Understanding Parts of a Web Page Layout

A web page layout is made up of several key elements that work together to create a visually appealing and user-friendly experience. The header section, often referred to as the masthead, typically includes the website's logo and navigation menu.

The content area, also known as the body, is where the main text and images of the website are displayed. This section is usually divided into sections or columns to make the content more readable and scannable.

The footer section, found at the bottom of the page, typically includes copyright information, social media links, and other secondary content. It's a great place to add a call-to-action or promote related content.

A well-designed web page layout should balance these elements to create a clear hierarchy of information and guide the user's attention through the page.

Web page structure is key to making your website user-friendly. It's essential to structure your individual website pages or blog posts in a way that makes it easy for users to find what they're looking for.

Breadcrumb trails, tags, and contextual sitelinks are used to structure information architecture on individual pages. This helps users understand where they are on your website.

Take care of the headers you put on individual pages. The title of the blog post should be an H1, and all headers should have metadata. Metadata are important for UX, so you don't want to confuse users about what your site is about.

Setting a hierarchy for your content is crucial. Different pages should have different layouts, with your homepage looking different from your individual web pages. This is because you should build your layout around the most important piece of content on that page.

For example, HubSpot's homepage uses the rule of thirds to create a hierarchy on the left side of the page. The header "Grow better with HubSpot" is the focal point, leading the viewer's attention to the next most important piece of content, the call-to-action (CTA), "get a demo."

Content Placement is crucial for a well-designed web page. It's essential to break up content into small, easy-to-digest chunks, like headings, lists, imagery, and pull-out quotes.

The content-focused layout is ideal for copy-centric websites. On my blog, for example, you'll find that my average post is punctuated by these techniques to help the user scan the article.

Careful consideration should be given to side columns. They should have the right content and visually the correct weighting. Users expect to find secondary content in these columns and give them less attention.

If you plan to include a call-to-action in a side column, it needs to be strong enough to draw attention. Smashing Magazine uses a colorful illustration of a cat to draw attention to their newsletter sign-up form in the right column.

The most important piece of content on a page should be the focal point. This creates a hierarchy that directs the viewer's attention to that main piece of content.

Design Principles are the foundation of a well-crafted web page layout. They guide the arrangement of visual elements to create a cohesive and effective design.

A good starting point is to consider the basic principles of page layout design, which can be applied to any website. This includes the use of negative space to create a clean and uncluttered look.

To achieve visual balance, designers often use symmetry or asymmetry, as seen in various page layout design ideas.

The rule of thirds is a fundamental design principle that can make or break the visual appeal of your web page. It's a simple yet effective way to balance your design and direct the viewer's attention to the most important element on the page.

By breaking your page into nine sections, you can create a more balanced and visually appealing design. This setup feels right to the viewer and can help you create web pages that effectively direct their attention.

Using the rule of thirds, elements placed along the gridlines will look more appealing to your audience because they're evenly spaced. This can help bring the visitor's attention to one gridline while the rest of the page is balanced out with negative or empty space.

Asymmetrical layout templates are also a great way to keep users' attention, especially on blog pages where long-form articles are the norm. This type of layout can be used to create a unique and engaging design that draws the reader in.

Having a laser-focused design on your landing page is crucial, especially since it's often the first impression visitors have of your website. A simple layout with a clear call-to-action can be just as effective as a more complex design.

Choosing the right design for your website is crucial to engaging your audience and achieving your goals. Consider your viewer's age, intention, and buying objections as you design your site layout.

To do this, think about the primary screen size of your audience. Focus your design on their preferred screen sizes, while still formatting and testing on other devices. This will ensure a smooth user experience.

Your design should also reflect how your audience will use your site. Websites with lots of written content, like blogs, should include search bars, white space, and easy navigation links.

Ultimately, your design should guide your audience towards a specific action. For example, a blogger wants viewers to click around and stay on their web page as long as possible, while a business website hopes people will place an order.

Here are the key factors to consider when choosing a design:

In a web page layout, the layout variations can greatly impact the user experience. A common layout variation is the use of a hero section, which is often a full-screen image or video that grabs the user's attention.

A hero section can be used to showcase a product, service, or message, and is often accompanied by a call-to-action. This layout variation is commonly used on homepages and landing pages.

Using a hero section can be an effective way to draw the user's attention to a specific part of the page, and can be especially useful for businesses that want to showcase a product or service.

Grid breaking layouts can add a modern look to your site by defying the standard of a traditional grid layout. They don't throw out all the rules, but rather tweak them and take liberties when possible.

The VR Arles Festival website is a great example of a grid breaking layout that draws attention to a particular screen element. Notice how their navigation bar overlaps two columns, making it stand out.

Grid breaking layouts can be visually interesting, but they can be hard to get right, especially when websites need to be responsive. In truth, most grid breaking designs are nothing of the sort, and there is still an underlying grid.

The Zara website is another example of a broken grid layout, where columns vary in size and sometimes overlap each other. This layout can create visual intrigue and is perfect for artistic or creative websites.

However, if your visual elements aren't strong enough or you're using stock photography, a broken grid layout can come across as random to the viewer. The key is to make sure your layout is balanced and visually appealing.

The rule of thirds can also be applied to grid breaking layouts to create a more balanced and visually appealing design. By placing elements along the gridlines, you can create a sense of balance and direct the viewer's attention to the most important element on the page.

Full-Screen layouts are ideal for storytelling or presentations because they fit on a single screen with no need for scrolling.

Species in Pieces is a great example of this, telling the stories of 30 engaged species in a rich and interactive presentational experience.

Full-screen layouts are at their best when accompanied by powerful imagery, making them a great choice for websites rich in photography, illustrations, or video.

The Roux at Parliament Square website appears to be a full-screen website at first glance, with gorgeous imagery filling the entire viewport.

However, it's possible to navigate further down the page to see additional content, which can be a drawback if users don't realize they can scroll and miss valuable content.

You need to consider how the layout will adapt at various sizes, including whether the full-screen approach will work on a mobile device and how images will crop or shrink as the screen size changes.

The F-Shaped layout is effective because it appeals to how most people read a web page, starting at the top and reading left to right, then making their way down and repeating the process.

This layout delivers a lot of information in a skimmable format, making it perfect for pages with a lot of text or images.

An example of the F-Shaped layout in action is the website that features over 10 companies using a product, allowing visitors to quickly scan through them as they work their way down the page.

If your messaging is unclear, the F-Shaped layout can feel unfocused to readers, leading to a drop in conversion rates.

The F-Shaped layout is ideal for delivering a lot of information in a concise and scannable way, making it a great choice for websites with a lot of content.

Card-Based layouts are a popular choice for product listings pages of eCommerce sites, allowing you to display an image of the product, a description, and the price.

They work well responsively, with the number of cards in a row slowly reducing as the available width goes down, making them a great option for displaying a list of articles on a blog or news site.

You can include an image of the story, title, and description, as well as any additional details about the post you wish to include, as seen on the Awwwards blog.

One way to mitigate the issue of varying amounts of content is not to try and keep cards on the same row, as shown in the example.

Card-Based layouts work best when you include the image, but this can be a drawback if you're struggling to find suitable photos for each of your list items.

A hero image with two columns can be a great way to grab attention and communicate multiple messages at once. This layout is particularly effective because it maintains page hierarchy while still displaying multiple types of content for viewers to choose from.

The hero image with two column layout is made up of a banner image at the top of the page, along with two module columns located either directly underneath it or overlaid on top. It's a versatile design approach that can be used for a variety of purposes.

One of the benefits of this layout is that it allows you to add quick, need-to-know information next to a sign-up form, which can then be followed by a more detailed explanation below it. This keeps visitors engaged and invested in the rest of your page as they scroll.

However, it's worth noting that the conversion rate may be lower with the split layout because viewers' attention is divided between columns. This layout is best used when you want to give users a clear binary choice, such as a modeling agency that needs to encourage users to identify whether they are looking for a male or female model.

The rule of odds is a design principle that suggests people prefer to see an odd number of page elements, rather than an even number. This is especially true in photography, where it's used to create visually appealing compositions.

Most designers opt for three elements, as the outside two complement the focal point in the middle. This creates a balanced and harmonious layout.

You can experiment with different odd numbers, such as five or seven, as long as the page still feels spaced evenly and directs attention to the center element.

The one-column layout is a great option for a landing page. It keeps viewers focused and concentrates on conversion.

This layout is simple and straightforward, improving your chances for conversion. A one-column layout can be built using a free landing page builder.

The timing of your text and images is important to keep readers on the page. It's essential to add enticing copy at the top of the page to grab the user's attention.

A clear CTA at the bottom of the page is crucial to direct users to your offer. This layout helps you get right to the point of your marketing message.

The collage layout is a great choice if you have a product or offering that's self-explanatory and needs just an eye-catching image to be the focal point of your page.

It combines several images into one, organized, and consistent design, making it perfect for websites with limited copy.

Images need to be compressed correctly to avoid slowing down website load times, so make sure to get that right.

This layout is effective for websites with a lot of strong imagery, but not a lot of text to share.

The design process is where the magic happens, and it's where you get to decide how all the different parts of your web page layout come together.

A well-planned design process starts with a clear understanding of your target audience and their needs.

This involves researching your users, identifying their pain points, and creating personas to guide your design decisions.

A good design process also involves sketching out ideas and creating wireframes to visualize the layout of your web page.

Wireframes can be low-fidelity sketches or more detailed digital mockups, but they're essential for communicating your design ideas to stakeholders and developers.

Research and planning are crucial steps in the design process. You need to understand what makes a well-designed page and what elements to include to make your website stand out.

A good starting point is to research well-designed examples of pages relevant to your market, product, or niche. Look at what sections they include on their main page and what type of information they showcase.

Visual elements, such as color palettes and graphic elements, are also important to consider. You should choose a relevant, functional, and beautiful color palette that's consistent with your brand and niche. A well-designed color palette can make a big difference in how your website is perceived.

To get started, you should have a basic idea of the different page sections you'll need on your main page. This might include a header, navigation menu, and a call-to-action. You should also start itemizing the main graphic elements you'll need for each section, such as images and icons.

Here are some key elements to consider during the research and planning stage:

By following these steps and considering these elements, you'll be well on your way to creating a well-designed website that effectively communicates your message and meets your goals.

Now that you've sketched a couple of possible scenarios for your website, it's time to start designing in a more committed way. This is where you create a lo-fi wireframe using graphic design software.

Using vector graphics software is a good choice because it allows you to move elements freely on the page. To get started, set up a document with the dimensions of a webpage on a browser, typically around 1,200px wide.

You can use a blank page, but grid paper is even better for positioning elements correctly and in the right proportion. This means you'll be working mostly with rectangles and squares to block out the main components of your page.

By using these shapes, you'll be able to visualize the look of your website and build from there. Building up from the general to the specific will make the task of design less daunting and intimidating.

Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when creating your lo-fi wireframe:

A web page layout is made up of various elements that work together to create a cohesive design.

The header is typically located at the top of the page and contains the website's logo, navigation menu, and other essential information.

Headers can be divided into several sections, including the masthead, which often includes the logo and main navigation.

The main content area is where the bulk of the page's information is displayed, and it's usually the largest section of the page.

This area can be further divided into sections, such as a hero section that showcases a prominent image or video.

Navigation is usually found at the top of the page, either in the header or just below it, and helps you find what you're looking for.

The navigation links are often in the form of a main menu, and on complex sites with many pages, you'll sometimes see a "mega menu" which is a drop-down menu triggered by hovering over a link in the main navigation.

A mega menu shows you many links organized into categories and sub-categories, kind of like a sitemap.

On mobile devices, the navigation usually morphs into an icon with 3 stacked lines, often referred to as a "hamburger" because it looks like the side view of a hamburger.

Tapping the mobile navigation icon usually triggers a vertical or horizontal toggle menu.

Sliders can appear anywhere on a website, but they're commonly used on homepages in place of (or in addition to) a feature image.

A slider is used to display pictures like a slideshow, where the images slide from right to left or vice-versa.

Sliders are often little more than eye-candy, which is why their use is diminishing as websites evolve.

Sliders are resource hogs, which means they can slow down a website's page load speed.

The footer is the bottom-most part of a website.

You can display links to other pages in your website here, making it easy for visitors to navigate.

Fine-print information, such as links to privacy policies, disclaimers, and copyright information, should also be included in the footer.

This section is crucial for providing transparency and accountability to your website visitors.

Value Proposition Cards are a crucial page element that helps persuade users to keep reading or take action on a website. They're often used right after the Hero Section to further communicate the value of the brand or service.

These cards typically consist of three or more cards that explain in more detail what the brand or service can do to solve its audience's problems. This is the purpose of this section: To further persuade a user to keep on reading or take some kind of action on the website.

By using Value Proposition Cards, websites can effectively communicate their unique value and benefits, making it more likely for users to engage with the content and take the desired action.