Website Design – like any design – is something that has to follow guidelines. Here at Peloton Internet we design websites based upon what the need of the client may be. We also insist that architecture is key – there’s no point designing something if you don’t know the framework and parameters you’re building to.

Here’s a collection of simple web design things to remember:

1. Navigation needs to work simply.
   Look at our top menu – it’s designed so you can find what you’re looking for wherever you are in the site. Sitemaps are useful if someone can’t, so make them prominent just in case.
2. Keep it clean.
   Simple is nice. Space is good. Don’t be tempted to cram things in. People won’t read it if you do. Simple layout areas that people get used to on each page.
3. Be consistent
   Keep page layouts on the whole site to no more than two layouts. If each page feels different it will feel wrong for the website user.
4. Content is king.
   I’m not sure how many times I need to say this, but write things as though someone may actually want to read it. Please. Things that look pretty are great. For a few seconds.
5. Use of the browser window.
   Keep abreast of the standard monitor size. If the BBC go up to a 900 pixel width for their website, it’s a sign that the 800 pixel width monitor has gone into the ditch.
6. Keep code clean.
   If your code is XHTML compliant, it means that you’ll get over 99% of accessibility and browser issues in one go.

I’m trying not to put too many tutorials for website designers on the site; it’s not really my main audience, but every once in a while you come across something really simple and beautiful.

Glossy, Web 2 style buttons on websites seem to be flavour of the month and these have worked their way into Windows Vista’s operating system and some very big websites like First Direct bank (a gorgeous, glossy interface!).

This tutorial shows a really nice way of getting some glossy, shiny web 2 buttons onto your site

Web 2.0 style buttons | IRIS Design

If you spend anything more than a few minutes per day on the web like some saddos, you’ll have come across a frustrating ’404 Page Not Found’ error from time to time, usually from when people leave links pointing to the wrong places and forget to update them.

This bunch of 17 brilliant 404 pages shows us that life can be so much more fun when we even think through the error pages of our sites.

Craven & Murray are Rochdale Opticians, based in Norden, Lancashire, and when they approached us, we helped them to plan and deliver a website that helps to reflect their bespoke and friendly opticians.

We used a similar drop-down menu (see right) to the one here on Peloton Internet, which works well across all browsers and makes the site ‘feel’ a bit more classy and showy, without showing off with needless functionality.

Lots of Search Engine Optimisation planning has been built in too, and we’re very much hoping that the site will pay for itself by bringing in those all-important search engine customers over the coming months.

This is probably the most succinct and readable glossary of web terms I’ve come across. Hats off to those clever people at White Hat Web Design for this:
http://www.white-hat-web-design.co.uk/articles/dictionary.php