Good Web Page Layout Design Principles and Techniques

A good web page layout is like a well-organized room - it's easy to navigate and find what you need. A clear hierarchy of information is key to a well-designed page, as seen in the example of the CNN website, where the main headlines and stories are prominently displayed at the top of the page.

A clear visual hierarchy is achieved through the use of white space, also known as negative space, which helps to separate and organize the different elements on the page. This is evident in the example of the Google homepage, where the search bar and logo are given plenty of breathing room.

The F-pattern is a common layout pattern used in web design, where the user's eye follows a zigzag pattern from top to bottom, as seen in the example of the Amazon website. This pattern helps to guide the user's attention to the most important information on the page.

A consistent layout throughout the website is also crucial, as it helps to create a sense of familiarity and makes it easier for users to navigate.

To create a good web page layout, it's essential to establish clear goals for your website. This will help guide your design decisions and ensure your website effectively communicates its message.

Designing for easy navigation is crucial, as it directly impacts user experience. A well-designed navigation system can make a significant difference in how users interact with your website.

Aiming for simplicity is a key aspect of good web page layout. By avoiding clutter and unnecessary elements, you can create a clean and visually appealing design.

Optimizing negative space is also vital, as it allows users to focus on the content and visual elements that matter most. This can be achieved by strategically placing empty space around text and images.

Here are some fundamental tips to keep in mind:

Grid systems are a series of horizontal and vertical rulers that help compartmentalize a design, improving readability and making a page's content easier to absorb.

Think of columns, which are a key element in grid systems. Columns are often used to create a sense of balance and order, making it easier on the eye. Grids also make it possible to use the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Ratio, which account for why sidebars are usually about a third of the width of the page.

The grid lends itself particularly well to minimalist designs, as seen in the example of 5 Thirty One by Derek Punsalan. The clear, strict structuring of elements makes it easy on the eye, with a clear left column and a smaller right sidebar.

Using grids for compartmentalization can greatly improve the readability of your design. Grids are a series of horizontal and vertical rulers that help break down a design into manageable sections.

The concept of grids is closely related to balance, and using them can make a page's content easier to absorb. Columns improve readability, making a page's content easier to absorb.

Think of columns, like the ones in the 5 Thirty One design by Derek Punsalan, where the clear structuring of elements makes it easy on the eye. The left column is roughly twice the size of the right sidebar, which just makes sense.

The Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratio account for why sidebars are usually about a third of the width of the page. This is why the main content area is roughly equal to the design's width divided by 1.62.

Grid layouts are great for featuring products and specific categories while preserving the distinctiveness of each item. Grid design places page elements in boxes or cards on a geometric grid.

Each "card" in the Texas Humor website's box layout for bestselling t-shirts and caps is the same size with ample negative space around it. This brings uniformity and breathing room to the design.

Using grids can also create a more fluid, flexible card design, like the one on the dash website for stationery products. Cards vary in size and width, creating an asymmetrical layout that adds visual interest to the grid layout.

Grid breaking layouts can be visually interesting and draw attention to specific screen elements, as seen on the VR Arles Festival website where the navigation bar overlaps two columns.

A practical use of grid breaking layouts is to overlay text on an image, making the copy stand out more than if it were completely overlaid. This can be seen in an example where text partially overlaps a picture.

Grid breaking layouts can be hard to get right, especially when websites need to be responsive, and often have an underlying grid that's not immediately obvious. Most grid breaking designs are actually just complex grids.

A broken grid layout can add a modern look to your site, as seen on Zara's website where the columns vary in size and sometimes overlap each other. This type of layout is perfect for artistic or creative websites.

A good web page layout is all about creating a visual hierarchy that guides the user's attention. This means making the most important elements stand out from the rest.

To create a clear hierarchy, you should set a clear order of importance for your content. For example, HubSpot's homepage uses a hierarchy on the left side of the page, with the header "Grow better with HubSpot" as the focal point.

Following the rule of thirds can also help create a visually appealing hierarchy. This involves breaking your page into three sections vertically and horizontally, and placing key elements along the gridlines. This setup feels right to the viewer and can help direct their attention to the most important element on the page.

Creating a content hierarchy is crucial for directing the viewer's attention to the most important piece of content on a page. This is because different pages have different layouts, and your homepage should look different from your individual web pages.

To build a hierarchy, you should start by identifying the most important piece of content on a page, which can be a headline, a call-to-action, or an image. For example, on HubSpot's homepage, the header "Grow better with HubSpot" is the focal point, and it leads you to the next most important piece of content which is the call-to-action (CTA), "get a demo."

A good content hierarchy should follow the rule of thirds, which divides a page into nine sections. Elements placed along the gridlines will look more appealing to your audience because they're evenly spaced. This setup feels right to the viewer and can help you create web pages that direct visitors' attention to the most important element on the page.

You can also use white space to create a hierarchy on a page. By leaving some holes open and not overcrowding the page with too many elements, you can create a sense of balance and make the most important elements stand out. For example, Kyle Meyer's Astheria website shows that not much is needed for a pleasing design, and the use of white space adds a lot of class to the design.

Ultimately, a well-designed content hierarchy can make or break a website's effectiveness. By following these principles and creating a clear hierarchy on your page, you can direct visitors' attention to the most important content and improve their overall experience.

The rule of odds is a design principle that suggests people prefer to see an odd number of page elements over an even number. This is because an odd number creates a clear focal point, drawing the viewer's attention.

Typically, designers use three elements, as the outside two complement the central point. You can experiment with different odd numbers, such as five or seven, but make sure the page still feels balanced and evenly spaced.

Good web page layout is all about balance, and that includes typography and graphics.

Graphics add to the visual message, and poor graphics can definitely hurt a design. Websites like WebDesigner Wall have impressive illustrations, while others are understated.

A few well-placed graphics can go a long way, as seen on Tim van Damme's website Max Voltar, which uses a non-intrusive background image and a sophisticated crown.

Font Stacks are just basic CSS that let you define the order in which fonts should be rendered. They're a great way to improve your website's typography.

Mac computers come with Helvetica (Neue) pre-installed, but most Windows machines don't. This means that relying solely on Helvetica Neue may not be the best option.

Font stacks allow you to define "fallbacks", meaning that the browser will look for the next typeface in line if the first one is missing. This means that the design will not look exactly the same for everyone.

The property "font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" will give the body copy the typeface of "Helvetica Neue" if it's available. If not, the browser will look for Helvetica, then Arial, and finally a sans-serif font.

Wilson Miner uses a font stack that includes Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, and Arial. This way, you get the best of both worlds: Helvetica for those who have it, and Arial in case Helvetica is unavailable.

Only a relatively small number of visitors will see the headers in Baskerville if it's not available on their computer. But that's not a problem, as it gives the design an extra bit of character without hurting anyone who doesn't have it.

Measure and leading are two crucial elements in typography that can make or break the readability of your content. A good measure is between 40 and 80 characters per line.

Increasing the line height, or leading, can greatly improve readability. A line height of 1.5 is often a good starting point, especially for paragraphs. This means that the height of the line becomes 1.5 times the size of the text.

Hanging quotes and bullets can improve readability by aligning them with the rest of the text on the page.

Tim van Damme's redesign of Max Voltar uses hanging bullets effectively, where the padding-left CSS property of the bulleted list is set to 0. This achieves a horizontally aligned look.

Hanging quotation marks can also be used to enhance the flow of text without disrupting it.

Great graphics can make or break a design, and it's not about being a great illustrator or photographer. Poor graphics will definitely hurt a design.

Tim van Damme's website Max Voltar is a great example of using a limited number of graphics with great thought and care. A non-intrusive background image and a sophisticated crown are two of the graphics that add to the look and feel of the website.

You don't need to be a skilled illustrator or photographer to put great graphics on your website. Some basic Photoshop skill, possibly some stock images, and great taste are all you need.

Rogie King's Komodo Media is a lot more graphics-heavy, and it's perfectly executed from both a technical and thematic standpoint. It's a great example of how to use graphics to enhance your website's style.

Try to make the graphics go well together, and make sure they embody the style you are aiming for. It's all about finding a style that suits you best.

A full-screen photo layout can immediately capture your audience's attention with a bright, vibrant image at the forefront of your homepage.

This layout works best with high-quality and eye-popping images that can make your products and services stand out.

Gotham implements the full-screen media layout style with sliding images, featuring a sliding animation image background and a responsive navigation bar.

Using a single-page layout with interactive clickable texts on its top navigation bar can create an engaging multimedia experience for visitors.

Image replacement can be a good technique for headers and excerpts, but it's not suitable for body text.

Image replacement techniques can be advanced, but they still can't match the flexibility of plain text.

Using images to replace fonts is not as dynamic or accessible as plain text.

Fullscreen media layouts are a great way to capture your audience's attention immediately. Scrolling full-screen images, like the one in Example 1, grab the viewer's attention and allow your product to sit center-stage.

A media banner on your homepage is an excellent choice if the primary aim of your website's design is to capture your viewer's attention. Example 2, Gotham, implements the full-screen media layout style with sliding images.

Full-screen or featured-image layouts apply an image as the background that fills the page above the fold. Overlaid on the foreground are headers, calls to action, and vital navigation links. This layout option is great when you want the visitor to focus on a single graphic that shows off what your website offers.

Full-screen layouts are ideal for storytelling or presentations, as seen in Example 4, Species in Pieces. These layouts are at their best when accompanied by powerful imagery.

A full-screen photo layout uses an image as your main background that spans the length of the page or above the fold. Text, navigation features, and CTAs typically are overlaid on the image, capturing your audience's attention immediately.

Full-screen video backgrounds can inject some POP into your homepage, but they don't always translate well on smaller devices. Example 6, Pinkanova, is a great example of a full-screen video background that creates a unique and memorable website.

The single video effect layout is a technical approach that uses video effects instead of animation to create an immersive experience for the viewer.

This layout requires graphics or video images that can transport your viewer into a world of its own, as seen in LVMH's "The Journey" website.

To create an immersive design, you need to put thought into designing the layout, like LVMH did, featuring an interactive video layout with responsive icons and images that link to other pages.

The LVMH's The Journey homepage acts like an access portal to all the brand websites of the LVMH brand, showing how a well-designed single video effect layout can engage viewers.

A card-based layout is perfect for content-heavy websites that want to showcase their knowledge or product depth at a glance.

This layout is ideal for websites with multiple products or a series of blog posts, as it allows visitors to easily locate specific content.

If you're showcasing products, a card-based layout is a great choice because it creates even spacing between content and makes navigation a breeze.

Alternating layouts are a simple and effective way to communicate several selling points on a webpage. They're particularly favored for explaining the features or benefits of a product, like software products that use images to show a feature and then copy to explain how it works.

The alternating layout pattern is made up of a series of content blocks, each with a two-column layout that can include images, text, icons, testimonials, or calls to action. These content blocks can be customized to suit your needs, and they're not limited to images and text.

One of the reasons alternating blocks are so common is that they're a reliable layout option with few drawbacks. They keep readers engaged and add white space to text-heavy web page content, making them ideal for promoting blog posts or showcasing multiple selling points.

Alternating layouts can be used to balance text with images in alternating columns, which prevents readers from losing interest by the time they reach the bottom of the page. This layout pattern is great for promoting blog posts, where you can put the featured image of the post next to a short description of the article.

A popular template, alternating layouts are extremely popular, so this design might be too standard for creative business websites. But for many businesses, the benefits of an alternating layout far outweigh the potential drawbacks.

Card-Based layouts are a popular choice for displaying a series of options, making it easy for users to choose between them.

They work well responsively, with the number of cards in a row reducing as the available width goes down, as seen on websites like Awwwards blog.

Card-based layouts are ideal for product listings pages, allowing you to display an image of the product, a description, and the price, as on the Asos website.

This layout approach is also suitable for displaying a list of articles on a blog or news site, showcasing an image of the story, title, and description, as on the Awwwards blog.

However, card-based layouts can have some drawbacks, such as requiring suitable photos for each list item, and varying amounts of content can lead to white space issues.

To mitigate this issue, you can avoid keeping cards on the same row, which can help to distribute content more evenly.

Card-based layouts can also create a lack of content hierarchy if all the photos are the same size, as mentioned in the pros and cons of this layout.

Despite this, card-based layouts are widely adopted due to their effectiveness in showcasing products or blog posts, and making it easy for visitors to locate a specific webpage or blog post.

Websites like Pinterest use card-based layouts to display lots of discrete pieces of information on one page, making it an efficient layout for displaying dozens or even hundreds of items, as seen on their website.

The one-column layout is a great way to keep viewers focused on your marketing message. It centers the text in the middle of the page, making it simple and straightforward.

This layout improves your chances for conversion by directing users to your offer with a clear CTA at the bottom.

The timing of your text and images is important to keep readers on the page.

The two-column section is a versatile layout option that's perfect for showcasing multiple elements on a page. It's often used in combination with a hero image to create a visually appealing design.

You'll commonly find two-column sections made up of alternating blocks of content, like images and text. For example, Convertkit includes testimonials and calls to action alongside their text in each block.

This layout approach is particularly favored for explaining product features or benefits, as seen in software products like Webydo. They use images to show a feature and then the copy to explain how it works or the benefit it provides.

Two-column sections can also be effective for nearly any type of website or web page, thanks to their flexibility and customization options. They can be used in conjunction with a hero image, like in the example of the two-column hero layout.

However, one potential drawback of two-column sections is that they can divide viewers' attention between columns, potentially lowering conversion rates. But with the right design and content, this layout can be a winning combination.

A split-screen layout divides the webpage into halves, creating a striking impact through product imagery and information about the products.

This layout is popular for ecommerce websites, such as MISStoMRS, which features an image of a bridal box on one half and text information about the boxes with prominent call-to-action buttons on the other.

A split-screen layout can represent two distinct pathways into the site, making it ideal for giving users a clear binary choice.

For example, a modeling agency like 62 Management uses a split-screen to encourage users to identify whether they are looking for a male or female model.

Beyond these limited applications, there is little reason to adopt a split-screen design, as it is a relatively limiting layout option.

However, in those cases where it is appropriate, a split-screen is by far the best choice, creating a modern look and easily matching your brand's color palette.

On mobile devices, the split-screen layout isn't as strong, but on desktops, it can be an eye-catching layout that creates a two-tone background on your homepage.

The Stout Collective website is a cool example of a vertical split-screen layout, which splits the screen into two or more vertical columns, creating a very engaging effect as users scroll down the page.

This layout limits the amount of horizontal space that you can have in each column, but it can create a unique and memorable user experience.

Interactive elements can make a web page truly memorable and fun for visitors. Interactive layouts are a great way to let users engage with your site, as seen in Example 1, where shifting the perspective lets visitors interact with the scene.

However, it's essential to ensure that interactive elements are closely tied to your message to avoid distracting visitors. This layout needs to help convert viewers, not just entertain them.

If you're a developer or freelancer, interactive layouts can be a great way to show off your web design skills and keep visitors engaged on your site, as mentioned in Example 1.

Animation can be a fun and engaging way to add interactivity to your website.

Animations can draw attention to a specific element or create an interactive and enjoyable experience for your users. They're highly engaging and can create active space on your webpage.

However, animations can make webpages less accessible to older users and may take longer to load.

A scrollable animation layout can make for a stunning experience, relying on the user's interaction to function as they scroll.

Storiaverse is a great example of this layout, with an immersive scrolling experience that showcases its animation services to prospective users.

Full-screen animations can increase user engagement with attention-grabbing moving images that show your product in action.

A sequence of bold animations in the hero section can effectively demonstrate what your product looks like and is capable of doing.

A scrolling full-screen image layout is similar to a full-screen image background layout, but with the overlaid text scrolling and changing as you navigate downward.

This layout is ideal for any one-page website, so long as you have a high-quality image to set as your background.

Easy Navigation is crucial for a smooth user experience. A good website layout organizes information in a way that's easy for site visitors to digest.

Implementing a grid system can help visitors find relevant information quickly. You can also employ navigational breadcrumbs to guide them through your website.

Keep menus and the navigation bar close to one another for easy access. Grouping informational elements like contact info and FAQs in the same area can make them easy to find.

Clear calls to action work as guides, helping visitors take the next step. This can be especially useful for e-commerce websites.

Checking out what others are doing can be a great way to get inspiration for your interactive elements. Researching competitors' websites can help you make better design decisions.

You can see design choices you like or dislike by examining other websites. This can help you identify what works and what doesn't.

Checking how much white space a website uses can give you an idea of how to balance your own content. You might also notice how animations, videos, and images are used to engage visitors.

By examining other websites, you can gain experience that will help you make more informed decisions about your site.

Choosing a layout for your website can be tough, but looking at real-world examples can give you some inspiration and direction.

Going with a classic website layout is a safe bet, as it's hard to go wrong with something timeless.

If you're still unsure where to begin, consider starting with a classic layout, which I use for most of my own websites.

Defining your site's purpose is a crucial step in the planning process. It's essential to determine what you want to achieve with your website.

To find your site's purpose, ask yourself questions like: What is the main action I want visitors to take after visiting my site? What do I aim to achieve by designing a website for my brand? How can I achieve my brand/business goals with my website?

Your answers will be the foundation for your site's design and layout. This will help you create a website that effectively communicates your message and meets your goals.

Here are some questions to consider:

Choosing a layout before creating content would force your content to take whatever layout you've chosen. This can limit the potential of your website and make it harder to engage your audience.

In my experience, creating content first gives you the freedom to choose a layout that best presents it to your audience. This approach ensures that your content takes center stage and is easy to consume.

A simple best practice is to create content from whatever service or product you'll offer on your website. This will help you plan the content to fit your website and create a story from it.

Think up content that will resonate with your audience and make them want to engage with your website. This will help you create a layout that is both functional and visually appealing.

Choosing a website layout can be tough, but looking at real-world examples can help spark some inspiration.

Classic website layouts are a safe bet, and they're hard to go wrong with.