What Users Want in a Website

Websites are a big form of communication. The uses for them are endless, and include information for projects, buying products online, even locating lost pets as was the case during Hurricane Katrina. When visiting a site, users want to see a clean web page and they are there to get the information they need. Creating a website is about getting through to the viewer. Following the basic principles of website design will give the tools needed to successfully communicate with visitors in a positive way.

Alignment
Four principles of web design include alignment, proximity, repetition, and contrast. Websites that use these four principles will give the impression of a clean professional looking website. The alignment property of a website deals with how elements on a webpage are lined up with each other. Users can align elements to the right, left or in the center. A good rule to follow with alignment is choosing one type of alignment and sticking to it. Users shouldn't mix alignments because it makes the page look unorganized. The information does not flow uniformly, and text is scattered all over the page.

Proximity
Proximity deals with how close elements are arranged on the page. Visitors on a website think that if two items are close together, they belong together. Headings should be close to the text the user is reading. The user will find it easier to know where to the information they want. When items are grouped together the information looks organized and it is easier for the visitor to read.

Repetition
Each page on a website should look like it belongs with the others; this principle is known as repetition. There are many elements on a website that keeps it consistent, for instance the colors on the page, navigation, layout and typography. These elements should remain the same, and give visitors the feeling that they are at the same website. Visitors enjoy consistency, knowing they won't run into problems with navigating through the site.