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Book Review
Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web Sites
written by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton
reviewed by Stuart J. Brown
President
StudentAffairs.com
Posted: May, 11, 2001 Student
Affairs Online, 2 (Spring)
I remember my first Macintosh--a 512K with internal disk drive.
One of the joys of this early computer was loading dozens of fonts
into the system for utilization in word processing documents. I'd
churn out writings with five, six, or more different font types.
Cool...for about five minutes when I realized how unreadable the
printout was to the eye. I soon winnowed my font usage to a precious
few--one, maybe two, per page.
Web sites remind me of those nascent Macintosh days. Too often
designers go in for overkill--with graphics, sound and video--while
ignoring basic design principles. According to Patrick J. Lynch and
Sarah Horton, authors of Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles
for Creating Web Sites, "Success in Web design goes beyond
technology and fashion." They explain "To create Web sites that
endure you need only to communicate your ideas clearly and
effectively to your readers."
Fortunately, Lynch and Horton have followed their own advice and
produced a highly readable guide to Web layout. The book overflows
with innumerable examples and basic design tenets that prove
beneficial for either newbie or trained expert alike. For inexpert
student affairs administrators, who have been handed the task of
developing a divisional Web presence, the book will prove to be
invaluable.
Before the authors even begin talking about site design (chapter
3) or page design (chapter 4), they have the reader think about such
basic, yet critical, questions as: What are the goals and objectives
of the Web site? Who is the audience you are trying to reach? Who
will function as Webmaster to keep the site current? Too often Web
pages are thrown together with very little forethought to these
crucial queries. The results cause confusion and frustration among
browsers seeking information or guidance.
The basic interface and navigation of the site is another area
that must be examined beforehand.
Throughout the book the authors effectively incorporate
easy-to-understand charts and screen prints of Web pages to augment
their text. No point is too small to escape their attention. For
example, they berate designers that leave off basic contact
information, which is something that has always confounded me. Don't
designers, especially of college and university Web sites, think
browsers may want to pick up a phone to call? Might need to actually
know someone's name? Their e-mail address? Accessing directory
information at institutional sites is sometimes like an archeological
dig--painstakingly slow with only a thought of possible rewards at
the end.
Beginning with chapter 4, "Page Design," Lynch and Horton move
into the realm of the "visual hierarchy" in web design. They discuss
how "graphic design is visual information management, using the tools
of layout, typography, and illustration to lead the reader's eye
through the page." The authors expand upon this statement by zeroing
in on such topics as consistency in design, page length, design grids
and general design considerations. Again, a generous overabundance of
helpful diagrams and pictures visually complement the text.
The same is true with their presentation on typography, which was
interesting, not only because of their simple, straightforward
guidelines, but because of the wealth of information on the
subject.
To an extent, the same is true with their discussion on writing
for a web page, probably the least thought through component of a web
design. Again, more than sufficient information is put forth on the
organization of prose; titles and headers, "the fundamental human
interface device in Web pages;" text formatting; and, especially, on
the use and overuse of links.
Towards the end of the book there are sections devoted to
"Characteristics of Web Graphics" and "Applications for Multimedia."
While well-written and providing enlightening details on these
topics, the information is geared beyond the scope of the novice
designer.
The Web Style Guide: Basic Design Principles for Creating Web
Sites, by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton, is a book to be read
and studied by anyone looking to design a Web site. For student
affairs professionals, who generally outsource Web design to computer
center personnel or students-for-hire, the information provided
within the book's pages can begin the transfer of control back to
their hands.
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