Website design 107

Producing a Website Design Mock-Up

It's still not time for the actual web page building process. The next step is to create (or approve) mock-ups of what you imagine the end design should look like. This can be done just for the home page but can sometimes be done for pages further into the site if there will be a significant change of style.

It's worth noting that consistency is key and certain design element should be consistent across the entire site. This is a major aid to navigation - if the menu is on the left of the homepage and the right of a subsequent page users will quickly become confused. Consistency also loans itself to the use of templates during the build process. Templates and other generic elements allow for quick and easy site modifications which encourage keeping pages current.

The feel of the site needs to appeal to your primary user group and reflect your company image and/or brand values. Make sure any existing company guidelines are taken into consideration and worked into your mock-up. It's a good idea to research current trends and design styles of not only competitor sites but other sites in general. Sites such as Cool Homepages, Linkdup and The Best Designs all provide examples of different and often cutting edge design examples that can be used for inspiration and guidance. Just remember not to get carried away or see this as an opportunity to show off design skills or knowledge of HTML code (Hyper Text Mark-up Language - the programming language used to construct most web pages). Most designs submitted to these sites are created by experienced professionals - trying to replicate what they do without their level of knowledge will usually result in disaster. Take a look at the 'worst of the web' listing in the Google directory for examples of how it shouldn't be done.

Ensure it will be possible to re-create your mock-ups as actual web pages. Design tools such as Adobe Photoshop allow a far greater degree of flexibility than web page design programmes. Clever use of tables, layers and other elements go a long way to bridging the gap between design environments but it's worth keeping these differences in mind from the earliest stage in the process.

Tip 5: Create a mock-up that sticks to corporate guidelines and is in keeping with the site content.

Next: Web page build considerations

Mighty Media are a full service multimedia company and have employed an in-house team of website designers since 1997. Our practical, marketing oriented approach to website design has resulted in numerous site launches that succeed in driving qualified, targetted leads to our client's businesses.

Mighty Media is regarded as one of the premier Buckinghamshire website design agencies with a track record in corporate communications that forms the underlying foundation of their work.

Established for over 25 years, Mighty Media began making TV commercials and later diversified into the corporate video production sector working with household names such as Procter & Gamble, Mars, Nationwide Building Society and other familiar names. With a strong background in internal and external communications Mighty Media progressed into new media production. Mighty Media now specialise in CD-Rom design and production, e-learning solutions, intranet design, extranet design, video production and website design.

Based in Bourne End on the border of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Mighty Media now provide website design and online marketing services to businesses from all over the UK.

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