THE COMPLETELY UNOFFICIAL RULES FOR WEB DESIGN

The "rules" are more like general guidelines. They're a complication of best practices in general. But, as well all know, rules are meant to be broken when they don't make sense for a particular situation!

• The best web site don't trade readability for style.

• The best web sites create a sense of place- the site should be distinctively yours, no one else should be able to put their name on it and have it look like it was designed for them.

• The best web sites use a theme- a theme creates the kind of connection that a customer might experience if met the firm’s staff personally.

• The best web sites are colorfully functional- color is most powerful when it performs a function.

• The best web sites are colorfully inventive- illustrations and animations make a lasting impression when they represent functions.

• The best web sites are simple- simple designs can make a great deal of information manageable.

• Well-designed complexity gives a sense that there’s something here for everyone and allows for redundancy.

• The best web sites are informational- show sincere interest by providing free information.

• The best web sites tell a story- take your reader on a journey, but give them the option to skip to the main menu!

• The best web sites are fun- tasteful humor is a great way to disarm your visitors.

• The best web sites do exciting new things- it’s all about creating a unique experience for the user.

• The best web sites never/always use a lot of graphics- keep the individual graphic sizes to a minimum. -30K of graphics per page is a good rule -6-8K per image is another good rule -The best rule is to make sure that you are using them for a reason! Use "ALT" tags on graphics since they appear before the graphic does, or in place of the graphic for users who have turned graphics off for speed.

• The best web sites have short pages- set an upper limit to the amount of text you put on each page; somewhere between 200 and 500 words per page. Base your decision on your audience, your content, and how text fits into your site's overall design. Long articles can be continued on additional pages.

• The best web sites have the most important information at the top of the page- put the most important information at the top of the page, within the first 300 pixels, since this is what everyone sees when they first arrive at a site.

• The best web site include contact information on every page. Include your company name, address, e-mail address, and your phone and fax numbers, and the site's main URL.