HTML Design Considerations

• Does it relate to the topic at hand?
• How does it contribute to the overall effect/purpose of the page?
• Download speed consideration - is it necessary?
• Using animation sparingly

Just like using graphics, think before you link. Consider why you are linking two documents together. Is the link useful for your readers? Will it give them more information or take them closer to their goal? Is the link relevant in some way to the current content?

Each link should serve a purpose. Just because you mention newspapers deep in a page about some other topic, you don't have to link that word to the New York Times. It may seem cute, but if a link doesn't have any relevance to the content, then it just confuses your reader.

Each web document works best if it covers a single topic in its entirety. Don't split topics up across pages; even if you link to them, the transition can become confusing, especially over two and three documents strung together.

Just like in good writing, avoid using cliches. Web cliches are images, words, and cute design elements used on thousands of pages ad nausem. Some examples:

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Just like in a book, your reader should be able to expect certain page elements to be consistent throughout your web site. Because a page can be accessed individually, each must have some basic information about the larger document, such as a link to the beginning page of the site. Some sites have naviagation bars, such as this:

Just like in the paper world, the best design is the simplest. Reduce the number of different elements (images, headings, rule lines) and make sure that the eye is drawn to the most important parts of the page first.

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Introduction | Section Two | Section Three
Section Four | Design Considerations