Web Design

Web design combines aesthetics, usability, and functionality to create effective digital experiences.

Design disciplines

• Visual design: Colors, typography, imagery, branding.
• UI design: Interface elements, controls, interactions.
• UX design: User research, flows, information architecture.
• Responsive design: Adaptive layouts for all devices.
• Accessibility: Inclusive design for all users (WCAG).

Design principles

• Hierarchy: Visual weight guides user attention.
• Contrast: Distinguish elements, improve readability.
• Alignment: Create visual relationships and order.
• Proximity: Group related elements together.
• Consistency: Maintain patterns across pages.
• Whitespace: Give elements room to breathe.

Common layouts

• F-pattern: Users scan in F-shaped pattern.
• Z-pattern: Eye movement on pages with less text.
• Grid systems: 12-column, flexbox, CSS Grid.
• Card layouts: Modular, mobile-friendly content blocks.
• Hero sections: Large featured content at page top.

Design tools

• Figma: Collaborative interface design.
• Adobe XD: UI/UX design and prototyping.
• Sketch: Vector-based interface design (Mac).
• InVision: Prototyping and collaboration.
• Framer: Interactive high-fidelity prototypes.

Design systems

• Component libraries: Reusable UI building blocks.
• Style guides: Typography, colors, spacing rules.
• Design tokens: Cross-platform design variables.
• Pattern libraries: Common UI patterns and solutions.
• Examples: Material Design, Apple HIG, Carbon.

Typography considerations

• Font pairing: Combine complementary typefaces.
• Readability: Line length (45-75 chars), line height.
• Hierarchy: Sizes, weights, styles for structure.
• Web fonts: Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts, custom fonts.
• Variable fonts: Single file with multiple weights/styles.

Color theory

• Color psychology: Emotional associations with colors.
• Color schemes: Monochromatic, complementary, triadic.
• Accessibility: Sufficient contrast (WCAG AA/AAA).
• Brand colors: Consistent palette across touchpoints.