Current Section: Web Sites -> Layout Rules

One of the first things you need to do when making a site is make a layout. However, you can't just slopy something down and use it. Thats lazyness and can often make a bad layout.

A layout for graphic site you should think of as a introduction to what the people of the site can do. Unless of course it's one they didn't make. It shows how well they code and how well they are in graphic design. A layout is more then just something used for a person to navigate through the site.

For this reason I have put together a list of guidlines to think about when making your site layout.

- - Colors. You want to keep to a color scheme that matches (ex black and white, blue and white etc...) Avoid useing anything that doesn't match or hurt your eyes this means NO neon colors or bright things that would hurt the eyes. Would you like looking at a page that has a neon green background and pink text?

- - Layout picture. Don't try to make it complicated. you want it to be simple enough that people can find things easily. Color scheme and something appropriete to the topic and then purpose of the site and for all ages is best. Again avoid neon colors and try not to use to many paint brushes, makes it look sloppy and people will be like: "Ok what is this person doing? Is the rest of their stuff gonna be like this?" Also try and make an original layout.

- - Navigation. You need it to be in a place easy to find. putting it in a top left courner and as a drop down menu for example would be a bad idea, people wont see it. Make sure people can read it. Don't have it blend into the background to much unless of course its hovering.

- - Credit. Anything you used in the making of the layout you must give credit to. this should be on both the credit page AND on the layout, either at the bottom of the page under all the content or under the navigation.