Essential Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

Sep 2, 2024

Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

Web design is constantly evolving, and while innovation is important, it's crucial to adhere to certain user experience (UX) and design standards to keep websites functional and user-friendly. Here are 50 common web design mistakes to avoid:

Sliders

  • Avoid using sliders: Few users navigate beyond the first slide.
  • Auto-playing sliders: Disrupts user experience as it forces users to work more to see content.

Navigation and Contacts

  • Hidden navigation: If navigation fits on one screen, display it directly.
  • Contact forms: Place contact forms directly on the page instead of using a separate button or page.

Text Alignment

  • Center aligning text: Avoid center aligning text with more than three lines; it becomes hard to read.
  • Justified text alignment: Inconsistent word spacing disrupts readability.
  • Right alignment: Avoid for similar reasons as centered text.

Splash Pages

  • Avoid splash pages: They add extra steps, harm SEO, decrease conversions, and waste user time.

Loading Animations

  • Slow loading animations: Hinder quick scanning for content.

Scrollbar

  • Hiding or styling scrollbar: Keep scrollbars consistent for navigation.

Background and Cursors

  • Changing background color on scroll: Distracts from content.
  • Customizing cursors: Creates inconsistency and confusion.

Drop-down and Vertical Sliders

  • Drop-down menus should appear on hover: Not a click.
  • Vertical scrolling takeover: Keep scrolling consistent across websites.

Emojis and Design Standards

  • Avoid emojis: They appear unprofessional.
  • Reinventing design standards: Stick to established norms like logo placement.

Opening Messages and Animations

  • Avoid long opening messages and animations: Waste user time.

Icons and Menus

  • Vague H1s on homepage: Bad for user understanding and SEO.
  • Menus with icons only or unclear icons: Hinder usability.

Call to Action and Menu Design

  • Color of calls to action: Ensure they stand out for better conversions.
  • Sticky menus without background color: Reduces visibility.

Form Design

  • Separate first and last name fields: Combine into one for higher conversions.

Scrolling and Page Layout

  • Horizontal scrolling: Users expect vertical scrolling.
  • Small homepages: Should be informative about your brand and services.

Button and Form Usability

  • Square buttons: Users expect wider buttons.
  • Forms without labels: Users forget placeholder text once they start typing.

Hero Sections

  • Full-screen hero sections: Can create an illusion of completeness, misleading users.

Sound and Hover Effects

  • Auto-playing sound: Disruptive without user consent.

Logos and Navigation

  • Logos without company name: Users may not recognize the brand.
  • Navigation placement: Should be at the top for easy access.

Vertical Text and Animation Overload

  • Vertically aligned text: Difficult to read and process.
  • Excessive animations: Distract from content and slow down site.

Pre-loaders and Slideshow Homepages

  • Ineffective pre-loaders: Can mislead about site loading status.
  • Slideshow homepages: Lack sufficient space for essential information.

Scrolling Interruption

  • Horizontal scrolling interruptions: Unpredictable and user-unfriendly.

Overlay and Footer Links

  • Opaque overlays: Make text hard to read.
  • Links in footers: Users expect and rely on them.

Visual Effects

  • Overusing visual effects: Adds unnecessary load and complexity.

Smooth Scrolling

  • Avoid smooth scrolling: Can lead to motion sickness and a lack of control.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can create a more effective, user-friendly, and understandable website. Always prioritize usability over flashy design elements.