep these pointers in mind. You may be tempted to squeeze in as much information as possible or splatter your pages with Flash elements, but remember that not everyone is able to view these and many people who can don't want to. Keep your users in mind when working with a design company, like Codank Web Design, and your design will be wonderfully successful.


About CODANK Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.

For more information, visit us at www.codank.com