Not every website development project is the same. However, successful designers follow similar web design principles. If you’re beginning an upcoming web design project, it’s important to master these principles first. 

The good news is that many web design strategies are straightforward. With a bit of practice and repetition, you can master them. This guide will explain the most essential web design process principles every designer should have in their arsenal.

Maintaining Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy is simply the alignment of images and media in the order of importance. Great websites follow a visual hierarchy to quickly communicate ideas and keep website users engaged. 

For example, websites usually feature a top headline (H1) and a hero image at the top of the home page.

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As you can see, the beginning of this website features a large hero image and an easy-to-read H1 header. 

Then, a subtext encourages the reader to click either of the two call-to-action (CTA) buttons. This is the standard visual hierarchy on landing pages across the web. 

Keep it Consistent

High-performance websites always use consistent images, media, text, colors, and fonts. On a basic level, all of these website elements should align with your brand image. 

For example, you should have a defined brand kit that contains your logo, typography, and color schemes. Design your website around this brand kit to create a cohesive look. 

Also, if you use images or videos, make sure they’re in the same format and style. For instance, if you use stock photos on your home page, it makes sense to use them in blog posts.

Accelerate Your Website’s Loading Time

A slow website can cause users to leave as soon as they visit. The ideal website loading time is 1–2 seconds. 

Why? 53% of websites are quickly abandoned if loading times exceed three seconds. A small second matters when achieving a fast loading time. 

Fortunately, you can use Google’s Page Speed Insights tool to determine your website’s loading time. Usually, bulky and unoptimized images and flashy content are the main culprits behind slow website loading times. 

If you rely on Page Speed Insights and other website speed tools, making these changes isn’t difficult if you’re using a website builder, content management system (CMS), or a custom website.

Achieve Mobile-Friendliness

Approximately 63% of online searches take place on mobile devices. This statistic shows that chances are high that a website visitor is navigating your website using a smartphone, tablet, or smart device. 

If your website isn’t optimized for mobile devices, it won’t be presented accurately for mobile users. Why? Desktop devices have wider screens and more functions (mouse and keyboard) than mobile devices.

Also, almost all modern smartphones have touchscreens instead of hardware. For this reason, it’s important to run a site audit to see if your website is mobile-friendly and make any adjustments. 

Create Plenty of White Space

White space is the blank and empty space surrounding all website elements. It helps to give website users a break when parsing through clusters of text and images. Without white space, a website can look like a jumbled mess of text. 

Here’s an example of a website page with a lot of negative space, making it easier to read:

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In short, white space makes it easy for users to scan website pages and quickly get the information they want. 

Pursue Website Accessibility

There are around 42.5 million people with disabilities in the United States. As such, it’s essential to ensure that your website appeals to people with all kinds of disabilities. 

Otherwise, you could risk alienating a member of your target audience. Some of the best ways to achieve website accessibility are:

• Adding a high-and low-contrast toggle function in the navigation bar
• Using easy-to-read fonts for people with visual impairments
• Incorporating alternative text (alt text) into all images
• Adding captions and subtitles to videos

The perfect example on how to make your website accessible for all is Slotmania, a free online slots gaming site. On the bottom left corner of their homepage, they have an “accessibility options” button. 

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By clicking on it, you will have an accessibility menu catered to many disabilities such as special navigation, hearing impairment and color blindness among others.

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The better you can cater to people living with disabilities, the better you can improve your website’s user experience (UX). 

Create Useful Content

Content is the lifeblood of any website. Text, images, and video make up most of the content on a standard website. The goal of website content is to convey a message. 

If you’re selling a product, your content should explain how it’ll help your audience and offer a CTA. If you’re creating an online resource, your content should explain how to find relevant interior pages. 

Ultimately, website content should be useful and informative. Whether you’re selling a product or service, content should inform rather than persuade.

Use Clear Fonts

The font you use on your website should be both clear and readable for virtually any online audience. The most common website fonts are:

• Times New Roman
• Helvetica
• Verdana
• Georgia
• Courier
• Roboto
• Arial

Whatever font you choose, make sure you use a readable font size consistent with your brand image.

Keep it Simple

Finally, your designers should strive to create minimalist website designs. They should only use visual elements that convey your message to your audience. 

You can eliminate friction on your website by avoiding unnecessary content and features during the design process. Friction is any obstacle that prevents a website user from progressing to their destination.

Websites with clear navigation menus and useful design elements can quickly inspire users to stay online and make purchases.

Final Words

Following these web design principles are crucial to achieving a successful project. 

These core fundamentals help website designers (regardless of prior experience) create stunning, profitable websites with better user experiences for their audiences.

If you’re at the start or in the middle of a website project, make sure you master these website principles to ensure a satisfactory end product.

What projects and visual designs are you working on this year? How will you incorporate these effective web design choices into your future endeavors?