A little bit about website design and what it can do for you.
The internet is the encyclopedia on this day and age.
Anything can be found on its world wide database and why shouldn’t your company? A website is a very cost effective and proven marketing tool that once properly designed, will provide people across the globe with the vital information about your company, its goals and services. A well conceptualized website allows you to market effectively, giving your company logo greater advertising and recognition.
What goes into a great website design?
In order for a web design to truly be effective, it has to reach a good balance between smooth and easy functionality coupled with a strong, original design. Having a website that looks good but gets the user lost is of no worth, and visa versa.
Some key factors when looking at an effective design:
- Design must no prioritize function but rather promote user accessibility.
- Keeping it simple and not over-designed or too complicated.
- Clear content and typography enhance the overall design of the website.
- The design lends itself to its brand and their company look and feel.
Load times are very important!
I’m sure, that many of you who have gone to a heavily graphical website have sat, waiting for a slow moving loading bar to finish so that you can actually enter the website. Although these sites are great looking and interactive, people tend to be impatient in nature and more often than not, will close the page before even entering the site just because of it taking too long. This is very bad as it is a loss in a potential client before they have read any information that your website contains.
We at Omada Studios will make sure your webpage is light with its load times as well as user friendly so that people visiting will feel right at home when browsing.
HTML, CMS or flash. What are the differences and which is best suited for my website?
- HTML Websites
- CMS (content management systems) Website
- Flash Websites
HTML is the predominant website coding language for web pages. It allows a platform whereby designers can build headings, paragraphs, images and columns of information in a neat, structured way that is compatible with a vast array of browsers.
Extra scripting languages such as flash video files, javaScript and CSS (used for drop down menus) can be added to enhance the websites functionality and appeal. HTML websites are perfect for those wanting a solid working webpage where the information is going to remain constant for a long period of time.
CMS website coding design is for those wanting to have a page where you would like to update the content on a regular basis. You are able to create new posts as you see fit, thereby keeping your content alive and updated, keeping viewers interested.
Clients who would be most suited to the CMS style of website development would be magazine/news editorial companies who need to update on the latest breaking news on a daily basis. CMS can be closely related to a blogging styled website which can include extra features such as comments and email forms to enhance its functionality.
Flash web pages are a more artistic style of web design when compared to HTML and CSS. Although the HTML and flash can be combined, some sites are purely flash driven, containing plenty of real time animation. Flash websites can contain elements such as animated loading bars for intros, funky click over buttons that trigger other animations on the page or for elements such as animated looping banners or logo animations. When considering a Flash website, although very eye catching, can be very bandwidth intensive when being viewed using a slow internet connection.
Full Flash sites are generally very interactive and commonly used in cases such as a promotional launch for a product. The focus is around how the product looks and what it does coupled with some outlined details and interactive features rather than a huge list of written details, which is more in line with HTML website design.
