User Focused Design

what is meant by the term Web design can be difficult. At best
we can see that Web design is a multidisciplinary pursuit that consists of five primary
components: content, visuals, technology, delivery, and purpose. However, theories of
exactly how these components should mix together vary from person to person as well
as project to project.

The basic rule of a web design theme are


A common theme of Web design is the focus on users. Unfortunately, a common
mistake made in Web development is that, far too often, sites are built more for designers
and their needs than for the site’s actual users. Always remember this important tenet
of Web design:

Rule: YOU are NOT the USER.
What you understand is not what a user will understand. As a designer, you have
intimate knowledge of a Web site. You understand where information is. You understand
how to install plug-ins. You have the optimal screen resolution, browser setup, and so
on. When you build your site around your own visual characteristics and skill levels,
you often will confuse the actual users of the site. You must accept the fact that many
users will not necessarily have intimate knowledge of the site you have so carefully
crafted. They may not even have the same interests as you.
Given the importance of the users’ interests and desires, it might seem appropriate
to simply ask the users to design the site the way they want. This seems to be a good
idea until you consider another basic Web design tenet:

Rule: USERS are NOT DESIGNERS.
Not everyone is or should be a Web designer. Just as it would seem foolish to let
moviegoers attempt to direct a major motion picture on the basis of their having
viewed numerous movies, we should not expect users to be able to design Web sites
just because they have browsed a multitude of sites. Users often have unrealistic
requirements and expectations for sites. Users will not think carefully about the
individual components of a Web site. In summary, users are not going to have the
sophisticated understanding of the Web that a designer will have.
That said, the key to successful, usable Web site design is always trying to think
from the point of view of the user.