{"id":1690,"date":"2017-02-21T15:21:57","date_gmt":"2017-02-21T22:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/10-ways-to-simplify-your-design\/"},"modified":"2017-02-21T15:21:57","modified_gmt":"2017-02-21T22:21:57","slug":"10-ways-to-simplify-your-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/10-ways-to-simplify-your-design\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Simplify Your Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s no secret that simple is often better when it comes to website design. An interface that\u2019s simple to understand and just as simple to use is more likely to turn visitors into active users that will return to your site later.<\/p>\n

But how do you simplify your website? Even if you aren\u2019t building something new from scratch, cialis 40mg<\/a> the trick is to set goals and then look at the path to reaching them for users. Anything that gets in the way of that path should be eliminated. Anything that makes understanding what users are supposed to do should be removed from the design. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to look at today \u2013 a few tricks that you can use to simplify your website design. And these ideas work for existing sites and new builds. (This article features examples of stellar simple designs, pill<\/a> visit each site for even more inspiration.)<\/p>\n

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1. Focus on Calls to Action<\/h2>\n

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Your website should have an end goal for every user to do something. That goal should be obvious to every person that lands on the design.<\/p>\n

Calls to action need to be clear, unhealthy<\/a> large enough to see and in enough locations so that users never get to far away from making that key click. <\/p>\n

2. Streamline the Number of Pages<\/h2>\n

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Is your design packed with pages and pages of information? Does it need to be?<\/p>\n

Streamline content into manageable chunks, but don\u2019t overwhelm users with too many pages to click through. Keep all related content together for ease of reading and flow.<\/p>\n

Eliminate pages with old, out of date information or those that just contain a third-party widget or map. (Those elements can usually be incorporated elsewhere.)<\/p>\n

3. Stick to a Color Palette<\/h2>\n

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While a lot of color can be fun and engaging, it is also overwhelming. Stick to a color palette with just two or three options to help keep color under control. <\/p>\n

If you want to go super-simple, consider a monotone color palette with just a few tints and tones of a single color. It amazing how beautiful something so simple can be, and it is easy for users as well. Fewer colors cause less mental overload and help create a more harmonious and organized appearance. (Something that almost anyone with a hectic life can appreciate.) <\/p>\n

4. Opt for Standard Navigation<\/h2>\n

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While hidden or alternative navigation styles might look cool, these trendy options are not as user-friendly as you might expect. Any deviation from \u201cnormal\u201d user patterns can be somewhat jarring and make users think too hard about moving around the site. Opt for standard patterns so that your website is easy to use.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, the standard is pretty lean. Top or pop-out navigation elements with three to eight menu options are the norm. And forget those mega-style navigation menus that were once popular. Unless you are a major e-commerce retailer, there\u2019s no reason for every page in the design to have a place in navigation. (And many of those mega options don\u2019t work at all on mobile devices.)<\/p>\n

5. Consider the 80-20 Rule<\/h2>\n

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The 80-20 rule is a good place to start when thinking about making changes to a design. There are two ways to think about and implement the rule.<\/p>\n