Web design

In the "neunmalklug" section, I publish tips, tricks and technical information about graphic and web design at irregular intervals. Today:

9 interesting aspects of colour theory and colour psychology

1. Colours have a strong emotional effect on people and can trigger feelings such as joy, calm or excitement. Warm colours such as red or orange, for example, can create a lively and energetic mood.
2. The right choice of colour can influence the mood of a website or graphic and effectively communicate the desired message. A calming colour palette with shades of blue can create a meditative or relaxing atmosphere.
3. By understanding colour psychology, designers can specifically appeal to emotions and evoke the desired behaviour in the viewer. For example: A "Buy" button in a striking red colour can attract attention and encourage people to click.
4. Colour contrasts help to create visual hierarchies and highlight important information. For example, a high-contrast button in an otherwise subtle colour palette attracts the viewer's attention.
5. Choosing the right colour palette can strengthen brand identity and promote recognition. Coca-Cola's characteristic red colour has become an essential part of its brand identity.
6. Colours can also be used to guide users through the flow of information on a website and encourage certain actions. A progress bar highlighted in colour shows the user how far they have progressed in a form.
7. The colour scheme should always be in line with the intended audience and target group. A children's website can use vibrant and playful colours, while a business website should use more subtle and professional colours.
8. Colours can be interpreted differently by cultures and regions, so it is important to consider the cultural relevance of colours, especially in international projects. For example, in some cultures white symbolises purity and innocence, while in others it is associated with mourning.
9. The use of colour concepts and rules can help designs look professional and balanced and provide a pleasant user experience. The use of sufficient contrast between text colour and background colour improves the readability and usability of a website.

In the "neunmalklug" section, I publish tips, tricks and technical information about graphic and web design at irregular intervals. Today:

9 x facts, figures and data on the importance of graphic and web design

1. According to a study by Google, 53% of users leave a mobile website if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load.
2. A survey by HubSpot found that 38% of users leave a website if the layout and design are unattractive.
3. A study by Adobe found that 39% of users will stop visiting a company's website if the images do not load well.
4. A Stanford survey found that 75% of users judge a company by the design of its website.
5. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, mobile-optimised website design is of great importance. According to Statista, mobile devices accounted for around 55% of internet traffic worldwide in 2021.
6. According to a study by the Missouri University of Science and Technology, visitors to a website form a first visual impression within just 0.2 seconds. An appealing and professional web design can arouse the interest of visitors and keep them on the website for longer.
7. A survey by Blue Corona found that 48% of users rate a website as a company's credibility based on its design.
8. 94% of consumers say the design of a website is the reason they distrust or reject a website, according to a survey by IronPaper.
9. According to a survey by Canva, 65% of small business owners say that good design is critical to the success of their business.

In the "neunmalklug" section, I publish tips, tricks and technical information about graphic and web design at irregular intervals. Today:

9 current design trends

The digital world is subject to constant change, and developments in graphic and web design are no exception. What was considered modern yesterday can be outdated today and replaced by new trends. Companies and self-employed people want to avoid their websites losing their appeal due to outdated designs and no longer appearing contemporary. To stay up to date, it is therefore important for graphic and web designers to be informed about current design trends, as modern graphic and web design is often based on these tendencies. Here I present the current trends:

1. Responsive design: Responsive design will continue to be one of the most important requirements for web design in order to ensure an optimal display on different devices.
2. Animations: Motion and animation are being used more frequently in web design to create an interactive and engaging experience for users.
3. Bold typography: Typography will remain an important factor in web design, with larger, eye-catching fonts and creative font styles.
4. Micro-interactions: Small interactions such as hover effects, buttons and button animations are being used more frequently in web design to improve the user experience.
5. Minimalism: Minimalist design will continue to be an important trend in web design, with clear and simple layouts that create an elegant user experience.
6. Retro design: Retro design elements from the 70s, 80s and 90s will continue to be in vogue as designers use them to create a sense of nostalgia and familiarity.
7. Handmade elements: Handmade elements, such as hand-drawn illustrations or handwritten typography, are increasingly used in graphic design to create a personalised and handmade look.
8. Muted Colors: Muted colours are used more frequently in graphic design to create a subtle and understated look that is still eye-catching.
9. Geometric shapes: Geometric shapes are more commonly used in graphic design to create a modern and abstract look that is visually appealing.

In the "neunmalklug" section, I publish tips, tricks and technical information about graphic and web design at irregular intervals. Today:

What is responsive web design and how does it work?

"Responsive web design" is a technique for developing websites in which the layout is designed to automatically adapt to the size and resolution of the device on which the website is displayed. This ensures an optimal user experience on all devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. This is achieved through the use of flexible grid systems, flexible images and media queries.

Here are 9 recommendations for a responsive website:

1. Use of a flexible grid structure for the website to ensure that content automatically adapts to different screen sizes and devices.
2. Use CSS media queries to customise the layout and size of images for different screen sizes.
3. Use fonts that are easy to read on all devices and adjust their size for different screen sizes.
4. Avoid unnecessary elements that could slow down the loading time of the website.
5. Use of images and graphics with a resolution that is suitable for the respective device.
6. Use of clear and concise menus and navigation elements that are easy to use even on smaller screens.
7. Testing the website on different devices to ensure that it looks and works well on all screen sizes and devices.
8. Minimise the use of pop-ups or other elements that force the user to click on certain buttons in order to use the website.
9. Use of a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress, which supports and automatically adapts the creation of responsive content.

In the "neunmalklug" section, I publish tips, tricks and technical information about graphic and web design at irregular intervals. Today:

What is "white space" and why is it so important?

"White space" refers to the unused space between different design elements such as text, images or graphics. It helps to structure the design and improve the visual hierarchy by giving the viewer's eye a break and focussing on the most important elements. Effective use of white space can make a design more elegant, modern and easier to understand.

Here are 9 tips on the topic of "white space" - the free space in a design in which there is neither a visual element nor text:

1. Emphasising content: By using white space, important content on a website or graphic can be better emphasised. The white space around an element draws the viewer's focus to it and enables them to quickly grasp the content.
2. Improving readability: Sufficient use of white space can improve the readability of text on a website or graphic. By leaving enough space between blocks of text, you can prevent the text from appearing cluttered and more difficult to read.
3. Enhancing aesthetics: The use of white space can help a design appear more aesthetically pleasing overall. It gives a website or graphic a clean, organic look that can give the impression of elegance and sophistication.
4. Creating balance: White space can help make a website or graphic look more balanced and symmetrical. By harmonising the space around different elements, you can achieve an overall balanced design.
5. Better navigation: The use of white space can improve navigation on a website. By creating gaps between different navigation elements, you can help the viewer to find their way around more easily.
6. Reduction of distractions: White space can help reduce visual distractions on a website or graphic. By separating certain elements, you can prevent the viewer from being overwhelmed and losing focus.
7. Facilitating perception: The use of white space can facilitate the perception of content. By leaving enough space between different elements, the content can be better understood.
8. Improving the user experience: A well thought-out use of white space can improve the user experience on a website. By optimising the space around various elements, you can increase usability and provide visitors with a pleasant experience.
9. Better conversions: Thoughtful use of white space can also help increase conversion rates on a website. By optimising the space around call-to-action buttons and directing the viewer's focus to specific elements, you can increase the likelihood that the viewer will perform a desired action.