Web design is graphic design for websites.
Websites may be displayed for viewing on a traditional desktop computer but increasingly websites are being searched for and looked at on the very small screens of mobile phones as well as the many varieties of tablet, notebook and laptop computers right up to giant sized flat screen TV sets hanging on the wall in our lounge rooms.
Good web design still retains the basic premise of enhancing the transmitted information to an interested user so the information is clearly displayed, easily discerned and easily acted upon if required.
Successful web designs transmit information in a user friendly way.
User friendliness which is now referred to by more exciting and buzzed phrases such as "user experience design" (UX or UXD or UED) still describes whether the interaction between the user; who could be called the viewer, the searcher or the visitor; and the website (or app) is good or bad.
Here are a few good rules that I always try to follow:
Web design is about designing the layout of the page and the information contained in it so that it is CLEAR what the webpage's purpose is, so the experience of the user does not decline into an exercise in figuring out what is going on. There is not enough time in the user's life for confusion regarding a website they can always move on to the next one in the hope they can find the information they seek more easily there.
You would have to ask some of my customers about that, see some of my Customer's websites that I designed (Web design Portfolio) and ask one of my clients.
But since you asked, see below for some background information on why I think I am indeed a good web designer!
...well I would wouldn't I!
The web is a fast changing environment and I keep up with all the latest news and trends via magazines, books and the web, I recommend these magazines;
for the web: Web Designer, Australian Personal Computer, Practical Web Design, Practical Dreamweaver
for graphic design; IT Graphics and Design Graphics
for photoshop/photography: Advanced Photoshop, Better Photoshop
and these websites: Sitepoint, WebProNews, WebDeveloper,
My background in graphic design and computer programming is probably what puts me ahead of the web design pack and being able to use Photoshop CS6 and DreamWeaver CS6 quickly and efficiently is a big plus as well.
Please feel free to ask my customers how they feel about my service and value.
(Go to their websites which are listed here , find their email link, then click and enquire).