With all the competition on the internet these days, it's not surprising that website design is becoming increasingly difficult. Standing out above the rest requires a keen eye for detail and a broad perspective on functionality. It's a practice where creativity and logic have to work together to make it worth the while. With too much creativity users will appreciate the beautiful look, but they won't stick around to use it. The same goes for the functionality. Even if the site is a breeze to navigate, it will be too annoying to come back.

In the following article, the focus will be on the three essential elements of website design, and what makes them so unique.

1. The Layout

Before a designer even thinks about starting with a site, they should have a good idea of the target market. If you want to reach deep into your desired niche, attention should be paid to what your audience likes.

To get back to the layout of the site, designers use it as a way to grab attention. More specifically, the design can be used to highlight certain sections. But the overall image of the site is going to depend largely on what it will be utilized for.

For example, is it an online store that needs to be product orientated, yet inviting? Or is it an affiliate site, in which case it needs to tell a story to keep user interest. Maybe it's just a site you want to establish for fun, in which case there are several possibilities.

If the designer is experienced, he or she will know that the central focus area shouldn't be too crowded. Only the primary goals of the site should be displayed here, whereas the secondary objectives can be spread to other sections.

2. Typography

Typography is the fancy word for the font design. One of the most crucial aspects of a site, especially when it comes to designing, is that the font should be easy to read.

It's understandable that you want to make it "look" great with a unique font, but it could also become the reason why users skim across information. There are some fonts that put a lot of strain on the eyes, and it's a definite deal-breaker. Users want fonts that are easy to read and follow.

3. The Color Scheme

It can't be stressed enough how important the right color scheme is for a site. So much emotion goes into, making it a powerful tool for a unique and high-quality website.

Take your time to figure out what colors you want to use and where you want to use them. However, you have to be careful. Certain colors evoke different moods in people. For example, research shows that sites with dominant red or orange colors don't grow much. On the other end of the spectrum, a dominant blue is quite familiar regarding growth. This could be that users associate red with danger and blue with safety.

However, everything comes down to the type of site it's going to be. This is why it's so crucial to get a good idea of the purpose of the site, before setting off with a design.

As an interesting side note, there are three main color pairing approaches. The first is called analogous, and it's the type of color scheme you'd associate with nature. Everything blends well, and even though it doesn't have a bold contrast, it's easy to the eye.

The second one is called complementary, and it sees mixing two very opposite colors for a bold contrast. This is great if you want to place focus on something.

The third is called monochromatic, and it's based on using variations of a single color. Overall it's a very safe choice and robust choice.

Some Final Thoughts

If you put these three important elements of website design together, they are going to work in unison. The color scheme is going to attract users, the layout is going to create intrigue, and the copy on the site has the job of keeping the user engaged. One element leads into another.