Front-end Web Design involves creating the visual (UX/UI) design, the HTML/CSS and presentational JS code that makes up a website. As front-end Web Designer, I deliver websites with a pixel perfect design and clean codes, where functionality and user-friendliness are paramount.
Structured, clean and semantic HTML, the primary markup language used to structure content of a website. It is essential for things like responsive web design, accessibility, performance, maintainability and findability in search engines.
I strongly believe that every (good) designer should understand the technology behind designing websites, to know the possibilities the interwebs can give us. That’s why I prefer to design my websites in a browser, .. the natural habitat of every website.
Somewhere between design and development lies Front-end Web Design. Balancing between design, creating user experiences and development is what makes me a versatile asset to any team. Here are some of the things I do on a regular basis:
#WordPress Theme Design & Development
WordPress is the most popular content management system in use today, perfect for small businesses looking to get themselves online. It’s great for a whole range of website development projects, from simple brochure sites to full e-commerce platforms.
WordPress has a template/plugin system and an interface that makes it simple for website owners, giving you full control over a fully functional site with a content management system (CMS).
I’m specialized in delivering custom-made WordPress themes that meet the highest quality requirements. A custom WordPress theme ensures that you get maximum results from the online possibilities of your website, with more visitors and a significantly higher conversion. A contemporary design for your website that matches the corporate identity of your company.
A WordPress Theme is like a suit, if it’s custom tailored it will perfectly fit all your needs!
Every WordPress website I create is designed in-house from the ground up: no off-the-shelf or premium WordPress themes or deprecated code! As well as building sites from scratch, I can also redesign your existing WordPress site, or simply for ad hoc maintenance jobs. All WordPress sites I build are Gutenberg ready and fully FSE (Full Site Editing).
#Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Responsive Web Design [RWD] is an approach aimed at creating device-agnostic websites that work seamlessly in a large variety of screens and devices. The term ‘responsive’ in fact means that design and development should adapt to the user’s behavior and environment based on screen size, platform and orientation.
In a larger sense, responsive design is not only about fluid grids, it’s about how you (re-)arrange your content based on the screen size of your reader to give people what they really want, namely information.
Re-arranging your content is also important to guarantee that your visitors have the best user experience no matter what device they might use. Every site is different and without giving proper thought to your content, you’re not going to have an effective website.
Mobile phones, tablets, desktops, TVs, cars, fridges — the world has changed from wired devices to the wireless ones. Mobile is the new black and you need to react to it, ignoring this fact could harm your brand and business more and more.
#User Experience (UX) makes the Difference
What does User Experience (UX) mean in web design? It means that websites are designed to make the interaction between user and product as easy, efficient and comfortable as possible. Properly applied UX can attract visitors to your site, increase their retention time, and thus improve the conversion rate.
Good UX is about keeping your customers happy. It’s one thing to get people using your website, but good UX ensures they keep using it. Regular positive interaction makes for higher brand engagement and repeated, consistent business.
I collaborate with clients to design user experiences for the people that matter the most to your product, the users. As designers, we tend to focus on the visuals. But content is just as important, especially for UX design.
#Web Performance is a crucial factor for success
Sites have more functionalities than ever before. Therefore many websites now have difficulties achieving high performance (e.g. loading time) for different network conditions and devices. Performance issues vary. In the best case scenario they cause small delays that are only briefly annoying for your users. In the worst case, they make your website completely inaccessible, no longer respond to user input or both.
46% of users don’t revisit poorly performing websites. Your website is a reflection of your brand and how seriously you take your business. It’s also an important factor in converting new visitors into customers. So why not make sure it looks great and loads fast?
The mobile web remains the most widely used platform in a world where people have more ways than ever before to search, browse, and shop. But it’s no longer enough to have just a mobile presence. Business growth requires the fast mobile experience that people expect and demand today. Speed is a foundational aspect of good user experience.
Let’s face it; fast websites also benefit from a higher SEO ranking, higher conversion rate, increase in consumer engagement, lower bounce rate, longer duration of the visit to the site and a better user experience.
#The Web should be accessible for and by everyone
Web accessibility (A11y) ensures that the web can be used by and for everyone, provided that websites are well built. Web accessibility means removing barriers for people with reduced mobility, learning difficulties, hearing problems, color blindness, low vision, limited reading skills, epileptic disorders, etc.
Internet plays a central role in our society. Online banking, shopping –more than 9 billion people shop online every year– and the government also increasingly serves its citizens via the internet. People with disabilities often use auxiliary equipment, such as a screen reader, to operate the computer.
The practice of making websites accessible also benefits other groups such as those using mobile devices, or those with slow network connections. Making your website accessible is not complicated or super expensive if you include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG2.0) at an early stage in the development.
Bottom-line
Clients are demanding more functionality and better results from their websites and that’s exactly what I do. I create performant and memorable digital experiences that put the user first, with a strong focus on strategy, design and technology.
I am proficient with CSS/JS frameworks and CSS Preprocessors as well, but vanilla tastes much better imho. I also create (responsive) HTML email templates, landing pages, e-commerce sites and icon fonts. Interested in a new and fresh approach for your corporate site, blog or landing page? .. Let’s talk!
Footnote(s):*) – “People ignore design that ignores people” is a quote by Frank Chimero