Ask HN: What are guiding principles of web design that beginners should know?
I'm building my first project and was curious if there are some fundamental principles (as opposed to technology specific) of web design to be aware of?
1. User-centered design: Prioritize the needs and goals of the user.
2. Simplicity: Create a clean and easy-to-use design with clear navigation.
3. Consistency: Maintain a cohesive look and feel across all pages.
4. Accessibility: Follow web accessibility guidelines to make the design accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
5. Responsive design: Make the design responsive to different screen sizes and devices.
6. Visual hierarchy: Use visual cues to create a clear hierarchy of information.
7. Content first: Base the design on the content of the website, with the design supporting the content.
8. Usability: Make the website easy to use, so that users can find what they need and complete their tasks.
9. Performance: Optimize images, code, and other elements for fast loading and good performance.
10. Aesthetics: Create a visually appealing design that reflects the brand and purpose of the website.
11. Standardisation: Use only Standardised terms, icons, images which people are already aware of. Lot of changes may divert away the users and require learning curve.