Web design encompasses a variety of disciplines and skills in the creation and maintenance of web sites. These include web graphic design; web user interface design; web authoring, which includes proprietary software and standardised code; and search engine optimisation. Web design is an inclusive term that encompasses a wide range of skills and abilities that are used to create and maintain a website. Web design includes interface design, creative web content, user experience design, and web marketing.
In the world of web design there is a growing need for social media integration as websites become more interactive and user-friendly. Interactivity design has become one of the most important considerations for today’s website designers. Users are now more demanding that their online interactions be organised by a company or organisation that has established expertise in social media interaction design. Interaction design has developed into one of the key components of a website.
Another growing area of focus in web design is the Problem solving process. Many website designers are finding that their clients require web designers who are able to work with them on problem solving processes that help resolve potential problems that may arise. Problem solving is often described as the process of identifying, analysing and dealing with a problem so that the user is able to continue using the website without too much interruption or difficulty.
Social networking is another important area of focus in web design and also in online marketing. Social media sites like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter have become huge social platforms where millions of users congregate to communicate, engage and share information on a number of different topics. Websites such as Facebook allow users to show up and ‘like’ other people’s posts, comments or pictures, helping Facebook rank higher in the search results. As well as helping boost a site’s visibility and resulting sales, like Google, Facebook is also known for having a strong social impact on potential customers.
Web designers are also finding that more people are now looking to web designers to help them develop brand communication strategies, such as logo designs, news releases and customer relationships. Brand communication represents the core of most businesses and it is often the first point of contact for a potential customer. This is why it is becoming increasingly important for web designers to incorporate emotional design elements in their work. Emotional design is a design style that attempts to evoke a particular emotional response from the viewer of the web page. This style is usually referred to as “immersing design” or “emotional web design”.
A final focus area that most web designers are now focusing on is usability. Usability refers to the ease of navigating, using and finding a web page on which the website is based on. Web usability is considered by many to be one of the most important factors in website design. Web designers often make very serious efforts to ensure that users can easily find and use the various features and functions of the site. Web usability is also considered to be an essential factor in brand communication strategies.