October 30, 2019 | Web Design/Development

5 Web Design Rules You Should Never Break

Even though many encourage that rules are there to be broken, there are simply some rules one should never break. Rules are there for a reason, especially when it comes to web design. In a web environment, website design is responsible for the first impression, the appearance, visual appeal and the communication of the value and purpose of a website. Websites are also growing larger and more complex, demanding and intuitive, so the challenge of designing a website increases daily. Therefore, web design rules need to apply as web context and its interpretation is one of the toughest parts of web development.

Online presence is important, and in the design profession, specific web design rules are also important. Imagine if web designers didn’t follow the rules; we’d be looking at horrendous designs and lose trust in businesses and their competence. You can always count on Eggs Media for the best web design and web development. The poor design also affects potential clients, consequentially, leading to the loss of leads, projects and loyal customers. Therefore, let’s dive in and see which unique and important web design rules you should never break.

Web Design Rules To Follow

1. Semantic Markup

For those who are unfamiliar with this phrase, semantic markup basically stands for a certain way in which one writes and structures HTML, aka Hypertext Markup Language. HTML should be written and structured in such a way that it reinforces and emphasizes the semantics of a website’s content, rather than its appearance. So, the main point regarding semantic markup lies in the importance of separation between a website presentation and its content. So, how does this relate to web design rules?

Semantic markup affects a website’s hierarchy of content, which is yet another rule you should never break. It also determines the way in which users and machines, respectively, read it. HTML is all about semantics and accessibility, so both need to be implemented correctly and in line with the rules. By following the HTML tags, the web design rules are much easier to follow, as they are chosen based on the importance and structure of a website’s content.

Why is semantic markup significant and a part of the web design rules list? It can affect your SEO, affect accessibility, Help create clear content, etc.

2. SSL Certificates

In order to create a not only visually appealing but also secure website, you need to follow one of the web design rules – having an SSL Certificate. If you want the visitors of your website to feel comfortable and confident, then SSL is a must-have. In brief, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates are security measures for websites. Those are proof that a website comes from a trusted third-party company. Meaning, if the certificate is valid and trusted, further communication takes place under a secure connection. So, why does having an SSL Certificate matter so much?

SSL Certificates affect your search engine rankings, as Google’s ranking boost on search engine result pages for sites that have the SSL Certificate. More precisely, if your competitor’s website has SSL Certificate, title tags, up-to-date content or speed, and your website doesn’t, chances are you’re going to rank lower. Moreover, SSL Certificates affect your conversions directly. How? Let’s just say that you’ll be having a hard time generating new leads if your website doesn’t have an SSL Certificate. This would happen because Google Chrome displays ‘Not Secure’ in the location bar as a warning sign for the website’s visitors.

eggs media blog 5 web design rules

3. Typography and Readability

Typography is an indispensable aspect of web design. It means that your website and its content should be organized into meaningful and effective layouts; in such a way to draw attention to a particular block of text. There are two types of typography: Macro Typography comprises the overall text structure of a document, and Micro Typography covers more detailed aspects like the font type and type systems. The latter type, Micro Typography, is actually the focus of this paragraph. It deals with colour, font, and text that makes your website distinct in the eyes of the visitors.

Typography is directly related to the readability of a website. Also, the way you design and construct the visual language of your website can determine its success. It also affects the responsiveness of your design, as web design makes 95% of typography. Basically, typography enhances, creates and alters the meaning of the visual language your website presents. As one of the web design rules typography is important.

And More Web Design Rules To Follow

4. Z-Pattern

One of the main web design rules regards the visual and content hierarchy. This is important because it directly affects the viewer’s focus once they visit your website. Therefore, it is essential to understand how users view and process the information you present. One way to direct focus and visual attention is by adopting the Z-Patter, one of the main patterns and layouts in web design. The Z-Pattern design layout traces the route the human eye travels when they read the content on your website.

5. Rem-based Layout

In order to develop an accessible and responsive design, one of another critical web design rules is to use relative units for font size. Something useful in typography and page layout, for example, is the rem-based layout. The rem unit is used to define fonts in relative terms rather than with an absolute size in pixels. So, in CSS Layout, specifications are done using the rem units, which are the multiple of the root font size for your page.

To put it more clearly, the rem unit ensures everything on your website is flexible depending on the root font size of a document. Moreover, if the browser’s default font size changes, so does your pages’ text accordingly. This means that you can dynamically scale the website design and make it more responsive.

Get in touch with Eggs Media team today! We can definitely explain these rules further once you engage with us on your next website design project. Contact us now!

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