When designing a website, it’s important to take all potential visitors into consideration. This includes the visually impaired – those afflicted with color blindness, low vision and even total blindness. While only U.S. government websites are required to be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, many large American retailers are beginning to follow suit – especially after Target was sued for six million dollars (USD) for having an inaccessible site for the visually impaired. The first thing to think about when improving the accessibility of your site for the visually impaired ..read more

In the days before CSS existed, the web looked different. Or perhaps I should say that it all looked the same. There were few styling options, after all. Text-based hyperlinks are a great example. Virtually every website used the same default shade of blue. It was possible to change the link color. But most sites tended to stick with blue. Yes, it was boring on the surface. But it was also a great way to help users quickly spot links. Designers couldn’t implement fancy styles. And so, the first generation of web users learned to look for blue, underlined text. Then CSS came along and completel ..read more

In web design, there is a time and place for features that “wow” users. Jaw-dropping animations, complex graphical effects, and immersive multimedia are a few items that come to mind. These elements can enhance the user experience (UX). However, one size does not fit all. People consume the web in different ways. There are various screen sizes and connection speeds to consider. Thus, what produces smiles for one user may result in a headache for others. That’s why it can be hard to duplicate desktop experiences on mobile devices. Some elements may translate perfectly. But others could be cumbe ..read more

To quote an iconic (and personal favorite) song from the 1990s: it’s the little things that kill. In this case, we’re talking about a website’s user experience (UX). Sometimes these elements can be afterthoughts. Or put into place for marketing or analytical purposes. But they will drive users both crazy and away from your website. Overdramatic? Maybe. But it’s a stark reality. Regardless of how brilliant your design and content may be, a bad UX sticks with users. And unless they have a compelling reason to come back, they probably won’t. You can’t blame them. Who needs the bother? Let’s take ..read more

As mobile devices evolve, designing websites responsively has become necessary. However, unlike static or fixed websites, the fluidity and flexibility of responsive sites can make it challenging to convey design ideas visually. Fortunately, there are some helpful tools available for responsive design, including the most basic and essential ones: pencil and paper. Specifically, sketchsheets for responsive web design can be incredibly useful. We have compiled a collection of printable wireframing templates that you might find helpful when sketching your designs. These templates will provide a st ..read more

I’ll readily admit that I’m not a regular user of Microsoft Edge. The browser works just fine. But I’ve been a diehard fan of Firefox for years. The Chromium-based successor to Internet Explorer never gave me a compelling reason to switch. Thus, I was greatly surprised by a recent question from a client. They wondered why, when hovering over an image on their website, a small icon appeared. Was this a new feature? Usually, these types of issues are caused by an overzealous browser add-on. Or (gulp) maybe a malware infection. But neither of those scenarios applied here. My client noticed that i ..read more

Minimalism is all over the web these days, and for good reason. Its lightweight layouts and low maintenance make it flexible for responsive design, and its natural elegance is sought by many brands and agencies. But appreciating minimalism and recreating it are two different things. Due to minimalism’s sparse elements, it may seem easy to replicate the style. The truth, though, is the exact opposite — because designers only have a few elements to work with, designing a minimalist site requires more thought and effort. In this article, we’ll explain how to use minimalism to take full advantage ..read more

You may not realize it, but you probably do it all the time when you’re shopping, especially online. In a brick-and-mortar store, you are less likely to leave without buying what you came for because you went through considerable trouble to go there in the first place. When you shop online, there’s very little effort involved in anything you do, including abandoning your cart. Simply close the tab, and that’s it. When you’re on the other side of the cart, however, it means that all that effort and time you spent to get them to that point is flushed down the drain. Some Shocking Statistics The ..read more

The web serves a crucial role in the non-profit sector. It’s a way to connect with prospective donors and members. In addition, an organization’s website can be a difference-maker when it comes to conveying a message. Thus, building websites for charities and non-profit organizations differs from a typical business site. Unique goals and responsibilities make for a highly-specialized process. That may be why some web designers and agencies tend to focus on these types of clients. And while there are many tools aimed at this market, it still takes a keen understanding to use them effectively. F ..read more

Mobile devices have taken over the web. Thus, so much designer attention has (rightly) gone towards ensuring that the websites we build are compatible. We are constantly refining how we implement responsive features so that they work flawlessly on small screens. While this is a worthwhile endeavor, there are other screens to think about. Large viewports are also a pretty important consideration. It’s rare to find new desktop or laptop devices with screen resolutions below 1080p (1920 x 1080). And both 4k (3840 × 2160) and 8k (7680 x 4320) monitors provide even more screen real estate. Taking a ..read more