Mostly people get into the web design and development field because they secretly desire of becoming a Web Designer
. Remember the time you came to know about the Text Art in Word, you were mesmerized. You try to add tiny changes in the font and go for fancy coding wherever possible, even if its just the color of the text.
HTML and Web Development techniques offer a platform for the all the creative minds rather than being a programmer working with codes. Instead being creative is an absolute Fun.
When it comes to Web Design there are few logics of science that needs to be followed. Choosing the font, color and width of your page must not be based on "what you like". Following these steps will help you in being more scientific in your Web design:
Usability Testing
Usability testing can either be a complicated process or simple one it depends on how you want it to be. The best way is to have someone not familiar with your site do your usability check. Try to be in the same room while they test your website. Observe carefully what they click on and what they ignore. If they are ignoring the buy button and you have created an ecommerce website than this can cause a serious problem.
Browser testing
Just because it looks absolutely fine on your favorite browser doesnt mean that it will look good in every other one. This even comprises of same browser on other operating systems. So its better that you try your web page on every browser and OS that you come across.
Learn from Desktop Publishing and Established Design Principles
A new Web Designer tries to reinvent the patterns of layout and style without undergoing any formal training in design. Line lengths for readability, colors for emphasis, and margins for look are all basic principles of DTP and can be interpreted to the Web.
Use your log files
Log files are generally very boring to use but they are no doubt a precious tool for designers. Acquire a good tool and you can easily find out things like:
where people go from your front page
what they click on the most
what pages are least successful
Once you are aware of what your visitors are interested in, you can easily modify your site to lead your customers where you want them to go.
Don't be afraid to redo
The major pro to the web is how conveniently changes can be done. If you finalized a Website Design and later on you want some changes to be made in it, then you can change it anytime, anywhere.
The ultimate aim of a web designer is to bring some structure and science into the web design that not only makes the website attractive but at the same time is user friendly.