Design Guide (Introduction)

design guide introduction | key writings | pictures | interaction studies | standards

The guide has five parts:

This part - the Introduction - provides an overview and highlights what's new or noteworthy

Part 1 - key writings - discusses major writings about the design of sites

Part 2 - pictures - explores the use of graphics (including charts and diagrams) to convey information online. It also looks at offline document design, important since many people skim sites then rely on a printout rather than reading online

Part 3 - interaction studies - deals with sources of information about the interaction between computers and people

Part 4 - standards - considers the contentious area of standards

Sadly, many websites are driven by 'gee whiz' technology or by the designer's ego, rather than an appreciation of what works. Few have a strategic dimension: attention to issues such as branding, updating of content, privacy, liability and offline service. This guide points to information about site design. (There's a separate guide on accessibility legislation and standards).

We can advise you about how to make the best of your online investment, large or small, and give you an accurate picture of how the digital landscape is changing.

next part (key writings about web design)