Web Development and Design Foundations with XHTML, 5th Edition

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Web Design

●Describe the most common types of Web site

organization

●Create clear, easy Web site navigation

●Design user-friendly Web pages

●Improve the readability of the text on your Web

pages

●Use graphics appropriately

●Create accessible Web pages

●Describe design principles

●Describe Web page design techniques

●Apply best practices of Web design

As a Web site visitor, you have probably found thatcer-

tain Web sites are appealing and easy to use while others seem awkward or just

plain annoying. What separates the good from the bad? This chapter discusses

recommended Web site design practices. The topics include site organization,

site navigation, page design, text design, graphic design, and accessibility con-

siderations.

Whatever your personal preferences, your Web site should be designed to

appeal to your target audience—the people who will use your Web site. They

may be teens, shoppers, college students, young couples, the list goes on and

on. You should follow all of the recommended Web site design practices with

an eye toward your target audience.

For example, NASA’s site, http://www.nasa.gov (Figure 5.1), features com-

pelling graphics and has a different look and feel from the text-based, link-

intensive Web site of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (see

http://www.ahrq.gov, Figure 5.2).

Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn how to ...

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