This is the first of a 6-part website design and development series covering creative web design, website SEO and marketing, user experience design, quality development, stellar performance, and regular website maintenance.
YOUR BRAND. YOUR MESSAGE. YOUR SERVICE. YOUR PRODUCT. This is what you want to communicate through your website with creative web design.
Key steps to help your website stand out from the crowd.
Your Logo at the top of your website is the first step in brand awareness.
A great quality logo at the top of your website clearly communicates who you are. Consistent use of your logo across social media channels and marketing materials increases brand awareness.
The smallest variation of your logo is a favicon. Google describes them as “a visual representation of your website’s brand, in order to help users quickly identify your site when they scan through search results.” Favicons appear in browser tabs and now also on the search results page.
Fonts communicate your brand message.
Use your brand font or a similar font consistently across your website for a good user experience. A heavy weight headline paired with a normal weight body font creates contrast and breaks up the text on your website.
Brand colors set your website apart.
A good color pallet consists of a 1-2 primary colors and a few supporting colors. Use color consistently across headlines, buttons, and backgrounds. Good color contrast makes your website easy to read and your calls to action stand out. Good use of color will improve the user experience of your website.
The photos on your website communicate your brand message.
Photos are often used to show your products, services, team, and location. Take time to choose photos that are candid and communicate an authentic message. Using photos with similar filters, shot angles, and other features create a unified, branded look.
Icons and illustrations are an opportunity to differentiate and provide an engaging experience.
They help tell your brand’s story in a visual and engaging way. Illustrations can be the center of attention or used in a more subtle way to guide your website visitor through your sales funnel. When used as a set, icons and illustrations create a cohesive branded look for your website.
A design system and page layout are the foundation for good web design.
Consistency and patterns result in a professional look and an enjoyable website experience. Having a good hierarchy and consistent order of headers, body copy, pull quotes, and images helps your visitor to navigate the website and quickly comprehend your business message.
Your business message is the words used to describe what you do, your products, and services.
Website visitors want to know what your website is about right away. Clear, concise language is important to them. Content on your website helps to describe your business, products, and services. Simple navigation that is easy to understand is an important part of your website content. Having content that moves a visitor from overview to more detail creates a customer journey to your business goals.
Summary
Creative web design is the process of communicating your brand and telling your story. It is making a website that stands out and authentically communicates your business message. It is more than a good looking template. It is good website design that has your business goals in mind.
Read more about working with me for creative website design on the website design and development page and contact me for a free estimate.
This is the first of a 6-part series covering creative web design, website SEO and marketing, user experience design, quality development, stellar performance, and regular website maintenance.