THE HUMAN MIND IS CONSTANTLY organizing information, searching for patterns, analyzing and categorizing what it perceives. An interface design with a set style will communicate a mood or tone that the user will become familiar with . Whatever the style is intended to convey, it should be consistent throughout the web site, allowing the user to comprehend the content, avoiding confusion and distraction.

Early in the planning stages of your web site, identify all of the elements, such as colors, fonts, graphics, and other media that you will use and the style you want to convey. Your content, audience, and the purpose of the web site will likely determine your style. For example, a wedding web site might want to communicate an ethereal quality with soft tones and diffused lighting, or maybe crisp, colorful images. High tech corporate web sites often want to convey a strong, bold, even futuristic style. 

Click the images for examples of various styles.

A metaphor can effectively communicate unfamiliar information or concepts, using familiar elements. For example, the phrase, "An electronic organizer is like having your office in your pocket"could be used on a web site's splash page.

When the mind perceives a lack of unity, it can lose focus, motivation, and often want to go elsewhere. A consistent interface design can assist the mind to do what it does by nature - assimilate and organize information. Once you have established your style, carry it through on each page. Your user will then always know they are in your web site if the established style is communicated in the graphical elements, layout of information, and typography. 

Click on the blue heart to run the animation. The ending frame could become the web site logo.

Another important factor in consistency and usability, is to place navigational elements in the same place on each page. The user will not want to search for buttons, arrows, and main menu icons as they try to navigate the site. It's fine to create main links or buttons in a creative display on an animating splash or home page, however, it is important to keep them in one place on proceeding pages.

Web site planning that includes establishing a style that communicates your message will be the user's first impression. If you hook them, keep their attention by maintaining consistency throughout your web site.

Stansberry, D., © 1999

Susan DeVanna

Department of Educational

Technology San Diego State University