Overall Design

1. Put something worthwhile on every page
2. Don't overload your page
   (you can't do it all on one page
3. Have a text-only option
   (if an image is a link, provide a text link option too)
4. Check your design in multiple ways
   (PC, Mac, IE, Netscape and, if possible, AOL)

1. Be consistent
   (look and placement of main logo, site navigation should look same or similar to tie pages together and unify the site)
2. Bigger is better
   (zoom in on photos but keep file size reasonable; make every bit of page count)
3. Vary sizes for texture
   (one dominant image and others of varying size are more interesting and appealing than a bunch the same size; same goes for font)
4. Use tables for structure
5. Be careful using frames
   (they drive some users crazy)

1. Keep graphics file sizes less than 50KB
   (otherwise, it's a long download for folks with modems)
   
2. Don't use interlaced graphics for background images
   (interlaced are those that pop up quickly but fuzzy, then come into focus; this is an option of Photoshop, just deselect it when exporting)
3. Minimize colors in graphics(especially those to be gifs; makes for smaller file size and thus quicker download)

1. You can't go wrong with black, white and red
2. Check your contrast
   (make text easy to read)
3. Use a color wheel

1. Write tight
   (stick to the point, be concise)
2. Keep typography simple
   (some fonts are not on everyone's computer)
3. No blinking text
4. Use uppercase and lowercase type
   (use ALL CAPS or bold for emphasis only, not as a rule)

1. Use plug-ins and Java applets springly, if at all
   (cool stuff is fun, but sometimes requires a download for users to see it and could turn off your user
2. Let users choose
3. Other users have different needs
   (such as deaf, colorblind, dyslexic people)

• WebHome Improvement
• Creating Graphics for the Web
• Web Pages That Suck
• Yahoo's Web Page Design and Layout Links
• Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide