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Visual Design Tips

This is structured for teaching visual web design principles, focusing on layout, color, spacing, and other design elements that shape user experience.

 

Why Design Matters

  • Web design is responsible for 94% of a visitor’s first impression of your client’s business.

  • Good design builds trust, improves usability, and directs attention to what matters.

 

 

Core Visual Design Principles

1. Color
  • Limit to 2–3 main colors plus neutrals.
  • Use contrast for readability and focus.
  • Keep palettes consistent with the brand.
  • Accessibility: avoid low-contrast combinations.
2. Negative Space
  • Give elements room to breathe.
  • Use spacing to separate sections and show hierarchy.
  • Maintain consistent padding and margins.
3. Typography
  • Stick to 1–2 font families.
  • Create hierarchy with size and weight.
  • Keep text readable: at least 16px with balanced line spacing.
4. Shadows & Depth
  • Use soft shadows to add depth without clutter.
  • Apply shadows consistently across elements.
  • Mix flat design with elevated accents for balance.
5. Layout & Alignment
  • Follow a grid for balance.
  • Align elements for clean, professional appearance.
  • Place key elements higher and larger in the layout.
6. Imagery & Icons
  • Use sharp, high-quality, compressed images.
  • Keep illustration and icon styles consistent.
  • Balance alignment and size so visuals don't overwhelm.
7. Buttons & UI Elements
  • Make buttons large enough to interact with.
  • Use consistent corner radius, border, and fill styles.
  • Provide enough spacing around clickable items.
8. Mobile Design
  • Design mobile-first, scale up to desktop.
  • Ensure large tap targets and adequate spacing.
  • Collapse or reorder content for readability on small screens.
9. Consistency & Branding
  • Repeat styles for navigation, icons, and sections.
  • Maintain uniform spacing, borders, and colors.
  • Build a cohesive look across the whole site.
10. Simplicity
  • Keep pages uncluttered.
  • Focus on one main purpose per section.
  • Remove unnecessary noise to guide attention.

 

 

 

Visual Cues

Faces as cues: People follow eye direction.

Use faces as visual cues

 

 

Arrows as cues: Even simple arrows can guide attention effectively.

Use arrows as visual Cues

Use arrows as visual Cues heat map

 

 

 

 

Best Practices in Action

  • Keep your homepage minimalistic: only essentials above the fold.

  • Design with hierarchy in mind: guide the eye with size, color, and spacing.

  • Easy-to-read layouts: combine typography, spacing, and contrast.

  • Navigation first: simple menus and predictable paths.

  • Stay mobile-friendly: optimize for touch and small screens.



 

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Neglecting UX: Don’t let aesthetics override usability.

  • Content overload: Too much text or visuals overwhelms visitors.

  • Inconsistent design: Mismatched fonts, colors, or layouts create a messy look.

  • Poor mobile optimization: A site that doesn’t work on mobile loses credibility and traffic.