Datasheet
CHAPTER ONE THE DISTINCTION OF WEB DESIGN
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Part of the justi cation for emphasis within a website is to lead your visitors by the hand
and guide them to the content that matters most to them. Titles within page sections aim
to give visitors an idea of where certain data is located; images and navigation menus help
visitors get to a resource they require; and even conventions like the underlined link
(asshown in Figure 1-13) helps visitors establish whether they need to click or continue
reading!
Figure -: e default underlined link is often depicted by a selection of browser-induced trends.
Distinctively barrier-free
e problem of inconsistent design forces website visitors to re-evaluate everything they
know about an interface, which isn’t helpful because you want to keep the process as
smooth and streamlined as possible, but punishing your users by accident can also be a
problem that many designers fail to account for. Overcomplicated visuals, dense or heavy
content, and invasive or abusive functionality disrupt the ow and distinction.
One clear example of this problem in action is the issue of repetition. As users examine
the distinctive regions of your site in order to associate that location and content with a
speci c function (such as a navigation menu), confusion occurs if repetition exists in
another format. For example, many advertisers use these techniques to fool visitors into
thinking that their computers’ security may suddenly be at risk.
Arguably, using existing distinctive elements may yield results from individuals who
progress throughout a site without thinking, but the need for ethical practices in promot-
ing distinction takes precedence. If you produce a distinctive page element that misguides
the visitor, that user’s trust in your brand (and any other distinctive elements within the
site) may be permanently damaged, thereby turning the distinction into a negative.
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