Web design

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Web design is the design or designing of a web page, website or web application.

Table of contents

1 A brief history of web design 2 Seven C's of website design 3 See also 4 External links

A brief history of web design

When the internet was first invented, web design consisted of a very basic markup language that included some formatting options, and the unique ability to link pages together using hyperlinks. It was this feature that characterized the web among other communication methods, and characterized web design among other design methods. Because of this unique behaviour of the world wide web, and the unique behaviour it encouraged in users, web design would prove to be unlike any other form of design before or since, with the possible exception of interactive CD-ROM design.

As the web and web design progressed, the markup language used to make it, known as HTML, became more complex and flexible. Things like tables, which could be used to display tabular information, were soon subverted for use as invisible layout devices. With the advent of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), table based layout is increasingly regarded as outdated. Database integration technologies such as server-side scripting (see PHP, ASP, JSP, and ColdFusion) and design standards like CSS further changed and enhanced the way the web was made.

The introduction of Macromedia Flash into an already interactivity-ready scene has further changed the face of the web, giving new power to designers and media creators, and offering new interactivity features to users.

Seven C's of website design

• Context - Aesthetical and functional look and feel - traditional, hip, edgy, utilitarian, emotional - the how of site design. Color, humor, focus, graphics
• Content - Any digital subject matter on the site - text, video, audio, and Graphics -- the what of site design.
• Community - A feeling of membership in a group and a strong sense of Involvement - shared common interests. -- the why of site design.
• Customization - The sites' ability to tailor itself to a user. Or to be personalized by each user -- the touch of site design.
• Communication - Dialog between the site and the user -- the muscle of site design.
• Connection - Extent of Formal Linkages Between the Site and Other Sites -- the networking of site design.
• Commerce - The actual sale of goods and services on the site -- the commerce of site design.

See also

• Content management
• Functional design
• Graphic design
• Information architecture
• Interaction design
• Neen
• Separation of style and content
• Web colors

External links

• About Web Design (http://webdesign.about.com/)
• A List Apart (http://www.alistapart.com)
• BD4D (By Designers For Designers) (http://www.bd4d.com)
• Boxes and Arrows: The Design behind the Design (http://www.boxesandarrows.com/)
• Jakob Nielsen on Usability and Web Design (http://www.useit.com)
• Mezzoblue (http://www.mezzoblue.com)
• Newstoday (http://www.newstoday.com)
• Process-oriented Web development methodology (http://www.december.com/web/develop.html)
• Stopdesign (http://www.stopdesign.com/)
• Open-Source Web Design (http://www.oswd.org)
• Web Design Reference (http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/support/Training/Online/webdesign/)
• Webmascon.com: Журнал для вебмастеров (russian) (http://www.webmascon.com/)
• Web Style Guide, 2nd edition (http://www.webstyleguide.com/)

Related links

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