Importance of visual design in website interface:
Increasingly, website interfaces are being built by software programmers and developers. The outcome is content-rich and interactive sites that lack navigation and usability attributes. What is often overlooked is the role of collaboration of graphic design and user-interface design principles in building interface.
Graphic design is organization and communication of information. It means creating a design that is intentional and funtional according to user needs.This requires applying principles of balance, harmony, rhythm, contrast, repetition and dominance on the elements. Important elements must be contrasted against one another but at the same time be harmonious to the design. There should be a visual hieararchy of importance to reflect the relationship between elements. The elements should be repeated to stimulate movement of viewers' eye. Color management, typography and image treatment also play a vital role in creating a unique design.
Equally important is the aspect of creating sites based on discovery, research and analysis of user requirements. This is called User-Interface design. Rubin (1998) defined user-centered design as techniques and procedures for designing usable systems
with user at the center of the process. Such sites demonstrate strong navigation and usability experience as they combine visual design with experience design. Research shows that the average attention span of a web
user is 5-seconds. If, in that short span, user is not engaged by the content, visual look and navigation
system of the website, it may lose a visitor. The user needs to feel that he is in control of the siteç—´ navigation and can find information in fewer clicks.
One of the most important aspect of a website is its content. The value of content on a site depends largely on how it is displayed or made available to the users. A site that lack good navigation and clear layout can make the content inaccessible. A mediocre looking web design can give the impression that the content is mediocre too.
While graphic design controls the visual look of the elements, user-interface principles guides the structure, navigation and layout of an interface. A design methodology based on graphic design and usability principles can produce client-centric results and user-centric experience.
