subject: Choosing Web Design Services - What To Look For [print this page] If you've decided you want the help of a professional when you make your own website, you've made a smart decision. Not everyone is prepared to build a site on their own, especially if their business requires a complicated design. Choosing a web design service can still be difficult, however. While just about every service advertises their design service as "high quality," actual quality levels may vary. The good news is that by looking at a service's past work, you can decide whether it's right for you. Here are a few things to watch for:
Spacing
Good web designers know how to make use of space to draw the reader's attention. Poor designers tend to pack too many elements into too little space, resulting in a page that's unreadable. A few inexperienced services overcompensate, leaving too much "air" around page elements. Even if you don't know much about web design, there's a good chance that you can spot good use of space versus bad use in a designer's portfolio. If something about the site feels "off," it may be time to look elsewhere for your web design.
Attention to Detail
A quality web design firm doesn't just look at the big picture. The example sites you see should also show attention to detail. Little things like extra borders, careful positioning, and in depth proofreading produce an error-free product that's somehow more inviting. The result is polished and professional-feeling. Avoid anyone who shows you a page with inconsistent graphics, grammatical errors and other minor problems.
Quality Typography
Font choice and sizing can make an enormous difference in how your new site looks and feels. Designers should know how to use type correctly, making subtle changes and sticking primarily with fonts from just one or two families. When a designer's sample pages look like the Font menu in your word professor, the result is unprofessional and unattractive. Be willing to choose a designer whose font choices don't jump out at you, but look subtly correct for the page.
Good Flow and Organization
When you first open the sites of a designer's satisfied customers, you should be able to navigate them right away. If the design service you're thinking about using produces sites you need to think about, it may be time to look somewhere else. A well designed site will automatically guide your eye to the correct places. Visitors should be able to find important information without even thinking about it.
If you want to make your own website, but the designer you're working with can provide these important elements it's time to find someone new. Good websites must be clear, navigable and well-designed down to the smallest detail. It may take a little work to find the right designer, but it'll be worth it in the end.
