Description
This course provides an introduction to Web site design, covering both human factors and technical design issues. Guidelines for planning and designing a Web site are included.

Audience
Web designers and developers who need a practical introduction to Web site design.

Prerequisites
Participants should be familiar with using Web browsers and have experience in exploring the World Wide Web. HTML experience is helpful, but not required.

Hardware and Software Requirements
A PC or workstation capable of running IE 4.0+ or Netscape 4.0+.

Format

• Presentation
  
• Hands-on
  
• Demonstration
  
• Written Exercises
  

Objectives
After completing this course, participants should be able to:

• Define the structure of a Web site
• Apply human factors guidelines in site and page design
• Create a design plan for a Web site
• Apply layout techniques to page design
• Describe Accessibility problems in Web design
• Identify the challenges of targeting multiple browsers and platforms

Web Design Overview

• Introduction to Effective Web Design
• Effective Web Design Principles
  • Visual Simplicity
  • Consistency of Design
  • Use of Common Visual Language
  • Creating a Compelling Design
  • Designing for Usability
• Designing for All Web Users
  • Characteristics of User Needs
  • Cross-Platform and Cross-Browser Design
  • Load Time
• Planning an Effective Web Site

Page Design

• Effective Use of Color
  • Basic Color Theory
  • The RGB Color Model
  • Color Depth
  • Web-Safe Color Palette
  • Color in HTML
  • Designing with Color
• Page Layout with Tables
  • Using a Table as a Layout Tool
  • Minimizing Load Time
  • Browser and Platform Compatibility with Tables
• Using Frames in Page Design
  • Designing with Frames
  • Browser Compatibility with Frames
• Page Layout with Style Sheets
  • Cascading Style Sheets
• Effective Layout Design
  • Applying Design Principles to Page Layout
  • Page Size
  • Design for "Above the Fold"
  • Browser Offset
  • Design for Printing
  • Page Design Dos and Don’ts

Content Design

• Text and Writing for the Web
  • Typographical Design
  • Text Formatting
  • Using a Graphic Image as Text
  • Text Layout
  • Writing for the Web
• Graphics
  • Effective Graphic Design
  • Web Image File Formats
  • Cross-Platform Image Design
  • Editing Techniques Used with Graphics
  • Optimizing Graphics
  • Positioning Graphics on a Web Page
  • Graphic Design Dos and Don’ts
• Multimedia and Interactivity in Web Design
  • Effective Use of Multimedia and Interactive Content
  • Audio Files
  • Video Files
  • Using Animated GIFs on the Web
  • Integrated Multimedia Content
  • Using Forms

Site Design

• Information Architecture
  • Information Architecture Overview
  • Content and Functional Requirements
  • Content Organization
  • Creating an Appropriate Structure for the Site
  • Connections
  • Information Architecture Dos and Don’ts
• Navigational Design
  • Navigational Design Objectives
  • Navigation Layout
  • Navigational Devices
  • Navigation Dos and Don’ts

Other Web Design Considerations

• Accessible Web Design
  • Introduction to Accessible Web Design
  • Visual Impairments
  • Hearing Impairments
  • Motor Disabilities
  • Accessibility Guidelines
  • Accessibility Testing
• Web Design for a Global Audience
  • Worldwide Distribution of Online Users
  • Approaches to Global Web Design
  • Language Usage
  • Culture
• Intranet and E-Commerce Web Design
  • Intranet Design
  • E-Commerce Web Design
  • Online Resources for Web Designers