1. Define audience and purpose 2. Teach something "new" 3. Cite sources 4. Encourage feedback 5. Include reflection pages 6. Balance content with presentation 7. Make it current 8. Keep it simple and accessible Communications: The Real Power of the Web A Visit to Hillside School

8. Keep your Layouts Simple and Accessible

A good site follows the KISS maxim: "Keep it Short and Simple."

Graphics should be modest, functional, and few in number. Variations in fonts should be limited (avoid flashing font styles). Layout should be simple and logical.

The best strategy is to consistently apply a few basic document design principles to every single Web page you create. The Yale C/AIM Web Style Guide contains some excellent information and guidelines to help you design a simple yet effective Web page.

Accessible
You should also try to make your pages accessible to people with various disabilities.

EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) at http://www.rit.edu/~easi/access.html provides guidelines, online workshops, and links which show you how to do this.

Page 1: Define audience and purpose
Page 2: Teach something "new"
Page 3: Cite information sources
Page 4: Encourage feedback
Page 5: Include reflection pages
Page 6: Balance content & presentation
Page 7: Make it current
Page 8: Keep it simple and accessible
Next Section: Web project examples