How does K.I.S.S. apply to design and particularly web design? When a business is trying to communicate their message through their website, the initial reaction is to try and place all your information on that front home page. Too much clutter of information,visual graphics, and flash animation can be very distracting and overwhelm visitors. So how does one meld all those great tools and information into a simple layout and design and still succeed in presenting their message?

• Focus on the important information
• Streamline the layout
• Ease the navigation

That’s where your designer comes in to help guide you through the process. A designer wants to learn first what your company message is and what services you have to offer. Then the decision is made to focus on the most important information and how to showcase it.

Once the information has been pinned down, the next step is to organize, layout and limit the clutter. Very simple concept, as long as both the client and designer work to balance content and desired graphics. You don’t want a site that is too busy and confuses the visitor on where to go for more information. Creating a smooth or streamlined layout will help to organize information and guide visitors around your site.

That leads into the next step: Ease of navigation. Navigation goes beyond the top or side menu bar links. When the design and layout are simplified, this allows visitor’s eyes to navigate or easily scan the page and understand quickly where to go next. Too many boxes, links, and graphics can overwhelm the senses. Visitors will respond well to an easy flow of a design layout that is consistent.