Web Design - Web Development and Design Foundations with XHTML - page 169

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CHAPTER

Web Design

Chapter Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn how to ...

● Describe the most common types of Web site
organization
● Create clear, easy Web site navigation
● Design user-friendly Web pages
● Improve the readability of the text on your Web
pages

● Use graphics appropriately
● Create accessible Web pages
● Describe design principles
● Describe Web page design techniques
● Apply best practices of Web design

As a Web site visitor, you have probably found that cer-
tain Web sites are appealing and easy to use while others seem awkward or just
plain annoying. What separates the good from the bad? This chapter discusses
recommended Web site design practices. The topics include site organization,
site navigation, page design, text design, graphic design, and accessibility con-
siderations.

Whatever your personal preferences, your Web site should be designed to
appeal to your target audience —the people who will use your Web site. They
may be teens, shoppers, college students, young couples, the list goes on and
on. You should follow all of the recommended Web site design practices with
an eye toward your target audience.

For example, NASA's site, http://www.nasa.gov (Figure 5.1), features com-
pelling graphics and has a different look and feel from the text-based, link-
intensive Web site of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (see
http://www.ahrq.gov, Figure 5.2).

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