Web Development A Visual Spatial Approach

by Baehr, Craig

• ISBN13: 9780131701229
• ISBN10: 0131701223
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-17
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Treating Web sites as wholes composed of interconnected parts and unique visual-spatial characteristics changes the way we look at the development process behind Web sites. Web Development: A Visual-Spatial Approach illustrates this process as holistic and rhetorical, showing how aspects such as planning, structure, navigation, content, design, and usability work together in an integrated and meaningful way. Rather than taking a tools-based approach, this book emphasizes the concepts behind effective Web design, incorporating both contemporary and traditional theories such as rhetorical suitability, visual-spatial thinking, and user-centered design. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Process of Web Development	p. 1
Learning Objectives	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Web Development: Roles, Skills, and Resources	p. 2
Important Web Terms and Concepts	p. 4
Web Site Characteristics	p. 4
A Visual-Spatial Approach	p. 6
Process of Web Development	p. 9
Advice from Practitioners	p. 12
Improving Web Development Skills	p. 13
Conclusion	p. 13
Chapter Summary	p. 14
Exercises	p. 14
Project Planning	p. 17
Learning Objectives	p. 17
Introduction	p. 17
Analysis of the Rhetorical Situation	p. 18
Setting and Revising Goals: A Visual-Spatial Approach	p. 20
Writing a Scope of Work	p. 22
Developing a Project Schedule	p. 26
Developing a Site Maintenance Plan	p. 26
Identifying Maintenance Issues	p. 28
Developing a Site Maintenance Matrix	p. 28
Writing the Site Maintenance Plan	p. 28
Planning Issues for Client Projects	p. 30
Designer's Perspective	p. 31
Client's Perspective	p. 33
Written Documentation	p. 35
Costs and Billing	p. 36
Advice from Practitioners	p. 38
Conclusion	p. 39
Chapter Summary	p. 39
Exercises	p. 40
Research and Content Development	p. 41
Learning Objectives	p. 41
Introduction	p. 41
How Users Read Web Content	p. 42
How Users Think Visually and Spatially about Content and Context	p. 42
Content Planning and Research	p. 45
Content Analysis	p. 45
Planning Effective Web Searches	p. 46
Search Portals and Subject Indices	p. 47
Graphic Libraries	p. 49
Scripting Libraries	p. 49
Credibility and Permissions	p. 49
Advice from Practitioners	p. 50
Guidelines for Writing Web Content	p. 51
Creating Effective Hyperlinks	p. 53
Adapting Content for the Web	p. 56
Create a Style Sheet	p. 56
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)	p. 56
Placement of CSS in the Document Markup	p. 58
External CSS	p. 58
Embedded CSS	p. 60
Inline CSS	p. 60
Positional CSS	p. 61
Edit Content Thoroughly	p. 62
Document Conversion Issues and File Formats	p. 62
Conclusion	p. 63
Chapter Summary	p. 64
Exercises	p. 64
Document Markup and Publishing	p. 67
Learning Objectives	p. 67
Introduction	p. 67
Document Structure	p. 68
HTML Markup	p. 70
Using HTML to Create a Basic Web Page	p. 73
Document Markup Guidelines	p. 74
Advice from Practitioners	p. 74
Using Document Markup for Layout	p. 75
Using HTML Tables to Create a Layout	p. 77
Document Markup Resources	p. 78
Process of Publishing a Web Site	p. 78
Identifying Project Files	p. 79
Folder and File Management	p. 79
Obtaining the Process for Server Access and Address	p. 80
Obtaining a Uniform Resource Locator	p. 81
Uploading the Site	p. 82
Advice from Practitioners	p. 82
Listing a New Site on a Search Portal	p. 83
Conclusion	p. 84
Chapter Summary	p. 84
Exercises	p. 85
Site Structure	p. 87
Learning Objectives	p. 87
Introduction	p. 87
Developing a Site Structure	p. 88
Analysis and Identifying Content Areas	p. 88
Content Analysis	p. 90
Visual-Spatial Analysis	p. 90
Selecting Meaningful Labels	p. 91
Designing Site Structures	p. 94
Site Structure Layout	p. 96
Communicating the Structure to Users	p. 98
Advice from Practitioners	p. 100
Testing the Site Structure	p. 100
Card Sort Test	p. 101
Mock-Up Test	p. 101
Revising the Site Structure	p. 102
Conclusion	p. 103
Chapter Summary	p. 103
Exercises	p. 104
Navigation Systems	p. 105
Learning Objectives	p. 105
Introduction	p. 105
Visual-Spatial Approach to Navigation Design	p. 106
Process of Navigation Design	p. 106
Analysis	p. 107
Type Selection	p. 109
Advice from Practitioners	p. 112
Labeling	p. 112
Grouping and Placement	p. 116
Testing	p. 119
Conclusion	p. 120
Chapter Summary	p. 121
Exercises	p. 121
Visual Design	p. 123
Learning Objectives	p. 123
Introduction	p. 123
Understanding Web Design Principles	p. 124
User Perception and Visual-Spatial Thinking	p. 125
Two Related Approaches	p. 125
Visual-Spatial Design Principles	p. 126
Understanding Web Design Conventions	p. 131
Visual Design Process	p. 133
Analyzing Design Characteristics	p. 133
Benchmarking	p. 134
Creating a Graphic Identity	p. 134
Design Production	p. 137
Advice from Practitioners	p. 137
Graphic Formats	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 140
Chapter Summary	p. 140
Exercises	p. 140
Interface Design	p. 143
Learning Objectives	p. 143
Introduction	p. 143
Understanding User Behavior	p. 145
Identifying Target Users	p. 146
Designing the Interface	p. 148
Visual-Spatial Interfaces	p. 148
Elements of a Web Interface	p. 150
Site Header	p. 150
Navigation Tools	p. 150
Search and Help Utilities	p. 151
Content Window	p. 152
Visual Context	p. 153
Graphic Identity	p. 155
Interface Layout	p. 155
Typical Interface Layouts	p. 156
Single-Frame	p. 157
Two-Frame	p. 157
Three-Frame	p. 159
Custom	p. 159
Testing the Interface Layout	p. 161
Conclusion	p. 162
Advice from Practitioners	p. 163
Chapter Summary	p. 163
Exercises	p. 164
Usability and Accessibility	p. 165
Learning Objectives	p. 165
Introduction	p. 165
Usability Testing Process	p. 166
Technical Usability Testing	p. 168
Visual-Spatial Usability Testing	p. 171
Advice from Practitioners	p. 175
Accessibility Testing	p. 175
Reviewing Accessibility Exceptions	p. 179
Graphic Content	p. 179
Layout	p. 180
Navigation and Forms	p. 180
Other Issues	p. 180
Conclusion	p. 180
Chapter Summary	p. 180
Exercises	p. 181
References	p. 183
Index	p. 185
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