Visual Themes

It is a useful analogy to approach your Web site development project in the same way you would the construction of a new office or store for your business. Existing and prospective clients will be coming into your Web site in considerable numbers, and you want them to have an impression of your organization that is consistent with the nature of your business and your philosophy. Above all, you want to be perceived as professional.

There are several factors that are important in creating a consistent "look" for your Web site.

Colors

Too many colors, or clashing colors, can make a confusing or ugly Web site. A Web site should generally be constructed from a basic palette of between 2 and 6 colors and their tonal variations. A good place to start in choosing those colors is your organization's logo. Your logo will often be the centerpiece of your site, and a color scheme consistent with it is vital in creating visual harmony.

Background

Custom-made backgrounds are often used in Web sites. However, careful thought should be given before going with this option. If the purpose of your site is to provide content which you expect your visitors to read, black text on a solid white background is the best option.

If you decide to go with a custom-made background, it is important to keep it non-obtrusive, sticking with light shades so as not to distract from the text.

Buttons

Buttons are the major means by which visitors navigate your site, and creating innovative and stylish buttons has become a high art form. It is important to have custom made button graphics incorporating your color theme and integrated closely with your layout design.

Animations

Animations are where more sites go wrong than right. The Web is full of animations, and they are easy to copy and reuse. However, placing someone else's animations on your Web site raises several problems:

1. If the animation is good, there are probably many other Web sites which also incorporate it. In such a case, many of your visitors will have already seen the animation on the Web, and know it for what it is: stolen. This does your Web site and organization more harm than any small benefit the animation may have provided.
2. It is extremely difficult to find an animation consistent with your organization that can be successfully integrated into your site's visual theme.
3. Some of those animations (especially the good ones) are copyrighted, and their designers can often be quite zealous about catching illicit users.

All this is not to say that animations cannot contribute greatly to the overall impact of your site. If you do have a concept for an animation that you would like implemented, here are two useful principles to guide you:

1. Have your animation custom-designed. At AGRAPHA, we can custom design animations for you as an integrated part of your site.
2. Less is more. If the animation is too distracting, or takes too long to download, it will have a detrimental effect on the overall effectiveness of your Web site.

For professional Web site design, logo design, or custom graphics, contact AGRAPHA

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