I, like most web designers have searched for the holy grail of web design, the book or website that will lead to answers we are all looking for. What is good web design? What are the rules for creating great websites? What is good web style, and what is not? To that end, I think the YALE WEB STYLE GUIDE is perhaps the one guide that approaches Web "Bible" status. Personally, I think the Yale manual on web design benefits primarily from the fact that it is backed by the Yale University name. It must be the authority. . . It's from Yale! However, the Web is evolving so quickly that it may be a bit premature for any one guide, be it website or book, to become our "Bible."

So what is good web design? I have pondered the question and drawn a few basic conclusions. See if you agree. I think all graphic and web design is reallly about communication above all. It is the eloquent visual vocabularly that makes our message heard, believed and acted upon. The final test of web design is its ability to motivate the reader in the intended manner. Do we want him to buy, to feel, to believe . . ? To the extent that web design (indeed, all commercial graphic design) achieves that end, it is effective. It is good web design.

Having said that, I think good web design is usually clear, simple, and easy to navigate. It never gets in the way of the product or service it promotes by drawing too much attention to itself. It supports, explains, and attires the product or service of the client. It is a capitalist tool first and foremost. Therefore, the true measure of web design is its ability to perform that task above all. Do you agree?

Web design can be, and often is, overdone. When that happens, it becomes like the hilarious commercial you saw on television during the football game. It still brings a smile to your lips, but you could never remember what product it was advertising. Web design is best when it helps people to remember the product or service it supports, and not itself. Therefore, good web design often shows restraint and clarity.

What are your thoughts on the true nature of web design? Click on the comments below and share!