Overview
This session offered 50 concise web design tips organized by mindset, design, user experience, and technical skills, with practical guidance for both beginners and experienced designers to improve their workflow and results.
Mindset for Web Design
- Start designing immediately; don't wait to feel ready.
- Analyze and save great web designs as a personal swipe file.
- Create and organize a personal font library by style and cost.
- Make inspiration gathering a daily habit, not just when starting a project.
- Practice daily, even briefly, to sharpen your skills.
- Copy work at first, then gradually develop your unique style.
- Schedule design practice intentionally; don't rely on finding free time.
Core Design Principles
- Focus on layout, color, typography, and images as foundational elements.
- Use a 12-column grid but limit sections to 1-3 columns for clarity.
- Recognize and tweak common layout patterns to avoid overused designs.
- Incorporate ample white space and vary section backgrounds to maintain engagement.
- Apply visual hierarchy with three levels of importance for easy scanning.
- Understand and purposefully use font families (serif, sans-serif, script, display).
- Pair fonts thoughtfully, testing side-by-side for visual harmony.
- Scale font sizes using the golden ratio if desired, but prioritize appearance over formulas.
- Use color theory (analogous, complementary, triadic) to build harmonious palettes.
- Apply the 60/30/10 color rule: dominant, brand, and accent colors.
- Reserve a consistent accent color for calls to action.
- Select and crop images to fit your color palette and use the rule of thirds.
- Use candid, well-lit images; follow favorite stock photographers for quality.
- Favor WebP image format and keep images around 300 KB for faster loading.
- Resize images in graphic editors, not just web builders, for performance and SEO.
User Experience Best Practices
- Design for users first, not trends or your portfolio.
- Assume most users will only skim—rely on strong visual hierarchy.
- Ensure top-fold sections are clear and motivating.
- Review designs by scrolling from bottom to top for a fresh view.
- Test designs on real devices, not just emulators.
- Focus on mastering one website builder before moving to others.
- Prioritize project needs (brand, SEO, accessibility, conversion) per section.
- Write button text that is action-oriented and clear about what happens next.
Technical Skills and Best Practices
- Learn basic HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript; use AI tools to bridge gaps.
- Limit use of plugins and third-party tools to avoid site slowdowns.
- Utilize Chrome DevTools and Google Lighthouse for troubleshooting and optimization.
- Properly structure HTML with one H1 per page, clear H2s, and correct tags.
- Implement 301 redirects and fix broken links promptly when updating URLs.
- Write descriptive alt text for all images for SEO and accessibility.
- Ensure sufficient color contrast and test keyboard navigation for accessibility.
- Use secondary cues (icons, labels) beyond color to indicate meaning.
Recommendations / Advice
- Practice consistently to develop and maintain design skills.
- Collect and organize inspiration and resources proactively.
- Prioritize user needs and clarity above aesthetic trends.
- Optimize both design and technical aspects for a comprehensive, effective website.