The website of a company is one of the most crucial things in the current digital era. It’s not merely a showcase; it’s where a business reflects its brand essence. Therefore, the type of web design should be top-notch.
This can pose a problem for many organizations since their website may not meet both personal and client expectations. Fortunately, various solutions in the market allow the design of sites in a straightforward manner.
This article delves into what web design is, its types, and provides examples that will make website creation child's play. It also covers how options like HubSpot's Ocean Pro make this objective easier.
Web design is much more than eye-catching colors and beautiful images. It can be seen as a mix of art and science with the potential to create digital experiences that are attractive, intuitive, and functional.
It encompasses a variety of skills and disciplines, from choosing color palettes and typography to organizing information and optimizing user experience.
Good web design not only looks good but also functions well. It's accessible to all users, regardless of the device they use, and meets its goals, whether it's selling a product, informing the public, or capturing leads.
In today’s diverse device landscape, web design has become more complex and challenging but has also brought new opportunities to reach wider audiences and provide richer, more personalized experiences.
At the end of the day, web design is a fusion of creativity and technique. It’s the intersection between visual aesthetics and functionality. Its primary goal is to connect businesses with their customers as effectively as possible.
Web design has diversified to adapt to various devices and screen sizes.
Here's a detailed description of the main types:
Websites with a fixed design have a predetermined pixel width that doesn't change, regardless of the device or screen size. This makes them look the same on all screens.
However, the main disadvantage is that they might not display properly on devices with smaller or larger screens.
In this case, the design adapts to the size of the browser window by using relative units like ems instead of pixels. This allows it to adjust to various browser window sizes.
It enhances readability across different devices because the typography adjusts in the same manner, aiding in improving legibility.
However, its main drawback is that the design might appear altered across different devices and browsers. Implementing it can also be more complicated compared to fixed design.
It uses percentages to determine the width of elements, allowing the design to expand or contract with the browser window.
This design maximizes space usage, adapting to various window sizes and making use of available space to offer a more personalized experience.
However, the issue lies in the fact that if the design isn’t planned properly, elements might shift in undesired ways. It requires meticulous planning to avoid issues.
It adapts its appearance according to the device, using CSS breakpoints to rearrange elements based on the screen size, aiming to provide an optimized experience for all types of devices.
Additionally, Google favors responsive sites in its search results. However, this comprehensive design requires more time and resources for designing and testing on various devices.
It uses CSS Flexbox for dynamic and adaptable element arrangement, offering precise control over element alignment and distribution.
This feature eases the creation of layouts that might be challenging with other techniques. But it can be challenging for those unfamiliar with Flexbox.
Web design plays a crucial role in determining the success of an online platform since every click can be the difference between gaining or losing a customer.
Moreover, the actual purpose of the design has different approaches, which we'll examine below:
Web design is important as it's a strategic decision that can influence a business's success in the digital environment.
Studies suggest that 75% of users assess a business's credibility based on its website design.
A professional and updated design builds trust, while an outdated or poorly structured design might create distrust.
Additionally, in a saturated market, outstanding design can differentiate a brand from its competition, enabling an organization to stand out and offer a unique value proposition to visitors.
In today’s multi-device world, where users access the web from smartphones, desktop screens, and everything in between, having a responsive website is crucial.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Before diving into code, it's vital to understand what being "responsive" means—ensuring your site looks and works well on any device by adapting its design based on screen size and capabilities.
Instead of designing with fixed pixels, utilize a percentage-based grid system. This enables site elements to resize proportionally based on the screen size.
CSS media queries allow you to apply specific styles based on device characteristics like width, height, or resolution. They are crucial for adjusting the design at different breakpoints.
Images and other media elements should be flexible to serve different images based on device resolution. Tools and techniques like the HTML srcset attribute can be used to cater to various resolutions.
Navigation that works well on a desktop screen might not be suitable for a smartphone. Implement dropdown menus or "hamburger" menus for mobile devices.
While frameworks like Bootstrap or Foundation can speed up the responsive design process, don't rely too much on them. Customize as per your site’s specific needs to avoid unnecessary code bloat.
Responsive websites often require more code and resources. Optimize your code, minimize unnecessary JavaScript and CSS usage, and consider implementing lazy loading techniques to improve loading speed.
In the competitive world of web design, choosing the right tool can be the difference between a website that merely "works" and one that shines with design and functionality excellence.
The choice of a theme should not be solely based on appearance but on its ability to meet the specific needs of your business and offer an unmatched experience to your visitors.
Ocean Pro isn’t just another theme on the market; it’s the result of over a decade of experience accumulated by the Media Source team. It combines the best practices in web design and development.
With over 45 customizable modules and an impressive capability for over 100 combinations in the Hero Banner module, Ocean Pro provides unparalleled flexibility.
Moreover, it features saved sections that allow designers and developers to speed up the page creation process. It includes 30 predefined sections (and growing) combining modules and predefined styles.
Ocean Pro shines with 38 page templates and 9 system templates, all optimized to provide an exceptional user experience.
Ocean Pro is compatible with Marketing Hub and CMS Hub's Pro and Enterprise versions, offering limited functionality with CMS Hub Starter to ensure you can leverage all the powerful tools HubSpot has to offer.
If you're looking for a theme that combines stellar design, robust functionality, and unparalleled support, Ocean Pro is your choice.
Whether you're creating a new website or redesigning an existing one, Ocean Pro provides the tools and flexibility to take your online presence to the next level.
Ready to dive into the world of Ocean Pro? Discover it yourself and elevate your web design to the next level!