Design Post Update: web design

Showing posts with label web design. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

How To Speed Up Your Website

SmartGirl faster page loading , increase loading speed

Although it is unlikely you will make it to a perfect score the tips below can help you get in the green for page speed

As far back as 2010 Google admitted it uses a web pages loading speed as part of it's ranking algorithm and as the mobile web has grown so has the importance of a website's loading speed. So with that said let's get to the point. Here are my top tips to speed up your web pages...

Go Direct...

No landing page redirects please. Why? Well redirects trigger an additional HTTP request-response cycle and delay page rendering. In the best case, each redirect will add a single round-trip (HTTP request-response), and in the worst it may result in multiple additional round-trips to perform the DNS lookup. So you should therefore minimize your use of redirects where possible.

Google identifies these examples of redirect patterns...

example.com uses responsive web design, no redirects are needed - fast and optimal!
example.com → m.example.com/home - multi round-trip penalty for mobile users.
example.com → www.example.com → m.example.com - very slow mobile experience.

Cut The Crap...

Remove any unnecessary content, especially widgets and plugins that you only put into your sidebar or footer to fill it out, yes I'm looking at you! Only present that content that is actually relevant or related to the web page's topic.

WordPress sites especially, tend to have sidebars or footers full of widgets or plugins that are serving no real purpose but yet are slowing down your webpage a lot. "But they are so easy to add and they look really pretty..." I hear you say. That may be true but are they actually serving a purpose? If not, get rid of them.

Tip: If you want/need to link to Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Pinterest etc. just use a linked icon (font awesome icons are great for this) or image as opposed to a widget or plugin.

Prioritise Above The Fold

What we mean by this is that you should limit the size of the data (HTML mark-up, images, CSS, JavaScript) that is needed to render the above-the-fold content of your page. Structure your page so the initial response from your server sends the data necessary to render the critical part of the page immediately and defer the rest. This may mean that you must split your CSS into two parts: an inline part that is responsible for styling the above the fold portion of the content, and the part that can be deferred.

Google suggests the following examples of how a site could be restructured to load faster:

If your HTML loads third-party widgets before it loads the main content, change the order to load the main content first.
If your site uses a two-column design with a navigation sidebar and an article, but your HTML loads the sidebar before the article, consider loading the article first.

Optimise Images

It really is amazing how much you can reduce image file sizes without any loss of quality. You literally can't see any difference visually but the impact on web page loading speeds can be immense. Here are 2 options for software to help you optimise your websites images.

Pixlr (free)
Photoshop (trial)

Minify, Minify, Minify

That heading isn't for dramatic effect as you can, and should, minify your HTML, CSS and JavaScript. This is actually a lot easier than you think. It basically means removing any unnecessary spaces from your HTML, CSS and JavaScript code. There are even lots of websites that will do it for you for free, my personal favourite due to it's beautiful simplicity is this minifier.

Enable Compression

The word compression tells you all you need to know about what this does but how does it work? All modern browsers support and automatically negotiate gzip compression for all HTTP requests. Enabling gzip compression can reduce the size of the transferred response by up to 90%, which can significantly reduce the amount of time to download the resource, reduce data usage for the client, and, most importantly, improve the time to render of your pages. See Google's explanation of text compression with GZIP to learn more.

Good News: If you have a Blogger website then you automatically have gzip compression. If you don't believe me then test your website's compression.

Bad News: Some other hosting providers' basic hosting package do not support compression so be sure to check before you waste your time and effort working on it.

Browser Caching

Caching involves storing information from your website for reuse. Fetching information over the network is both slow and expensive: large responses require many round-trips between the client and server, which delays when they are available and can be processed by the browser, and also incurs data costs for the visitor. Therefore, the ability to cache and reuse previously fetched resources will optimize performance and speed up your website. The most common way to leverage browser caching for increased page loading speed is using a .htaccess file.

Learn how to leverage browser caching.

Tip: If your website is hosted by Blogger you cannot use browser caching through the .htaccess method as you have no access to the .htaccess file. However you can try this alternative.

How To Improve Website SEO

SmartGirl google ranking , search engine optimisation

Search Engine Optimisation for websites

The role of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is to optimise a website to make it as visible as possible to internet search engines, in order to increase their rankings, maximise traffic to them and therefore increase their revenue through sales or advertising.

Search engines, especially Google, are very reluctant to reveal how their algorithms work so it is impossible to specify exactly how to optimise a website's search engine performance perfectly, however there are still some tools and techniques which are known to improve a website's visibility to search engines. It is these SEO tools and techniques that are discussed here.

Here are our top 10 ways to quickly and easily improve your website SEO...

1 - Web Page Names:

As well as the obvious choice of the name of the website itself it is also important to consider how you name each individual web page. The name of the web page is the second thing a search engine will read, after the website name itself, so it is an important opportunity to include keywords and describe what content is on the page. When designing a website, page names are usually saved as all one word, for example 'web design' becomes 'webdesign', as it is quicker to type and easier to remember.

TIP: You may consider instead saving it as web-design or web_design as it allows search engines to identify the two separate words, which are both keywords, instead of not recognising the singular word 'webdesign'. Also avoid using abbreviations for page names, for the same reason.

2 - Web Page Titles:

The title of a web page is written in the HTML code in the head section of the webpage and appears in the top of the browser window or in the tab of newer browsers. See a sample code and sample result below.

The title of a web page is extremely important as is showcased by the fact that it is the first and largest thing in the Google search results. See the example below, the title is in blue. This is clear evidence that search engines, such as Google and Bing, give great importance to a webpages' title.

3 - Article Headings and Sub Headings:

Headings, created with the 'h1', 'h2', 'h3', elements are important for highlighting these Keywords. As they are headings and not just body text they are seen as being more important for describing, in short, the content that will follow. Therefore try to integrate relevant headings into the content of your website for better SEO but also for another reason.

In today's fast paced world people don't really read articles or webpages, they skim through them to try to quickly find the content they are looking for. By using headings and sub headings in your webpages you are breaking up any long, boring looking passages of text into smaller, more manageable chunks and helping your visitors with this process and they are therefore more likely to find the content they need and stay on your website longer.

TIP: as well as helping with search engine optimisation they will also help with your website pages bounce rate.

4 - Keywords and Description:

When someone uses a search engine they normally don't type full sentences like 'I am looking for information on design' , they usually just type in 'design' or 'design information', in this case 'design' and 'information' are the keywords. It is important that your website contains the key words relative to it.

This used to be done using meta tags, some search engines still use meta tags, but due to the practice of keyword 'stuffing' (repeating key words over and over) search results were beginning to become unreliable as the best/ most relevant pages were not necessarily making it to the top of the rankings.

Google admits it no longer uses meta tag keywords, although it still does use the meta tag descriptions and the description usually appears as the sentence below the website title (in blue) and address (in green)in the search results. See the example below,

The code for meta tag keywords and descriptions goes in the head section of the HTML code, as it is information about the page but it does not appear on the page itself (otherwise it would go in the body section). To see an example of meta tag code see the example below,

Although meta tags are useful, it is much more important to include the keywords, that you think potential visitors will be searching under in the website content itself. Despite all the tools, techniques and tricks associated with SEO it still all comes down to the quality of content in the website. As they say in the search engine optimisation business "content is king!".

With this SEO mantra in mind, be sure to tweak the body text to include as many keywords or keyword synonyms as possible, without of course, ruining the content itself. The quality of the content must remain high as ,even if you get to number 1 in the search engine rankings, when visitors come and don't find the information they are looking for they will leave the site just as quickly as they arrived and that is bad for your SEO (see bounce rate below).

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5 - Web Links:

Links, in two senses, can help a website's ranking in search engine results. Firstly, by linking your website with other websites and getting them to link back to you, you are enhancing your website's online reputation and demonstrating that it is a trustworthy and safe website for visitors. Search engines regard trust and safety highly as they do not wish to lead searchers to an unsafe or virus filled website.

Secondly, the links within your website are another opportunity to include keywords in the content. As links are 'marked up' in a different way to normal body text it is only logical to presume that search engines will read it in a different way to standard body text.

TIP: It is believed that all content "Marked Up" differently to standard body text is read differently by search engines and possibly given greater importance. Therefore, make good use of links and bold, underline and italics text to subtly increase emphasis on your chosen keywords.

The click-able content of the link and the link title (which should be included on every link) should be descriptive enough to let the website visitor find the information they need which in turn keeps the visitor on your website for longer and increases the sites traffic statistics while also reducing the 'bounce rate'.

The 'bounce rate', according to Google Analytics, is 'the percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page). Bounce Rate is a measure of visit quality and a high Bounce Rate generally indicates that site entrance (landing) pages aren't relevant to your visitors. By having clear and obvious links, especially in the menu section, visitors are more likely to stay on your website and search for the information they need. So it can be assumed that Google will punish a website with a high bounce rate as it suggests visitors are not finding the content they expected.

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6 - Images:

Optimising your website images and their html code will help with SEO

With the evolution of search engines people can now search directly for images or videos without having to go through the site on which they are hosted. Despite this, search engine haven't evolved to the point where they can directly extract the meaning from a photo or a video. Therefore search engines are still reliant on the information we provide them through names, alt attributes, title attributes, headings and surrounding content.

The simplest thing you can do to increase the meaning of 'img' elements is to use proper file names. For example, let's say we have a web page about web design and I took a photo of someone sitting at their computer that I then wanted to post up on the page. Cameras will auto-generate a file name to my photo, such as DIM1234.jpg, so it is important to rename it to something that specifies the content of the image such as web-designer-at work.jpg. Now the URL of the image will be something like http://example.com/web-designer-at-work.jpg. The image now has a better chance of being indexed for terms such as 'web design' and 'designer at work'. The image may eventually rank in the results for Google Images and drive traffic to your website.

The second aspect involved in optimizing images for SEO is placing important keywords in the image's alt and title attributes. Here's another example,

<img alt= "web designer at work.jpg" title="web designer at work" src="web-designer-at work.jpg">

The alt attribute is typically regarded as the primary attribute of an image that a search engine will use for gaining context. But don't stuff keywords in them, write your alt attributes primarily for your visitors. Search engines view alt attribute keyword 'stuffing' as a bad practice and may remove your image from search results.

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7 - Videos:

Optimising your web videos and their html code will help with SEO

Much like images, videos can't be crawled by their content. However, there are metadata that you can include to help search engines understand what the video is about. The main thing to optimize is the title of the video, especially when you're using a third party streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo. Secondly, add keyword tags to videos when uploading them to YouTube and Vimeo which they use in their site search. Another element that affects the search results of a video is the video's description. The description is an opportunity to include the keywords that you wish the video to be found under, without 'stuffing' of course. A good description will go a long way to increasing the videos ranking in search engine results.

Another way to increase ranking in the search results for videos is to get as many views, Facebook Likes and +1's on your video as possible. This is based on the logical assumption that search engine algorithms take social sites into account as a ranking factor. If your video gets a substantial amount of Facebook Likes compared to other videos in the same category, there is a higher chance it will rank better for your targeted keywords.

So search engine optimisation for images and videos takes little time to implement and can provide significant results, especially in niche markets. For example, when you're having trouble getting a page or article to rank for a competitive keyword in your niche, posting an optimized video or image may help you get a leg up. As already mentioned, search engines can't index the actual content of an image or a video, but we can provide them with greater meaning and context using the simple and practical techniques we have discussed.

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8 - Page Load Speed:

Page load speed is now a recognised factor in SEO

The page loading speed of your website is now known to have an effect on how Google ranks it in it's listings. A faster loading website is immediately more user friendly and with studies showing users will click out of a website if a webpage is not at least partially loaded after 3 seconds then having a website optimised for speed is a must.

Google provides an excellent resource to test the speed of your webpages, in desktop and mobile terms, and then outlines possible improvements with links to articles on how to go about it. This very useful resource is referred to as the Google Page Speed Insights and can be found here.

TIP: Images, videos, ads and any widgets will always be the main culprits for slowing down a webpage but don't rush to delete valuable content, just optimise what is needed and remove anything unnecessary.

Click here for more tips to improve your website loading speed.

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9 - Mobile Friendliness:

Mobile friendliness is now a factor in SEO

A noticeable feature on the Google page speed insights results which also appears on Google AdSense and Analytics account pages is a reference to mobile friendliness. It may appear under different names such as user experience or site responsiveness or mobile compatability but the point remains the same; Google values how mobile friendly a website is. In each of these cases you will get a rating or score for your website and a link or links to articles'tutorials on how to improve it. Why is this relative for SEO you ask; because if Google are going to the effort of encouraging you to improve it and assisting you in doing so then you can be sure they are factoring it into their search algorithm.

As with the page speed, you should not go deleting valuable content or spoiling your websites design just to achieve a better score but a few small tweaks or removal of secondary content when an article is being viewed on a mobile device should be considered. Page load speed is a major factor in mobile friendliness but don't forget font sizes, spaced links (tap targets) and a clean simple layout.

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10 - Create a Google Account:

A Google account allows SEO Specialists to utilise their online tools, such as Google Webmaster (Search Console), analytics or web optimiser tools. As well as these extensive tools, the simple but vital act of submitting a website to be included in the Google rankings can only be done if you have a Google account.

Having these tools at your disposal is one thing but it is vital that you utilise them effectively and use them often. SEO techniques change frequently, so a large part of the SEO Specialist's job involves research, self-study and reading in order to stay up to date with developments in the industry. Thereafter you will be responsible for analysing the website statistics that these tools provide in order to monitor the effectiveness of the website and make adjustments as necessary.

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*If you found this article useful you may also enjoy our Image SEO, Create A Website or Web Development Resources articles.

Smooth Scrolling For Web Anchor Links

SmartGirl animated scrolling , jQuery

Click on the demo link below to test the smooth scrolling effect

I recently added a smooth scrolling effect to this website (test here if you want a demo). It is set to trend in 2017 after all.

During my research in preparation to best implement this effect I was surprised at the variety of code options on offer and even more surprised by the fact most of them didn't work! So with that rant over, I'm writing this short post to save you the time that other websites wasted on me.

Below is the full and exact code you need to add into the 'head' section of your website in order to achieve a smooth scrolling effect for all 'anchor' links on your website.

If you want to learn more about how it works or for any troubleshooting you can read more below.

The Code...

How it Works...

jQuery

Most of the scrolling magic happens offsite which is why the link to the jQuery library is necessary.
Some websites will say you should downloadand host the jQuery library yourself rather than use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) link but many users may already have downloaded jQuery from Google or Microsoft when visiting another site.

As a result, it will be loaded from cache when they visit your site, which leads to faster loading time. Also, most CDN's will make sure that once a user requests a file from it, it will be served from the server closest to them, which also leads to faster loading time.

jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library, and the smooth scrolling effect is just one of many effects in the library. This jQuery link must come before the other code as it needs to load before the scrolling effect will work.

The script which follows the jQuery library link then does the following...

waits for the page to load
adds the smooth scrolling effect to all links on the page (to be activated onclick)
checks to see if variable 'hash' has a value
if 'hash' has a value, it disables the default anchor link behaviour (usually jump to the link)
stores the variable
activates the scrolling effect on the link
gives you option to set scrolling time in milliseconds
finally it adds # to the end of the url

Troubleshooting...

Check that you have copied all the code (Sometimes it's the most obvious thing that we get wrong!)
Make sure all the code is in the 'head' section of your webpage, between <head> and </head>
The code needs to be pasted into the head section of every webpage that you want the effect to work on. Unless using a CMS like Blogger or Wordpress, in that case just paste into the site template
Ensure the jQuery library link is before the rest of the code.
Check that your browser or antivirus is not blocking javascript from running.

put jQuery in no-conflict mode

Top Web Design Trends for 2017

SmartGirl 2017 , changing face of web design

What web design trends will merge in 2017? Find out here.

2017 is here and it’s bringing more technological breakthroughs and surprising web design trends than the world has ever seen. With each passing day, the modern world hits a new record for digital advancement. The future of web design looks bright for those ready to embrace positive changes.

In this article we shine some light on the web design trends that we think will be big in 2017, so here they are, our tips for the big web design trends of 2017 ...

Touch...

We think haptic technology will be a big deal in 2017

The mobile-first approach has been around for a few years now, but with mobile-phones now officially named as the primary devices used for browsing the web, more companies are realising the importance of having a site that effectively delivers content on a smaller screen. Furthermore, engaging users on mobile devices is becoming more difficult as the 'scroll' and 'swipe' design approach used in many apps has led to users having a very short attention span when using their mobile device. This is where haptic technology comes in.

There are three sensory systems related to sense of touch in humans: cutaneous, kinesthetic and haptic. All perceptions mediated by cutaneous and/or kinesthetic sensibility are referred to as tactual perception.

The sense of touch may be classified as passive and active, and the term "haptic" is often associated with active touch to communicate or recognize objects.

Haptic communication recreates the sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions to the user through their mobile device. Currently the Samsung Anycall Haptic enables users to feel clicks, vibrations and other tactile input. In all, it provides the user with 22 kinds of touch sensations in response to various user actions.

But how does all this relate to web design? Well, for example a strong vibration could be activated to discourage users when exiting a website or app. On the flip side a relaxing, pulsing sensation could be output from a meditation app on your mobile device. There are, of course, numerous other possibilities and I think 2017 is the year when we will see haptic technology emerge as a major feature in web and app design for mobile devices.

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Big...

This website utilises big text and big images to dominate the screen

Images, Text and Video are all set to be big in 2017, and I mean that literally.

With the rise in mobile usage, users are reading less, scrolling more and browsing quicker so designers are having to go big to grab attention.

Full screen background images were popular in 2016 and we also saw the introduction of full screen video backgrounds too on websites such as pay-pal, more on that later though. This trend is expected to continue and become more widespread in 2017 as websites try to get their point across quickly and visually.

Large custom typography is also set to be used more to create personality, evoke emotion and set tone. As device resolutions become sharper and type becomes more easy to read on-screen, companies will look to push the limits of typography even further in 2017 to appeal to their target audience.

So expect to see an increase in over-sized and full screen type this year, hopefully it'll be of the beautiful, unique and hand-rendered type and not the bold, blocky and in your face type. We'll have more on the benefits of a custom approach later.

Space...

This website makes good use of space in 2 ways!

The right amount of empty space can make or break a design. Whether it is white space, a background color or image, “empty” space in a design can have a huge effect on the content that is there. if done correctly it will draw the user to the content you want them to focus on, and as mentioned earlier this is not easy nowadays!

Think about it from the user perspective. They will likely be drawn immediately to the open part of the design (whether they think about it consciously or not). From there, the eye will hop to the more populated part of the design. This simple two step process grabs users’ attention and almost shows them where to look.

Open space is an extension of minimal styles

For this reason we think exaggerated use of space is one of those design trends that will be utilised a lot in 2017. Open space is an extension of minimal styles that have been popular for some time but, this year, rather than a symmetrical outline with space all around, web designs will balance images and text with space in a more asymmetrical format.

This simple balancing act is also visually interesting and great for making a strong impact, another reason we think it'll trend in 2017.

Original...

Expect to see more illustrations like this in 2017

As discussed above, the rise of mobile device and UI patterns now places UX as the most important aspect of design, meaning that many sites now look and work in similar ways. This is fine for users as they now know, instinctively, how to navigate around a website that they have never visited but it's not fine for a company who wants to stand out from the crowd.

In order for a brand to really stand out and strike a connection with it’s audience, while still using a design users can manage, they’ll need carefully considered and completely bespoke visuals which are more representative of who they really are. We can see this being a big web design trend in 2017 and is one that we really look forward to seeing.

Original illustrations are fantastic, versatile mediums for creating playful and friendly visuals which add an element of fun to a site.

Talented illustrators are able to create illustrations which are full of personality and tailored to match the tone of the brand, something which brands will be striving for more than an ever in 2017.

A custom, purpose taken photograph is the main feature of this website

With a unique style of illustration established, brands are then able to roll that out through their entire identity, for use in large header images, custom iconography and beautifully animated visuals. Dropbox, is a great example of a brand who uses illustration to create beautiful, friendly and totally unique visuals which are full of character to appeal to their users.

This demand for originality will hopefully lead to the death of the dreaded stock imagery that we see everyday across the web and lead to a rise in more authentic photography in 2017. Brands and designers will now be thinking more carefully about the imagery they use on site, hiring professional photographers to take their shots which frame them in the way they want to be seen.

Unfortunately, it’ll probably be a long time before much of the cheesy stock photography completely disappears, but expect to see it disappear a little in 2017.

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Video...

This website utilises a full screen video background to epic effect

One trend that grew quickly the past year is video content and we expect to see it grow further in 2017 especially as video content is now increasingly cost-effective to produce, with apps that enable quick and easy live video recording and professional-grade productions. The combination of decreasing costs of video and growing popularity of this medium is the perfect storm for video to overtake written content as king in 2017.

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but a video does that tenfold,

Video, although by no means new, is long-established and versatile medium, useful for story-telling, marketing and vlogging alike, and has several advantages over traditional photography. Where static imagery is flat and motionless, video is altogether more dynamic, using sound and movement to appeal to the senses and hold attention for longer.

Watch the video image above for a few seconds and see how encapsulating it can be. Much like with animation, a moving image on a page instantly captures the users attention, drawing them in so brands are able to get across their carefully constructed narrative and message.

Video is quickly taking over the internet, and the above reasons are testament to how successful it is as a means for content delivery. As well as using video for marketing purposes, it’s becoming more widespread in social media, with the recent releases of live-streaming services Periscope, and Meerkat illustrating the demand people have to not only view video content, but produce their own.

The benefits of video outlined above are reason enough for brands to want to incorporate it, but they are also great reasons for any freelance web designer to start using more video as a feature in their designs.

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Custom...

Unique and personalised online user experiences are increasing sought after

It’s no secret that responsive web design has taken the web dev community by storm. In 2017, however, we think responsive design will reach a whole new level. Instead of simply adapting based on device, websites will adapt based on each user to give them an entirely custom experience. For example a website’s content, color scheme, font sizes, and spacing could respond to accommodate a user based on their age.

If you're a marketer today you probably know that targeted emails are effective. But what happens when someone clicks through that targeted email only to end up on a static, generic website? The natural progression of personalized emails should lead to a personalized website, but limitations in technology and strategy have delayed this realization so far. There are signs, however, that the time for more personalization across the online experience has come.

A 2013 Monetate/eConsultancy Study found that in-house marketers who are personalizing their web experiences see on average a 19% uplift in sales.

When it comes to shopping online, experiences tend to fall into two categories: The almost seamless experience offered by major retailers such as Amazon or the clunky too-many clicks to checkout experience that is common among small shops. In 2017 a third could emerge, a fully cutomised web experience to suit your exact and specific needs and desires - now doesn't that sound great!

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Voice...

Consumers are drawn to systems like Siri, Cortana and Alexa, who respond to voice commands and spoken questions. Voice search developments have made this the preferred search method for many consumers, who now ask their devices questions such as “Where are the nearest shops to me?” In 2017 businesses must consider these voice searches when creating content for their websites by making it more conversational and using natural phrases instead of generic keywords.

But it's not just the content creators that need to pay attention, the web developers and programmers have a bit of homework to do too. Although there are not a lot of studies and data currently available on the subject,you can be sure that users are likely to use different language when creating a search query by speaking, rather than typing.

Here are a few simple steps that web developers can take to ensure that their websites are making the most of their potential voice search opportunities...

Schema is a markup language that works alongside HTML to provide information to search engines and other services that want to use the data that you provide to learn about your website. The information that you provide through schema already has an affect on your search optimization, but becomes even more important when targeting users that are using voice search. The more information that you are able to provide to search engines, the better that they will be able to understand the content on your website and connect relevant to voice searches that are performed by users.

A website might provide search engines with a large number of feeds that provide data and information to help them properly categorize their listings. For instance, XML sitemaps and location data are integral for helping Google to crawl the entirety of your website and help to provide information that can help your business to rank in local search engine pages. Ensure that you are providing all data that is relevant to your company in the feeds so that search engines can correctly classify and detect when your content is appropriate for voice commands and search.

Often, users that are using voice search are looking for very quick answers to their question. They want to know the answer and have it read back to them as quickly as possible. For this reason, you should try to ensure that the answers to common questions that users might have about your company, product, or industry are answered clearly on your pages. Frequently Asked Questions pages are an excellent way to provide quick, relevant answers to questions that voice searchers might have.

Animation...

css animation loading icons

As browsers and languages become more advanced, we’re seeing more websites move away from the use of static imagery and finding new ways to engage users and be unique in their approach to communicating. Animation is one of the main ways to do this and having seen many brands start the trend in 2016 we think 2017 is going to see that trend grow further.

Animations can come in all different shapes, sizes and styles; and can serve different purposes. For example animations can range from tiny loading-devices (see above) which entertains the user while waiting for content to load, to an interesting hover-state used as a UX device to show a user they’re hovering over a link.

They can also be used on a much larger scale, as rich, full-screen animations, which can integrated to work with scrolling, navigation or be used as the focal point of the entire site. Animation is another useful mechanic for brand’s to create meaningful micro-interactions between themselves and their users.

With such a broad array of internet capable devices ‘the fold’ is now harder to define, as users are viewing content of screens of all different sizes and resolutions. Scrolling, once reserved for getting from top of a page to the bottom, is being used in more creative capacities to deliver content online. Apple is a high profile brand making great use of scroll within their site.

Animated scrolling (as used on this website) and parallax scrolling are versatile mechanics which, when executed well, can work great with all varieties of content delivery. It works with video based content, where large full screen videos play and pause as the user scrolls, as well as static content, which can animate, move, or change depending on the users input.

With content creation happening at a far greater pace than ever seen before, and companies finding more innovative solutions for delivering their content to users, we expect the clever use of scroll and parallax effects to be big in 2017.

So web animation has many applications, but if abused, or executed badly can be disastrous to usability. However, as with most developments, we expect that as more designers experiment and gain feedback from users, it’ll be something which gets better and better, adding more functionality and additional levels of interaction.

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Conclusion...

There are 100’s of ‘trends’ going on in any creativity industry at any one time, and it’s hard to pin-point every single one, but we believe that the above are some of the more core ones to be focusing on in 2017 and beyond.

As with all trends, the above points have come about for good reason; as creatives and clever-thinkers across the globe have all learnt and borrowed from one another to form similar patterns which we see emerge online today. Not all of these trends may be relevant to you and your content, but it’s always beneficial to know what’s happening in the industry and to see where you’re able to improve in order to develop and progress.

With all this said, they should only be used sparingly, and carefully, to enhance the user’s experience and not detract from it. No-one wants to wait forever for content to load because of unnecessary design 'features' holding it up.

Learn A New Skill For The New Year

SmartGirl design , furniture

Learn A New Skill For The New Year

Giving things up for new year is a common practice but also a very difficult one that most people break after just a few weeks. So this year make your resolution be to learn something new, to up-skill, to re-skill; here's a few good reasons why ...

A new skill to put you ahead of other job candidates
A new skill for a change in career,
A new skill to enhance your studies
Or just a new skill for fun!

But what skill should I choose? Well, design skills are one of the most adaptable and sought after skills around as they show you to be creative and innovative but also logical and organised. So here are the top 5 design areas for you to up-skill in...

Web Design:

More and more business is being done online everyday and because of this every business from your local coffee shop to the multinational corporations has a website. This means there is a growing demand for web designers to create, update, moderate and redesign all these websites. To get in on the action, you will need to learn HTML5, CSS3 and at least a little JavaScript. These programming skills will be further enhanced with knowledge of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and design skills like the ability to use Photoshop. Using the web design process is also an essential skill that is unfortunately overlooked by many web developers who call themselves "designers".

Graphic Design:

Sample Poster

A lot of people group the ability the use Photoshop and being a graphic design together as if they were the same thing... they are not! Photoshop is a great software and the Adobe Creative Suite of which it is part is certainly the industry standard for graphic designers but there is a lot more to graphic design that using software, after all, graphic design still existed before computers! Back then, just like for modern graphic designers, the graphic design process, an understanding of colour theory, typography and composition were all keys skills. Some more modern techniques such as the use of attention grabbing techniques in your imagery and the use of the most powerful words in your typography will further enhance your skill base.

Games Design:

Games design with Unreal Engine

The games design process can be completed by just one person but that person would need to be highly skilled in many different areas of the design process and production stages and have a lot of time on their hands! For these reasons computer games, much like anything else, are designed and built by a team of people each with their own specific set of relevant skills. See which role would interest you most or dabble in a little bit of each before focussing on one area to learn. Start your journey here.

Interior Design:

An example of the Urban Interior design style

Interior design is another misunderstood craft with numerous people claiming to be interior designers simply because they have "an eye for it". The interior design process, when done properly, is a complex task which requires multiple skills and the knowledge of key areas such as interior design styles, colour theory, room layout techniques and an awareness of a multitude of materials and finishes for walls, floors and furniture. Perspective drawing skills and the ability to create presentation boards for potential clients are also valuable skills for any professional interior designer.

Furniture Design:

The most practical and hands on of our top 5 skills for the new year is furniture design. Like all the others understanding the process is key and the furniture design process should be your starting point. After that a look into furniture design history will give you an understanding of traditional and contemporary furniture styles. An awareness of the available and industry standard furniture materials is also a must which will be complemented by a knowledge of the different furniture joinery techniques when you go to build your design prototypes.

5 Different Approaches To Creating a Website

SmartGirl create a website , creating websites

5 Different Approaches To Creating a Website

It is important to state before we start that the creation of your website is just one of the steps in the web design process and it's not the first one! So I would really recommend reviewing the web design process first to make sure you are adequately prepared for this stage. So many people jump straight in at this stage and waste a lot of their time because they have not completed the previous steps in the process so don't say you weren't warned. Now with that little rant over, lets look at your options for creating the website.

There are 5 main ways to create a website and although not all of them require knowledge of HTML and CSS it is definitely better if you have at least a basic understanding of them.

The 5 ways to create a website are...

programme it yourself
get a website template
use a website builder
utilise a CMS
hire a web designer

Now that we know each of our website creation options, let's explore each of them in more detail.

Programme it from scratch

If you already have good HTML and CSS skills or perhaps you are a web design or multimedia student in the process of learning HTML and CSS then this is a good option for you. Programming a website from scratch is also the most cost effective of the 5 options discussed in this article however it is also the most time consuming option.

To help with this approach there are a number of very good code editor programmes available online such as Komodo Edit, which is an excellent free code editor which you can use to make programming your own website a little easier.

Start with a template

If you really want to program the website yourself but need a little bit of a helping hand getting started then perhaps a website template is the way to go, just be sure to get a responsive template to ensure your website is as user friendly as possible. This is also a great option if your programming skills are better than your design skills as you can keep the templates design features and use your programming skills to edit the content to suit your website needs.

You can choose from an amazing 100 free responsive website templates here. So a website template is definitely a great idea, especially for new web designers, just be sure to customise it as, a bit like a stock photograph being used in a poster, it can appear stale and without character in it's raw, template state.

Use a website builder

Website builders advertise themselves as the easiest and quickest method to create a website. Companies like SquareSpace, Wix and Weebly are the best options for this approach and they both offer a starter package where you can get online with a free sub-domain name and free hosting. Although on the surface it may seem like a good choice, in my opinion, this is not a good option.

Website builders always seem to result in very rigid web designs, the free domain name is not a full domain and they tend to overcharge you for a full domain name. You often need to upgrade to a paid account to get a custom domain too and the monthly or yearly pricing structure is usually quite expensive. Bandwidth restriction, custom ads and extra storage space are other things that often need to be paid to unlock. In summary, this wouldn't be a choice I'd recommend.

Utilise a Content Management System

This would be my recommended option. CMS for short, content management systems are similar to, and often confused with, website builders. The difference being a CMS website design and structure is often created by a web designer first before being handed over to a client who only has access to a front end to make any required updates.

However, if you have learned some HTML and CSS, you can take charge and create the website design and structure yourself using systems like Blogger and WordPress. Which one of these is better is constantly being debated online with my personal preference being Blogger (read why).

Whichever you choose, there are many others available too, this is a great option which offers you templates to get started, widgets to drag and drop in while still having access to the HTML and CSS to make advanced or specific changes and tweaks.

Hire a web designer

If you don't have the time to learn how to build a website or you need to have complex functions or a very specific look for your website and you have a budget, then you will want to outsource the work.

Be careful who you hire, though. A poorly developed website can cost you money, drive away customers, and hurt your reputation. Following a few basic steps will increase your odds of hiring a creative, technically savvy, and cost-effective design firm or freelancer.

Much of your choice of designers depends on whether you want to work locally with someone, or whether you are willing to work remotely with them over the phone. Here are some things to think and ask about when hiring a website designer. If you would like to hire a web designer then we can proudly recommend Opus Web Design.

Web Design Process

SmartGirl design process , web

The Web Design Process

1. The project brief

It is very important to meet with the client, either in person, over the phone or through e-mail or Skype in order to create the project brief for the website or so you can analyse and discuss the brief the client had already created. The brief should be detailed and specific and must be documented and agreed upon in order to allow it to be referred to later in the process. As a web designer you can also state your price and outline a time frame based on the brief. Without a detailed brief these things would not be possible.

2. Identify key requirements

Based on the brief and your discussion with the client, you should first identify the key requirements that the website must meet. Is it an e-commerce website? Does the client require a content management system? Does it require special effects? Factors like these would decide the design approach you take and these should be allocated the most time in your time-frame and they should be the central features around which the site is designed.

3. Research existing websites

If the website is to be a business venture it is important to first assess the competition. Sometimes a client may request that their new site appears higher in search engine rankings than a competitors or that it have extra or additional features therefore it is important to assess what you are up against, so to speak. It is also important to be aware of what the industry standards are for a particular type of website if you are not familiar with them. As a designer constantly browsing, reviewing and analysing new websites is good practice and can provide a source of inspiration for your future designs.

4. Develop the basic website structure

Before you begin the technical design and programming of the website you should first develop ideas for the basic site structure and layout through sketching and drawing. Ideas can be developed quickly and easily in this manner, much quicker than through Dreamweaver or Photoshop, and 'boxing out' the design will make the actual creation of the website a simpler process further down the line. Refer to the web design tips section for guidance in how best to layout your website. At this stage a quick check-in with the client would be recommended before you progress to the next stage.

5. Create the website graphics

Once you have identified the layout and style you want for your site you can begin to create the graphics you will need for the website. This may include the website logo, banner, buttons, image maps, resizing and formatting pictures etc. All these should be designed with consideration to the style and colour scheme of the website. There are a variety of file formats you can use for your graphics, the most common being .gif and .jpg. To help you choose the format which is best for you see the common file formats section. For help and assistance with the creating the graphics you may find our Photoshop and illustrator tutorials useful.

6. Create and program the website

With the layout decided upon and the graphics ready to be put in place you can now begin creating the basic site structure. Begin with the HTML template and use it to create a site master page which will be the starting point for creating all your web pages. Ideally you you should use CSS media queries to make this template responsive. In most cases the majority of your web pages will have the same basic layout so creating a 'master page' first, which can be the template for all other pages, is an approach which will save you time. Once the template is set the graphics and content created earlier can be inserted into the relevant pages easily and quickly completing the website. Once again this would be a good time to get feedback from the client so they can review the design.

7. Refine the website design

Based on the clients feedback and having reflected on the design yourself, make any necessary changes to the website. This may involve subtle changes to the colours, editing or changing images, changing the font style or small layout changes and spacing. Search Engine Optimisation (S.E.O.) should also be part of this process where including certain keywords, tagging images and using meta-tags are all part of the process. For more in depth information see the section on SEO.

8. Website testing and QA

This is a simple task that involves proofreading all the website content, testing all the links and any interactive features of the website. It may also be suitable to get feedback from a select group of people matching the demographic of the website's target audience to test the suitability of the website design and functionality.

9. Launch the website

Getting the website online is the culmination of the process but the old adage of 'build it and they will come' is certainly not applicable to websites. It is vital to index the website in as many search engine directories as possible to ensure visitors can find the website, advertising the site across a variety of media is also useful. On-line advertising through methods like Google Adwords is a recommended approach as well as using social media like Facebook, twitter, Google+ and others will also increase your websites online presence as well as driving traffic to the site.

If you enjoyed this article then perhaps our articles on the graphic, interior, games or furniture design processes may also be of interest.