Web Site Design & Functional Elements

What separates a usable website from a frustrating one — the design principles examiners expect you to apply.

Web page: A single document, usually written in HTML, viewable in a browser.
Web site: A collection of related web pages, usually linked together and sharing a common domain.

User Interface Design — usability issues to compare and evaluate:

Readability — clear fonts, good contrast, appropriately sized text.
Navigation and the three-click rule — a user should be able to find any information on a site within about three clicks; overly deep menu structures frustrate users.
Consistency — the same layout, colours and navigation style across every page so users always know where things are.
Layout — logical arrangement of content so the most important information is easy to find.
Typography/colour — font choices and colour schemes that support readability and brand identity, not just decoration.
Theme — an overall consistent visual style (see 10.4.12 for more on GUI design principles).

User interface design also differs between desktop and mobile: mobile design must account for smaller screens, touch input (larger tap targets), and often simplifies navigation (e.g. hamburger menus) compared to a desktop layout.

💡 Exam Tip

'Compare usability issues' questions want you to explain the issue, not just name it — e.g. don't just say 'navigation', say 'if a user needs more than three clicks to find key information, they are likely to give up — good navigation design keeps the site within the three-click rule.'