In the swiftly evolving digital world, creating compelling web experiences is a requisite skill, regardless of your professional background. If you’re a novice interested in web design, understanding the fundamentals is an essential first step towards expanding your expertise. This discourse primarily targets beginners and delves into crucial concepts such as understanding basic web design elements including layout, color, graphics, fonts, and content. Furthermore, it embarks upon the exploration of HTML and CSS, the building blocks of all websites, as well as effective website designing using WordPress. Lastly, the significance of web usability and accessibility is highlighted, underlining the importance of familiarizing oneself with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Understanding Basic Web Design Elements
Understanding Layouts
One of the first elements you need to understand in website design is the layout. The layout of a website refers to the way content is structured on a page. This includes factors like where photographs are placed, where text blocks are located, and where buttons that activate actions (like ‘submit a form’) are located. Designers need to create a balance between a visually appealing layout, and a practical one which aids the user journey on the site.
Colors in Website Design
Colors play a significant role in web design as they can evoke emotional responses. In choosing a color scheme, it’s crucial to consider the brand and the audience you are trying to reach. The color scheme should match your brand identity and should also consider color psychology. For example, red invokes feelings of passion and urgency, while blue gives off a feeling of tranquility and trust.
Integrating Graphics
Graphics encompass everything from photos, infographics, icons, logos, and images. High-resolution graphics enhance user experience, but must always serve a purpose related to the content. They should not be used excessively to avoid overwhelming the pages visually. Also, graphics should be optimized for web use, with the goal of balancing quality and load times.
Choice of Fonts
Fonts, or typography, are also vital in web design. The right font can improve readability and website appearance. When choosing a font, consider the brand personality, target audience, legibility, and compatibility across different devices. It is also recommended to limit the number of fonts used to maintain a clean and professional look
Website Content
In web design, content is king. It is substantial for attracting and engaging visitors, as well as helping with search engine optimization. Good content matches the purpose of the website, is clear and concise, regularly updated, and gives viewers the information they need. It can be in the form of text, videos, graphics or audio. Proper organization and placement of content encourage longer user engagement.
By understanding and applying these elements in your website: layout, color, graphics, fonts, and content, you will be in a position to create an effective and visually pleasing website.

Photo by marjan_blan on Unsplash
Learning HTML & CSS
Understanding HTML
HTML, or Hyper Text Markup Language, is a programming language that is used to design the basic structure of a website. It serves as the building block of all website design and is key to creating and managing online content. To start learning HTML, it is important to understand various elements like tags, attributes, and elements. You can practice writing HTML code on various online platforms. For example, you could start with creating a simple web page with a title and a few paragraphs using the
and tags.
Learning CSS
After you have a basic understanding of HTML, next comes CSS or Cascading Style Sheets. CSS is used for styling and layout of web pages. It helps to control the appearance of the HTML elements that are written on a webpage. Important aspects of CSS to grasp include selectors, properties, and values. CSS is where you set the color of your text or backgrounds, design layout, adjust the size, and other aspects of visual presentation. Practice creating a simple CSS script to change the color of the text or background of HTML elements. You can do this in an integrated environment or use online CSS editors for practicing.
Mastering HTML and CSS
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, start gradually making more complex websites. Incorporate navigation bars, experiment with different layouts, and try adding interactive elements such as forms and buttons. Explore the different tags in HTML like , ,
Exploring Various Online Resources
There are plenty of online resources to learn HTML and CSS from the beginning. Websites like Codecademy, W3Schools, Khan Academy, and many others provide free courses on these languages. These websites have interactive exercises that combine theory with hands-on coding exercises.
Getting Hands-On Experience
Like any other skill, practical experience is the best way to improve your website design skills. Start by designing a simple website and gradually add more elements to it. Experiment with different layouts and color schemes. Debug your code to understand what went wrong and learn from your mistakes.
Keep Upgrading Your Skills
Web design is a field that constantly evolves. Once you have mastered HTML and CSS, consider learning other languages such as JavaScript to add interactivity to your websites. Regularly read about the latest website design trends to stay updated. Join online forums and coding communities to learn from experienced web designers and developers.

Website Designing with WordPress
WordPress Installation and Setup
To start designing a website, you first need to install WordPress. Depending on your hosting provider, WordPress can be installed using a one-click-installation, or manually. After successful installation, move on to your site’s setup. During the setup, choose a user name and password for your administrator account, select the language, and enter your site name and description.
Choose a WordPress Theme
The overall look of your website can be determined by choosing a WordPress theme. There are plethora of free and premium themes available inside WordPress or at various third-party websites. Select a theme that fits your needs and the purpose of your website. Install and activate the theme from your WordPress dashboard.
Adding Pages to Your Website
In WordPress, individual web pages such as ‘Home’, ‘About Us’, ‘Contact’, etc., are basic building blocks of a website. You can add pages from the ‘Pages’ option in your WordPress dashboard. There, you can add a title, upload images, and write text for each page.
Writing and Publishing Blog Posts
Aside from static pages, WordPress is excellent for blogging purposes. To create a blog post, navigate to the ‘Posts’ section in your dashboard, click ‘Add New’, and begin writing. After finishing your content, hit ‘Publish’. You can add various categories to organize your blog posts.
WordPress Plugins for Enhanced Functionality
One of the best aspects of WordPress is its plugins, which can add numerous functionalities to your website, such as contact forms, SEO, shopping carts, and more. You can add these plugins from ‘Plugins’ section on your dashboard. Search for the desired plugin, install and activate it to use.
Customizing Your WordPress Site
WordPress customization options allow you to change the visual aesthetics of your website without needing any coding skills. You can access these options from ‘Appearance -> Customize’ in your dashboard. Here, you can modify your site’s logo, navigation menus, widgets, and more. Remember to click ‘Save & Publish’ when you’re done.
Optimize Your Website for SEO
Optimizing your website for search engines is crucial to improve your website’s rank and visibility on search engine pages. You can use a plugin like Yoast SEO which provides options to add SEO title, meta description, and keywords to each blog post and page.
Ensure Website Security
To protect your website from potential threats, install a WordPress security plugin. These plugins help in actively blocking brute force attacks and scanning for malware. It’s a fundamental step in making sure your site is safe and secure.
Update Your Site Regularly
To keep your website running smoothly, it’s important to update WordPress core, themes, and plugins regularly. Updated versions come with new features, improved performance, and security fixes. You can receive update notifications in your WordPress dashboard.

Web Usability & Accessibility
Understand Web Usability
Web usability refers to the measure of the quality of a user’s experience when interacting with a product or system, which in this case would be your website. Excellent web usability ensures that your users can easily navigate your website and understand its content. Begin by understanding how your users will interact with your website. Consider things like the device they’ll be using, their internet speed, and their comfort level with technology. Look at website analytics to get a sense of this.
Learn WCAG
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a set of standards that website owners and creators can follow to make their sites more accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. WCAG covers a wide range of recommendations for making web content more accessible such as providing text alternatives for non-text content and creating content that can be presented in different ways without losing information. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines to create an inclusive website.
Prioritize Simplicity
One of the key principles of web usability is to keep things simple. Overcomplicated designs can be overwhelming and confusing to users. Use clear, easy-to-understand language and streamlined layouts that make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for on your site.
Test Your Website Regularly
Testing your website is crucial for verifying its usability and accessibility. Regularly perform usability tests and accessibility audits to ensure your site is functioning as it should and meeting the needs of all users. Utilize tools like screen readers, keyboard access, and alt text to test your site’s accessibility.
Consider Color Contrast and Font Sizes
Color contrast and font sizes play significant roles in web accessibility. Using contrasting colors for text and background can greatly increase readability, especially for visually impaired users. Also, make sure your fonts are an appropriate size so that they are easy to read.
Ensure Compatibility with Assistive Technologies
Make sure your website is compatible with all kinds of assistive technologies. This not only includes screen readers but also alternative input methods, like speech recognition software and onscreen keyboards. Ensuring compatibility will make your website accessible to a wide range of users, regardless of how they interact with the web.
Keyboard Accessibility
Users should be able to easily navigate your website using just their keyboard. This improves usability for people who are unable to use a mouse or a touchscreen. Verify that all links, buttons, and forms on your site can be accessed and used with a keyboard.
Use Descriptive Hyperlinks and Alt Text
Descriptive hyperlinks and alternative text (alt text) improve the accessibility and usability of your website by helping all users and search engines understand your content better. Instead of using ambiguous phrases like “click here” in hyperlink text, use descriptive phrases that explain what the link will lead to. Similarly, provide meaningful alt text for all images on your website. This allows screen readers to describe the image to visually impaired users.
Provide Transcripts and Captions for Media
If you include audiobooks, videos, or podcasts in your website content, make sure to offer transcripts and captions. This makes the media accessible to people who are deaf or have hearing impairments.
Implementing these principles of web usability and accessibility will ensure your website is easy to use for all visitors, leading to a better user experience overall.

Embarking on your web design journey entails steering through the complexities of HTML, CSS, mastering WordPress, and understanding the fundamental web design elements. It is just as important to ensure your website is both user-friendly and accessible, as per the WCAG guidelines. As you traverse through the vast landscape of website design, remember that the key to creating engaging web experiences lies in balancing aesthetics with functionality. Embrace these foundational principles to enhance your web design skills and to create a website that is captivating, intuitive, and accessible to all.