If you're already savvy with the technical sides of web sites (html, javascript, css, jsp) but you still feel awkward with the design sides, then you are not the only one. I was in this situation when I had to build a web application from scratch and I had only 2 days to learn web design principles. Thanks God finally all the shareholders were happy with the results. The user panels voted my design better than a design from a professional designer.
So I'd like to share with you which books that I read in 2 days to learn web design:
The Non-Designer's Web Book
Discuss the CRAP (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity) design principles. These principles apply also for print designs/ desktop publishing, which is also my hobby. Also contains some examples of good & bad designs and practical suggestions (e.g. avoid aliasing in the images, use sans-serif fonts etc).
Don't Make Me Think
Discuss usability principles:
• be straightforward as possible (such that the users doesn't have to think)
• users scan the web instead of read
• users don't make optimal choices, they don't read all the information, they just guess and satisfice
• users don't read explanations
• if the users find something works they stick to it (e.g. people used to the menu layout in common Windows application), avoid surprise
Also some design principles:
• clear visual hierarchy/structure
• clearly defined areas (e.g. navigation menu, content etc)
• conventions (e.g. colour scheme)
• make it obvious what's clickable
• minimize noise / minimize items in your web
Web Design for Developers
A book from the pragmatic programmer series. For developers who have never built a website. contains choosing colors & fonts, mock design, photoshops, how to apply css.
Web Design in a Nutshell
A classic book, which I read years ago. Discusses basic factors which affect your design such as screen resolution, browser, flexible vs fixed-width layout. Also contains references for (x)html, css, image formats, etc.
Please leave comments if you know any interesting books to learn web / UI design.
In near future I will write blogs about web design for mobile devices, so stay tuned!
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