Are you wondering which web design choices can make or break your website’s performance? Want to learn the essential dos and don’ts that will help you build a high-performing site?

You’ll find some web design basics in this infographic.

Here’s a summary of what’s covered:

• Do: Keep Your Text Concise and Useful
• Don’t: Overcomplicate Navigation
• Do: Design With Users in Mind
• Don’t: Use Low-Quality Visuals
• Do: Choose the Right Visuals
• Don’t: Overload Pages With Text
• Do: Make Content Easy to Digest
• Don’t: Ignore Whitespace

Check out the post below for more.

 

A well-designed website can make the difference between capturing your visitor’s attention or losing them within seconds. Design choices play a huge role in usability, readability, and overall performance. By following proven best practices, you can create a site that not only looks good but also works seamlessly.

In this post, we’ll explore 20 essential web design dos and don’ts to help you build a high-performing website.

Do: Keep Your Text Concise and Useful

Visitors arrive at your site looking for information, not endless walls of text. If content is overly long or complicated, you risk losing their interest. Concise, clear, and practical wording ensures that your message is understood quickly. Useful text also helps with accessibility and improves your site’s overall impact.

• Write short, impactful sentences that get to the point.
• Use headings and subheadings to structure text for quick scanning.
• Eliminate unnecessary jargon that could confuse visitors.
• Focus on delivering value rather than filling space.

Don’t: Overcomplicate Navigation

Navigation is one of the first things users interact with, and it can make or break their experience. Complicated menus or hidden pathways can frustrate visitors and send them elsewhere. Clear, intuitive navigation encourages users to stay longer and explore. The goal is to make moving around your site effortless and enjoyable.

• Keep menus short and straightforward, with no more than seven main options.
• Use descriptive labels that explain exactly what each section offers.
• Ensure navigation appears consistently across all pages.
• Add a search bar to help users quickly find what they need.

Do: Design With Users in Mind

Every element on your website should be built with the user experience at the centre. A site that is easy to navigate, visually pleasing, and responsive creates trust and credibility. Understanding your audience’s needs ensures you provide relevant design and content. By prioritising the user, you also improve conversions and engagement.

• Conduct user research to understand what your audience values most.
• Simplify tasks so users can achieve goals in fewer clicks.
• Prioritise accessibility to reach a wider range of visitors.
• Test designs with real users to uncover potential pain points.

Don’t: Use Low-Quality Visuals

Images and graphics play a big role in how your brand is perceived online. Poor-quality visuals can cheapen your site and undermine credibility. High-resolution and relevant imagery, on the other hand, enhances professionalism and builds trust. Consistency in visuals helps create a cohesive look and feel.

• Always use high-resolution images that display well across devices.
• Ensure photos and graphics are directly relevant to your content.
• Optimise images for web use to avoid slowing down page load times.
• Stick to a consistent visual style that aligns with your brand identity.

Do: Choose the Right Visuals

The right visuals can guide attention, reinforce messages, and make your website memorable. Images, icons, and graphics should always support your overall goals. By carefully selecting visuals, you create stronger connections with your visitors. A polished visual approach helps your site stand out from the competition.

• Select images that represent your brand’s values and style.
• Use custom graphics or icons to highlight important features.
• Balance imagery with text to avoid overwhelming visitors.
• Check that visuals are mobile-friendly and display correctly across devices.

Don’t: Overload Pages With Text

Too much text on a single page can feel overwhelming and discourage visitors from reading. Dense paragraphs make it harder for people to scan and find key information. Minimalism paired with clarity often creates a better experience. Good design means delivering the right amount of content without exhausting your readers.

• Break up text into shorter paragraphs for easier reading.
• Use bullet points or numbered lists to highlight important details.
• Include subheadings to make scanning content simple.
• Only keep essential information on each page—less is often more.

Do: Make Content Easy to Digest

When information is broken into manageable pieces, it becomes far easier to understand. Good formatting keeps users engaged and helps them retain key details. Design and content should work hand in hand to enhance readability. Digestible content is not just good for users but also for search engine rankings.

• Use bullet points to simplify complex topics.
• Incorporate headings and subheadings to organise content.
• Keep sentences and paragraphs short for easy reading.
• Highlight key terms or ideas to draw the eye.

Don’t: Ignore Whitespace

Whitespace is an essential design tool, not wasted space. Without it, your pages risk looking cluttered and confusing. Proper spacing makes content more approachable and draws attention to key areas. Ignoring whitespace results in visual chaos and diminished user experience.

• Use whitespace to separate distinct content blocks clearly.
• Allow breathing room around text and visuals for readability.
• Create visual hierarchy by spacing elements strategically.
• Avoid filling every corner of the page with unnecessary items.

Do: Incorporate Whitespace

Incorporating whitespace thoughtfully gives your design room to breathe. It allows users to focus on important content without distraction. Whitespace improves balance and overall visual flow. This simple but powerful principle creates a more professional and polished appearance.

• Increase margins and padding around key elements.
• Space out images and text evenly across the layout.
• Use whitespace to frame CTAs for maximum visibility.
• Aim for clean, uncluttered layouts that are easy on the eyes.

Don’t: Forget to Test

Websites that launch without proper testing risk serious performance issues. From broken links to technical glitches, these errors can frustrate users. Regular testing ensures your site remains functional and trustworthy. It also gives you the chance to fix issues before they affect your audience.

• Test every form, button, and interactive feature before launch.
• Check your website across multiple browsers for compatibility.
• Review functionality on different devices and screen sizes.
• Continuously monitor for broken links and outdated content.

Do: Check Your Website for Errors

Errors, whether technical or typographical, can damage your reputation quickly. Even small mistakes can make your site look unprofessional. Proactive error-checking demonstrates attention to detail and care for the user experience. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference in quality.

• Proofread all content to eliminate spelling or grammar mistakes.
• Use tools to detect and fix broken links promptly.
• Test site speed to ensure pages load quickly.
• Regularly update plugins and systems to prevent security risks.

Don’t: Exclude Users

Failing to consider accessibility limits your audience and alienates potential customers. Accessibility is not just a legal requirement but also a moral responsibility. A site that excludes users with disabilities sends the wrong message. Inclusive design benefits everyone, not just those with specific needs.

• Use alt text for all images to support screen readers.
• Ensure colour contrasts are strong enough for readability.
• Provide captions for video and audio content.
• Design navigation that works with both keyboard and mouse inputs.

Do: Make Your Site Accessible

An accessible site ensures every visitor has a positive experience. Accessibility broadens your reach and enhances usability for all. It also signals that your brand values inclusivity and care. Implementing accessibility practices is easier than many assume, yet the benefits are huge.

• Follow WCAG guidelines for accessibility standards.
• Test your site with accessibility tools and screen readers.
• Ensure text size can be adjusted without breaking the design.
• Create forms and inputs that are easy for all users to complete.

Don’t: Clutter Your Layout

A cluttered layout confuses visitors and hides your most important content. Too many competing elements make it difficult for users to focus. Clean, structured design gives your website a sense of order. By removing clutter, you create a smoother and more enjoyable user experience.

• Limit the number of elements competing for attention on each page.
• Prioritise important features like calls-to-action and navigation.
• Keep design elements consistent throughout the site.
• Use grids or alignment to organise content neatly.

Do: Have a Clear, Consistent Structure

A logical structure guides users from one part of your site to another naturally. Consistency in layout helps visitors know where to find things. Structure also improves SEO, as search engines prefer well-organised sites. Clear frameworks ensure both users and search engines can navigate effectively.

• Map out your site architecture before building.
• Use consistent navigation menus and page templates.
• Organise content into clear categories and sections.
• Add breadcrumbs to help users track where they are on the site.

Don’t: Prioritise Design Gimmicks

Trendy design tricks may look appealing but often harm usability. Overusing animations, pop-ups, or flashy effects slows sites down. Visitors should never have to fight through gimmicks to reach content. Functional design should always come before decoration.

• Avoid auto-playing music or videos that distract users.
• Limit animations to subtle, purposeful use.
• Eliminate unnecessary pop-ups that interrupt browsing.
• Focus on functionality over purely aesthetic effects.

Do: Prioritise Functionality Over Flashy Design

A beautiful website is useless if it doesn’t work properly. Functionality ensures visitors can interact with your site easily and achieve their goals. By prioritising usability, you improve satisfaction and trust. The best websites combine beauty with seamless performance.

• Ensure all interactive elements respond correctly on every device.
• Focus on user-friendly navigation before adding stylistic extras.
• Test load times to make sure visuals don’t slow performance.
• Use design elements that enhance usability rather than distract.

Don’t: Ignore Mobile Optimisation

With most users browsing on mobile, neglecting mobile design is a costly mistake. A website that only works well on desktops risks losing the majority of its visitors. Mobile optimisation improves engagement, retention, and search rankings. Ignoring it will harm both user experience and conversions.

• Design with mobile-first principles in mind.
• Ensure all buttons and links are easy to tap with fingers.
• Optimise images and layouts for smaller screens.
• Test your site on a range of devices regularly.

Do: Make Your Website Responsive

Responsive design ensures your website adapts seamlessly to any screen size. It creates a consistent experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Users expect sites to look and function perfectly on their device of choice. A responsive site builds trust and keeps people engaged.

• Use flexible grids and layouts that adjust automatically.
• Test across different devices and orientations.
• Optimise typography and spacing for smaller screens.
• Invest in responsive frameworks to streamline development.

Don’t: Neglect Content Updates

Outdated content signals neglect and reduces your site’s credibility. Visitors may assume your business is inactive if updates are missing. Regular updates improve SEO and reassure users of your professionalism. Fresh content also helps you remain competitive in your industry.

• Schedule regular reviews of your website content.
• Update outdated statistics, images, or product details.
• Publish new blog posts to keep content fresh.
• Remove irrelevant pages that no longer serve a purpose.

Do: Keep Content Updated

Consistently updated content demonstrates that your business is active and engaged. It helps keep users informed and improves search visibility. By maintaining fresh content, you increase relevance and trustworthiness. Regular updates also give people a reason to return to your site.

• Refresh homepage and product pages with current information.
• Share recent news, events, or blog updates.
• Review meta descriptions and titles for relevance.
• Rotate featured content to highlight seasonal or trending topics.

Conclusion

Building a high-performing website requires careful balance between design, usability, and content. By following these 20 dos and don’ts, you create a site that engages visitors, builds credibility, and drives results.

Avoiding common pitfalls like clutter, poor visuals, or neglecting mobile users ensures your design supports your goals. With a thoughtful approach, your website can become a powerful asset that delivers lasting success.