In the field of web design, the quest for excellence is integral to our work. Whether it’s for client-based projects or personal pursuits, the ambition to stay ahead of the competition is always present. In the following blog, we will clarify five simple but influential steps to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your website.
1. Premium Fonts
Tired of the same, overused fonts? Your font choice can make or break a design itself. Choosing fonts that complement each other and convey a well-designed, unique feel is important.
While Google Fonts provides a wide range of options, it tends to offer commonly used fonts. For a more exclusive typographic collection, Adobe Typekit is an invaluable resource that grants access to high-quality fonts for an added touch of sophistication.
In practice, for projects related to luxury brands or high-end merchandise, using a serif font creates a sense of professionalism. In contrast, a sans-serif font may be more appropriate for a playful or casual context.
2. Visual Hierarchy
Visual Hierarchy divides content into digestible chunks of text so it’s a more efficient user journey. Much like a well-structured book, information should be organised with appropriate headings and paragraphs to ensure the most crucial content takes centre stage.
Here are some examples of how visual hierarchy can be used:
Colour
Designate primary and secondary colours, with the primary colour appearing the most throughout your site. The secondary colour is the accent, this can be for accentuating non-sales-related design elements or less vital call-to-action items.
Layout
Layout in web design is crucial, if a user enters your website and is greeted with disorganised content then it’s impossible for people to understand what you offer. Whitespace also aids in content readability and provides breathing room for images and text.
Fonts
Utilising different font weights aids in visual clarity. Bold font weights are used for the most significant parts such as titles or call-to-action items. Lighter font weights can be used for the least important information such as paragraphs. With fonts you should always consider line height, this makes it easier for your eyes to process.
3. Professional Photography
Though investing in professional photography may require both time and financial resources, the results justify the investment and it’s definitely worth it if you want to outshine your competitors.
The inclusion of sharp, high-quality images gives your site an instant professional edge and demonstrates your dedication to maintaining an impressive online presence.
4. Animations, Transitions and Interactions
Many designers today focus on interactive elements that tell a specific story whether that be mouse-based scroll to display a product in use or video-based layouts.
Animations and transitions enrich the user experience (UX), rendering it more distinctive.
Here are some examples:
Preloaders
Preloaders engage users with meaningful visual or textual content while the page loads, offering insight or context.
Page Transitions
Introducing subtle animations during page switches adds a captivating dimension to your site.
Consistent Animations
Exercise caution when deploying animations to avoid overwhelming the user. Subtle entrance animations for content or attention-grabbing calls to action are strategic choices.
Keep it simple
When starting out in web design I’m sure 99% of designers admit they have implemented so many design elements that it becomes inconsistent and overwhelming… yep that was me.
Well, less is more. You need to consider how the user journey will be affected, is the navigation condensed down to a maximum of 5 tabs? Does each section have a purpose and will it be easy for the potential customer to find out the information they require?
Make sure you integrate these three key factors for a successful user experience:
- Who are the company?
- What does the company offer to you?
- How to get in touch?
Don’t forget these are just handpicked features that you can add to elevate your website. If you’re looking to refresh your web design, get in touch today on 01482 242007 or email talktous@superflymarketing.co.uk.