Devirtuoso

Web Design Patterns are elements in website design that have become popular by the masses. So much so that users instinctively know how to use them. Why not use them and make your website that much easier to use.

How Patterns Come About

Web design standards usually come about when one website first uses it, and people find the element so useful that they copy it for their own website. A good example of this might be tabs navigation. They’re common place in web design now-a-days, but there was a time when these didn’t exist in web form. Someone thought it might be a good idea to create a navigation that replicated the real world filing system. Sure enough it was a hit, and spread like wild fire.

Patterns are Useful

Why would you use web design patterns? The beauty of design patterns is that you already know people know how to use them. If you feel like being creative and create a cool navigation, you’re taking the chance that someone might not figure it out. Why not use a design standard that has been tried and true, and put your own twist on it. Users quickly scan websites looking for what they need. If design patterns are in place it gives the user a sense of familiarity, and in turn helping them navigate without frustration.

Designer Troubles

Designers often avoid using these standards with good reason. Often times the designer feels that they have been paid to create something new and exciting, and there is nothing new and exciting about commonly used elements. By all means try and create new and exciting elements, but make sure they are painfully easy to use. If it requires an explanation, there are going to be people out there that don’t get it. Instead use a design standard and dress it up a bit with your own flair.

Examples

Here is a list of a couple of patterns. If you wish to see a complete list please visit Yahoo’s design pattern library or Welie’s design pattern library.

Accordion

Breadcrumbs

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Footer Sitemap

Autocomplete

Paging

Tabs

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