10 Answers to Common Web Design Questions

A well-designed website is essential for creating a strong first impression, improving user experience, and driving conversions. Effective web design involves more than just aesthetics — it’s about ensuring that the site is functional, easy to navigate, and aligned with your brand identity.

Whether you’re designing a website from scratch or improving an existing one, understanding the core principles of web design can help you create a more engaging and effective online presence. As experienced web design specialists, we’ve compiled the most frequently asked questions about web design and provided detailed, expert answers to help you build a website that performs.

1. What is web design?

Web design refers to the process of creating the visual appearance, layout, and overall user experience of a website. It combines a variety of elements — including graphics, colour, typography, and navigation — to create a cohesive and engaging experience for users.

Key Components of Web Design:

• Layout – The arrangement of content, images, and navigation elements on a page.
• Colour Scheme – The choice of colours that reflect the brand identity and influence user emotions.
• Typography – The selection of fonts and text styles to enhance readability and brand consistency.
• Imagery – The use of high-quality images, icons, and graphics to create a visually appealing design.
• User Experience (UX) – Ensuring that the site is easy to use and provides a smooth journey for the user.
• User Interface (UI) – Designing interactive elements such as buttons, forms, and menus to improve usability.

Goals of Web Design:

• Engagement – Capturing attention and encouraging users to interact with the site.
• Navigation – Making it easy for users to find information quickly.
• Conversions – Guiding users toward specific actions (e.g., making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter).
• Performance – Ensuring fast loading times and smooth functionality on all devices.

Good web design is a balance between form and function — it needs to look great while also being easy to use and optimised for search engines.

2. How do I choose the right colour scheme for my website?

Colour plays a critical role in web design because it affects user perception and emotional response. The right colour scheme helps establish brand identity, create visual harmony, and guide user behaviour.

Best Practices for Choosing a Colour Scheme:

1. Start with Your Brand Colours

• Your website should reflect your brand identity.
• If you have an established logo or colour palette, incorporate those into the design.

2. Follow the 60-30-10 Rule

• 60% – Dominant colour (background or large areas).
• 30% – Secondary colour (used for buttons, headers, and highlights).
• 10% – Accent colour (used for calls-to-action and key details).

3. Use Colour Psychology
Different colours evoke different emotions:

• Blue – Trust and calmness (used by brands like Facebook and PayPal).
• Red – Excitement and urgency (used by brands like Coca-Cola and YouTube).
• Green – Growth and health (used by brands like Whole Foods).
• Black – Luxury and sophistication (used by brands like Chanel).

4. Ensure High Contrast for Readability
Dark text on a light background (or vice versa) improves readability.
Avoid using colours that clash or are difficult to distinguish for users with visual impairments.

5. Use  for Inspiration
Tools like Adobe Color, and Canva help generate complementary colour palettes based on industry trends.

3. Should I use templates or custom designs?

The decision between using a template or a custom design depends on your budget, goals, and technical expertise.

Templates:

• Pre-designed layouts available through platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Wix.
• Faster to launch and more affordable.
• Limited in terms of customisation and unique branding.

Custom Designs:

• Built from scratch by a web designer or developer.
• Fully tailored to your brand’s identity and user experience goals.
• More expensive and time-consuming to develop.

When to Use a Template:

• Small business or personal projects with limited budgets.
• When speed to market is more important than customisation.

When to Use a Custom Design:

• For established businesses looking to create a unique brand identity.
• For complex websites requiring custom functionality or advanced user experience design.

A hybrid approach is also possible — starting with a template and customising it to better reflect your brand.

4. What is a landing page, and how should it be designed?

A landing page is a standalone web page designed to convert visitors into leads or customers. Unlike regular website pages, which serve general purposes, a landing page is focused on a single goal (e.g., capturing email addresses, promoting a product, or driving sign-ups).

Best Practices for Designing a Landing Page:

1. Clear Headline and Subheadline

• Communicate your value proposition in one or two sentences.
• Keep it focused on the user’s needs and the benefits.

2. Minimal Navigation

• Remove unnecessary links or distractions to keep the user focused.
• Include a single call-to-action (CTA).

3. Strong Visuals

• Use high-quality images, product shots, or videos to reinforce the message.
• Ensure that visuals support the core message.

4. Social Proof

• Include testimonials, reviews, and trust signals (e.g., security badges).

5. Mobile-Friendly Design

• Ensure that the page looks and functions well on mobile devices.

6. A/B Testing

• Test different headlines, CTA placements, and images to see what converts best.

5. What is the difference between UI and UX design?

User Interface (UI) Design focuses on the visual and interactive elements of a website, while User Experience (UX) Design focuses on the overall user journey and how intuitive the site is.

UI Design Includes:

• Buttons, icons, and sliders.
• Colour schemes and typography.
• Consistency in design elements.

UX Design Includes:

• Page loading speed.
• Navigation flow and ease of use.
• Reducing friction in the conversion process.

A strong website combines both — attractive UI design that creates a seamless and intuitive user experience.

6. What is responsive design?

Responsive design ensures that a website looks and functions properly across all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Key Features of Responsive Design:

• Flexible grids and layouts.
• Scalable images.
• Media queries to adjust content based on screen size.

Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites in search rankings, so responsive design is essential for SEO.

7. How important is typography in web design?

Typography influences both the readability and visual appeal of a website.

Best Practices:

• Use no more than two to three fonts.
• Ensure high contrast between text and background.
• Use hierarchy (H1, H2, H3) to organise content.
• Choose web-safe fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Georgia.

8. How do I use whitespace effectively?

Whitespace (or negative space) is the empty space around text, images, and design elements on a webpage. It’s not wasted space — it plays a key role in improving visual clarity and user experience.

Why Whitespace Matters:

1. Improves Readability – Proper spacing between lines, paragraphs, and elements makes content easier to read and scan. It helps prevent overwhelming the user with too much information at once.
2. Enhances Focus – Whitespace naturally directs attention to key elements, such as a call-to-action or a product image, by giving them room to stand out.
3. Creates a Clean and Professional Look – A balanced use of whitespace gives your site a modern, organised feel. Brands like Apple and Google use whitespace to create a sense of sophistication and simplicity.

Best Practices:

• Use whitespace around CTAs to make them more noticeable.
• Maintain consistent spacing between elements to create a harmonious layout.
• Use whitespace to separate different sections and create visual flow.

Effective use of whitespace makes your website feel less cluttered and more inviting, encouraging users to stay longer and engage more.

9. How do I design an effective navigation menu?

Your navigation menu is the roadmap for your website — it helps users find what they’re looking for quickly and easily. A confusing or cluttered menu increases bounce rates, while a well-organised menu improves engagement.

Best Practices:

1. Keep It Simple – Limit menu items to 5–7 options to avoid overwhelming users.
2. Use Clear Labels – Use descriptive, straightforward language (e.g., “Services” instead of “What We Offer”).
3. Prioritise Important Pages – Place the most valuable pages (like “About” or “Contact”) near the top of the menu.
4. Include a Search Bar – This allows users to quickly find what they need without navigating through multiple pages.
5. Use Sticky Navigation – A sticky menu that stays at the top of the screen as users scroll improves accessibility and convenience.

An intuitive navigation menu improves user experience and helps search engines crawl and index your site more effectively.

10. What is a hero section?

A hero section is the large, prominent area at the top of a webpage, often featuring a striking image, headline, and call-to-action (CTA). It’s the first thing visitors see when they land on your site, making it crucial for creating a strong first impression.

Best Practices:

1. Clear Headline – The headline should communicate your core message or value proposition in a few words.
2. Strong Visuals – Use high-quality images, graphics, or video to capture attention.
3. Compelling CTA – Include a clear call-to-action (e.g., “Get Started” or “Learn More”) to guide the user’s next step.
4. Keep It Simple – Avoid too much text or clutter — focus on a single, clear message.

A well-designed hero section sets the tone for the rest of the site and encourages users to engage with your content.

Ready to Improve Your Website’s Design?

At ZEAL, we specialise in creating high-performance websites that combine beautiful design with seamless functionality. Whether you need a new website or a redesign, our experienced web designers can help you create a site that engages users and drives results.

Get in touch today to discover how ZEAL can help you achieve your web design goals.