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This tutorial provides information on  the basic elements of Web page design and layout. It is not meant to be a comprehensive course on Web site construction. Rather, it is meant to provide an overview of the most important issues that anybody building a Web page will confront.
The tutorial takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Clicking on any selection in the Table of Contents below will take you directly to that portion of the tutorial.
The pages of this tutorial are divided into right and left halves. The left half contains the main message. The right half, with the green background, features interactive elements, additional information, or examples.
As you go through the tutorial, be sure to try the interactive elements. Follow the instructions and take the quizzes, click the buttons, or try the action.
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The very first step in designing a Web site is to define it. And to properly
define a site there are three questions that must be answered.
- What is the purpose of the site?
- Who will be visiting the site?
- How will the site serve the client?
The answers to these questions will guide you as you construct the site |
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| A Web site may have several purposes. In that case it is necessary to
determine which is the primary purpose, which is secondary, and so on.
A site that is intended to be strictly informative, such as a news site,
is likely to look much different that a site that is designed to sell
a product. On the other hand, a site for a college may have some subtle
similarities to a site that sells books. The college site probably will
be intended to present the school is a very positive and manner so that
students will want to enroll. The retail book site will want to convince
visitors that it is the best place to purchase reading material. |
Let's say you are going to build a Web site. Check all that apply:
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Determining who the visitors are likely to be is crucial in deciding
not only the general appearance of the site, but also the technology that
might be used to build the site.
If the project is likely to have visitors who log in from home, it is
necessary to design the pages with the understanding that users will probably
have slow modem connections.
On the other hand, if visitors are expected to be fans of a rock band,
then high-end technology such as Flash may be acceptable. |
Click who you expect to visit your site:
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The term "client" in this instance refers to anybody for whom
a site is built, not just a paying customer. In the case of a Web site
built for a family reunion, the client is the family. Will the site properly
serve the need of the family by providing clear directions to the location
of the reunion? Can the family photos be properly displayed?
A client could be a history professor. In such an instance the message
of the professor must be clearly understood. Will he or she want to post
assignments and readings? Does the site involve explaining research projects?
And who will update the site later? |
Does this site meet the needs of the "client?"
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