Designing a web site calls for a unique combination of technical, artistic and publishing skills.

It is an entirely different medium from print or television.

In particular it is important to understand that the delivery mechanism is unique.

When you send someone a printed document or broadcast a TV programme, or show a PowerPoint Presentation you control all aspects of that deliverable. With the web you cannot. The web is a pull medium - visitors to your site request information from the web server that hosts your site. Your web server delivers that information as code and images but your visitor's browser reassembles this to re-create the web page you designed. For a more detailed explanation see Web Design Issues.

The three main activities of visiting a web site are reading text, viewing images, and interacting with its interface.

What's important?

What are your objectives?

Are you trying to gain new customers?

Sell more to existing customers?

Provide information to existing customers and/or prospects?

Provide information to partners or investors?

Cut costs of sales and/or service to customers existing or otherwise?

And the design?

How does the design and implementation of your web site support your goals?

What technology are you using and will your visitors benefit from it or be hindered by it?

To meet your customer requirements does it need to be?

• fast

• easy to navigate

• easy to use

• full of high quality graphics

• a total high tech experience

• cross browser compatible

• killer web site status (high tech design)

Put yourself in the minds and hearts of your visitor

1. Will they find it easy and quick to get the information they require

2. Will you "add value" by giving them valuable additional information that they need but didn't expect?

3. Do they understand the technology that you are deploying?

4. Is it of any benefit to them at all?

Once you have begun to get your head around all of this it is time to move to the next stage...

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