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Unity
So far we have discussed the concepts of color, contrast, balance, and alignment primarily as they relate to single web pages. However, most pages do not exist in isolation but as part of an entire site. This means that it is important to design each individual page so that it works in a unified manner within the rest of the site. A single color scheme and alignment style should be selected and carried out for every page. Switching styles dramatically from page to page will confuse visitors and make a site appear disjointed. Ease of navigation is critical therefore, web designers should strive to develop consistency or unity throughout each web site.
Repetition and Consistency The easiest way to develop unity in a site is through the repetition of a common page element. A title, or "mast head" design that is repeated on every page will quickly unify a site. A logo or motto may also be used effectively for this purpose. Branding each page will make it obvious to a visitor that they are still surfing within your site. A common navigation format will not only provide a unified appearance it will assist visitors to use your site more effectively. Navigation Clicking links is what the World Wide Web is all about and most visitors expect to do a bit of surfing to find the information they seek. However making information easy to locate quickly is truly appreciated so designers should always consider how to best leave a "bread crumb trail" for navigation. It is always a good practice to begin by outlining or diagramming a flow chart of how the pages of the site will be linked together. Just as a book has chapters, a site can be designed so that each main topic is linked to subtopics. Topics can also be cross-referenced or they can be entirely linear in design. The type of site you developed will often determine the best form of navigation. For instance this course web site has been developed in a very linear fashion because one lesson must lead to the next. Click here to view our site map which resembles a "Table of Contents". Other web sites might benefit from interweaving and branching out the pages. Once the overall design has been planned, the navigation links themselves can be as simple as a bulleted list or row of words. They can consist of a series of buttons, an image or a navigation bar. The choice of design will matter less than its consistent use throughout the web site. Navigational links should be of the same type and they should be placed in the same location throughout the site. Typically they are found at the top or left side of most web pages.
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