What is Web Design? Understanding the Basics of Website Creation

Web design is essential in today’s digital age, as a website is often the first point of contact between you and your audience.

It serves as an online representation of your brand or personal identity, and encompasses the visual elements, layout, and user experience of your website.

In this article, we’ll delve into the basics of website creation and explore the different elements that make up a website.

By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of what web design is, what the process of building a website looks like and why it’s so important.

What is Web Design?

Web design is the process of creating websites that are both visually appealing and functional.

It involves a combination of design principles, technical skills, and marketing strategies to create a website that meets the needs of both the business and its target audience.

Web designers use a variety of tools and techniques to design websites that are easy to use, navigate, and understand for every day users.

What does a web designer do?

A website designer plays a critical role in creating a website that is visually appealing, easy to use, and effectively communicates the website’s message and purpose to its visitors.

Website designers must have a strong understanding of design principles, including composition, color theory, typography, and user experience (UX) design. They must also have technical skills in using design software programs and be familiar with web design languages such as HTML and CSS.

In addition to creating the visual elements of a website, a website designer may also be involved in creating graphics, logos, and other branding elements that help to establish the website’s identity and convey its message to its audience.

The Basic Elements of Web Design

Web design comprises several components that work together to create an engaging and user-friendly website. Some of the key elements of web design include:

1. Layout: The layout of a website refers to the arrangement of its visual elements, such as text, images, and videos, on a page. A well-designed layout should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and functional.
2. Colour: Color plays a significant role in web design as it can affect the mood, emotions, and perceptions of the user. Using the right colors can help establish a brand identity and create a cohesive design.
3. Typography: Typography refers to the style, size, and arrangement of text on a website. The use of appropriate fonts and font sizes can enhance readability and make content more engaging.
4. Images: Images and graphics can make a website more visually appealing and help convey information more effectively. High-quality images can also help establish credibility and professionalism.
5. Navigation: Navigation refers to the system that allows users to move around a website and find the information they need. A clear and intuitive navigation system can improve the user experience and make it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for.
6. Responsive design: With the growing use of mobile devices, it’s important to have a website that is optimized for different screen sizes. A responsive design ensures that your website is accessible and easy to use on all devices.

How Websites are Created by Web Developers

Websites are created through a process called web development.

The development process involves several steps, including planning, design, development, and testing.

During the planning stage, the website’s purpose, target audience, and features are defined. This stage also involves deciding on the website’s structure and navigation.

Web Design Stage

The design stage is where the website’s visual elements are created. This includes creating a layout, selecting colors and fonts, and deciding on the images and graphics that will be used.

The design stage is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire website.

Web Development Stage (Coding)

Once the design is approved, the development stage begins. This is where the website’s functionality is built.

Developers use mark up languages such as HTML and CSS as well as programming languages such as JavaScript and PHP to create the website’s layout, features, and functionality.

They also ensure that the website is responsive, meaning it will automatically resize and shift it’s layout so it can be used on different sized devices such as mobile phones, tabet devices, laptops and wide screen monitors.

Content Stage

This is where all of the website’s inner pages are created and content is loaded onto the website using the Content Management System (CMS).

During this stage, content is added to each page of the website, including text, images, videos, and anything else that is required to provide value to visitors.

This may involve working closely with copywriters, designers, and other stakeholders to ensure that the content is accurate, informative, and engaging.

The CMS is used to manage the content on the website, making it easy for developers and content managers to add, edit, and delete content as needed.

Testing Stage

Testing is the final stage in the web development process. During this stage, developers test the website’s functionality, compatibility, and performance.

They also ensure that the website is  search engine friendly – this means it loads reasonably fast and the websites pages/content are accesible to search bots so they can crawl and index the site once it is live.

Website Launch Stage

The launch stage is the final step in the website development process, where the website is made live and accessible to the public. This involves publishing the website to its domain and making it available for users to access through their web browsers.

During the launch stage, the website is transferred from the development environment to the live environment. This may involve setting up web hosting, configuring domain settings, and ensuring that all of the website’s files and databases are correctly transferred.

On-Going Maintenance & Monitoring

Once the website is live, it is important to keep the website updated regularly. This involves monitoring the site and addressing any issues that may come up.

Service agreements (like website management & maintenance plans) may be put in place to manage on-going updates to ensure the website remains operational, secure from hackers and optimised for performance.

Popular Website Creation Tools

These are just a few of the many website creation tools available. Each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Here are some of the most popular ones:

WordPress

WordPress is a popular website creation tool that allows users to create websites without the need for coding. It offers a range of templates and plugins that can be used to customize the website’s design and functionality.

In my business as a Gold Coast web designer, I frequently use and recommend the WordPress CMS for web design.

It is an ideal solution for just about every small – medium sized business owner who is looking to promote their business online with a website.

Wix

Wix is a website builder that offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to create websites.

It offers a range of templates and features that can be customized to suit the user’s needs. WIX is the perfect website building solution for the business owner who wants to go  the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) route.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a website creation tool that is popular among creatives and DIY website builders.

It offers a range of templates and features that can be customized to create attractive websites that are easy to manage and update.

Shopify

Shopify is a website creation tool that is designed for e-commerce websites.

With a range of professional templates available and simple features that can be customized, Shopify is a robust solution for create visually stunning online shopping websites.

In my experience, Shopify is a great tool to quickly establish an online store that is easy to create, manage, update and scale as the business grows.

Webflow

Webflow is a website creation tool that allows designers to create responsive websites visually, without writing any code.

It offers a wide range of design templates, components, and animations, and allows users to export clean and semantic code.

MODx Revolution

MODx Revolution is a website creation tool that is known for its flexibility and ease of use. This is another CMS that I’ve used extensively over the last 5 years so here’s my take:

MODx is another fantastic content management system that is better suited to web developers who want to have full control when customising the front-end and the back-end of the websites they build.

MODx is capable of creating very small static websites, or large full featured dynamic websites that is easy for clients to update.

Why is Web Design Important?

Web design plays a crucial role in the success of a website. A well-designed website can help to attract and retain visitors, increase engagement, and ultimately drive conversions.

Here are some of the reasons why web design is so important:

1. First Impressions: Your website is often the first point of contact between you and your audience. A well-designed website can create a positive first impression and help to build trust with your audience.
2. User Experience: A good user experience is essential for keeping visitors on your website. If your website is difficult to navigate or understand, users are more likely to leave and go elsewhere.
3. Branding: Your website is a representation of your brand. A well-designed website can help to reinforce your brand identity and make it more memorable.
4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Web design can also play a role in SEO. A well-designed website can make it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content, improving your rankings in search results.

For more information on this, see my recent article on Why Web Design is Important for Businesses.

Is web design important for SEO?

Web design and search engine optimisation (SEO) are closely related as the design of a website can affect its visibility and ranking on search engines.

Search engines like Google prioritise websites that are user-friendly, easy to navigate, fast loading and provide valuable / engaging content to users.

A well-designed website with a clear hierarchy, appropriate use of headers, and relevant content has been proven to improve its SEO performance and drive more organic traffic from search engines.

If you are looking to design a website for your business or re-design your existing site, get in touch with an Australian SEO Expert or an SEO expert in your country.

Planning out your website”s foundational structure and content with an SEO professional can be huge benefit to the performance of your website 6-12 months after you launch.

Does web design affect website conversion rates?

Web design can have a significant impact on website conversion rates as it influences how users interact with your website and ultimately affects their decision to convert.

A poorly designed website with slow load times, confusing navigation, and unappealing visuals can lead to a high bounce rate and low conversion rates.

In contrast, a well-designed website with clear calls to action, easy-to-use navigation, and visually appealing design can improve the user experience and drive more conversions.

Conclusion

Web design plays a crucial role in the success of any business or organization that operates online.

It not only determines the visual appeal of your website but also influences the overall user experience, functionality, and performance.

We live in a world where consumers have numerous options to choose from which are available at the click of a button.

Having an effective web design can be the key differentiator that sets you apart from your competitors and helps you to win more business and higher value customers.

Got a Project? Get in Touch

Need a website designed and developed for your business? Contact Michael Sherry.

Michael is an Australian Freelance Web Designer with more than 8 years experience building lead generation websites for service-based businesses across the country.

Call direct on 0431 739 060 for an obligation free discussion about your web design requirements.