Why Designing a Website Is Different from Other Digital Products: A Quick Overview

When it comes to designing a digital asset, many people believe they can manage any project with their own knowledge and expertise. For example, print designers often think they can create a website simply because they have design skills. In doing so, they frequently overlook the importance of user experience. Designing an effective website is not the same as planning for a print medium. However, it doesn’t stop there. Even professionals who specialize in app development may assume that developing a website is easy because they have advanced resources. Once again, they miss a crucial point—these digital assets require a different approach.

Only a fully equipped website design company understands the design nuances that impact the success of a website. That’s why you should always work with one of these companies. Before that, let’s explore why specific design knowledge or specialization should be respected.

Foundation of Web Design

Aesthetics and functionality cannot be compromised, whether it’s a simple informational website or an e-commerce property. The design must be intuitive as well as user-friendly so visitors stay on the site and convert. How do you ensure this? Designers and developers must pay attention to information architecture, navigation, visual design, branding, SEO, accessibility, mobile responsiveness, etc.

• Information Architecture: It can affect a user’s journey on the site. To ensure the best experience, the team must organize content access using clear hierarchies.
• Visual Appeal and Branding: The site should demonstrate your business’s identity through specific imagery, colors, and typography. Maintaining consistency across the site in these areas is of utmost importance.
• SEO: The website should not take much time to load and be mobile-responsive. Studies show that mobile users don’t wait more than three seconds for a site to load. At the same time, it’s crucial to improve the site’s discoverability on search engines; otherwise, users can easily drift to a competitor’s site.
• Accessibility: Many designers and developers often overlook this crucial aspect: inclusivity. As a result, many sites are mouse- and touchpad-friendly. However, they can miss making your site keyboard-compatible. Because of this, people with vision issues or carpal tunnel syndrome may not use your site.

Additional Insights

A website is created to convey brand messaging in an appealing manner. When it is easy to navigate, users spend more time on it. Other digital products often focus on providing a solution or offering something unique that encourages users to interact with them, aiming for frequent visits. However, websites usually see fewer interactions: users visit, browse through, and then exit. If the site isn’t visually appealing, they won’t convert—users may not make a purchase or sign up. Additionally, a website must be content-driven, featuring blogs, portfolios, and other engaging materials to keep visitors interested.

If you need help with site design, visit BigDropInc.com. Companies like them offer full support for both traditional and modern designs. They ensure that your website has excellent navigation and accessibility, allowing users to enjoy their experience. They can also help upgrade a site or its features while highlighting new elements. You cannot expect these minute design sensibilities from everyone.