Newspaper web design: Simplicity is beauty

After the publication of the Internet edition of the newspaper, it is the Web page that meets with the online readers, which can be roughly said to correspond to the layout of the printed version of the paper. Obviously, compared to the traditional layout, the Web version of the page means new features and new possibilities. These new possibilities, which are expanding with the development of Internet technology, are undoubtedly exciting, but they also have a hidden "trap". There are many web designers can not help to put too much in the work of self-reward or dazzle the composition of the technology, resulting in the Web page appearance or structure defects, affecting the browsing effect.


Zhejiang Daily website to prepare for several months, I have the honor to participate in it, the organization of the implementation of the network version of the Web page concept and design. This challenging job, naturally, is a process of learning and creativity, but in the foregoing sense, it is a process of constantly resisting temptation and tending to be firm and mature.


1999 New Year's Day on the internet, Zhejiang Daily network version actually contains Zhejiang daily, such as six newspaper, this is a more complex network version series. But the overall design of its web page is very "simple": In line with the basic positioning of the press and the fundamental style of the premise, the realization of efficient structural layout and fresh visual effects.


we have extensively browsed the domestic and foreign newspapers and periodicals online edition, found that quite a lot of web pages in the design blindly pursue gorgeous visual impression. Although some places may also be quite distinctive, but this does not necessarily make the Web page look more pleasing, and may not make the browsing process more convenient and enjoyable, so as a whole can not be said to be successful. In view of this, but also to measure the actual available design time and design strength, we consider: Zhejiang Daily network version of the Web page may be a counter to the usual designer for exquisite chic pursuit, only efficient and fresh, it is still possible in many domestic newspapers and periodicals online version of the unique, among the first-class ranks.


How is this requirement implemented? As the design unfolds, the two words are gradually defined-simple. In addition to the content of the Web page objects are simple, which eventually became the Zhejiang Daily Network version of the principles of Web page design.


A simple hierarchical structure

A
Web page is a hypertext text. The nature of hypertext is an infinite link and a jump. Click on the preset link in the Web page to easily jump to another Web site or another page. This feature is important for Web page structure.


Information must be structured in a way that is easy to navigate and find, which is the minimum requirement for all successful information systems. Newspapers in the printed version of the use of various means to partition, set the "guide point" for albums, special editions, columns and other provisions of a fixed version of the relationship, similar to these practices, are in the information structure into efforts. Because of the hypertext character of the webpage, one, the problem that the webpage size is too big can avoid, both, the webpage obtains the good structure the hope has the logical solid foundation, the design efficient practical navigation (guided Tour) system also has the physical foundation.


from the overall concept of the network version of the structure, the first must consider a certain degree of layering. The top-level navigation page is the starting point for layering, from where the reader browses through the entire content to quickly determine the next jump direction. Although layering is a good way to clarify and simplify the structure, it must be controlled, not too deep. If you need to click (Connect) more than three or four times from the start page to see what you want, this will be a test for the reader's patience.


Some print edition in the concept of a more level, such as the Qianjiang Evening News, in addition to the daily layout of another seven weekly, respectively, arranged in the Monday to Sunday, each weekly contains several special editions, the special edition contains columns (most of the actual column contains only one article). If you directly copy the above hierarchical relationship, press the "Start Page head (including weekly directory)-> directory-> column directory-> text catalogue-> text" Such a hierarchy, counting arrows know that from the top page to the bottom of the content page need to click (Connect) four times. We in the actual idea, the webpage structure presses the reduction "the beginning page head (including weekly catalogue)-> the Special edition catalogue and the catalogue-> the picture and text" the level. On the second floor of the page, the right side is the full text of the weekly catalogue (link), they are arranged according to the special edition, the left side is the Special Edition catalogue (link) of this week, each link points to the Special Edition catalogue area on the right side of this page, after entering this page, you can click on the left link to go to a specific version of the text directory area, You can also find the graphic directory area of the special edition by scrolling, and then find the news headlines. In this simplified hierarchy, click Two or three times from the top level to connect to the news (important news through the start page of the guidance section can be clicked to connect).


two, simple flat layout

The format of the
newspaper is quite large, which may put a lot of news on a piece of paper. such as outside the Zhejiang daily version can be placed Liuchi Word article plus two or three ordinary size of the picture, even the tabloid layout, can accommodate the graphics and text will not be less than half of the large newspaper layout. Readers are often accustomed to navigating through the entire layout so that they can quickly select further readings from the text.


Web pages are obviously far less informative than newspapers, because readers must browse the Web with smaller size and resolution than the newspaper's display. Even in the "big screen, high resolution" conditions, a screen may contain graphics and text is still far less than the layout of the newspaper (usually not more than Chine Word article). If the page is designed to the size of the layout, to complete the browsing of a page must be constantly scrolling horizontally. In principle, Web pages should not be scrolled horizontally, and the smaller the vertical scrolling screen the better. Therefore, the size of the Web page (especially the width) must be controlled, otherwise can not adapt to the size of the screen, also can not make readers accept.


This important difference, the decision of the newspaper network version can not be the traditional layout form to arrange graphics and text. The general layout method based on the concept of layout segmentation is either no longer effective or outstanding, even some common basic art codes in planar visual design, which are also embodied in different requirements in these two designs. In general, compared to the printed version, the network version of the visual design is in the narrow format of the design, so in terms of the plane layout, a screen of the content of the Web page is too congested easy to cause the reader's visual fatigue, nor to facilitate the reader search content.


large-capacity site from the beginning of the page more of the left-right three columns layout. But the three-column layout is not entirely suitable for Chinese news websites.


We in the idea in order to avoid these ills, the basic use of a simple two-column layout, the content of the pieces are also intended to be relaxed arrangements. such as Zhejiang Daily Network version of the start page, the top is corresponding to the Zhejiang Daily edition of the content of the link, the bottom is the toolbar (including some links to newspapers or websites), the left is the Zhejiang daily newspaper six newspaper, a link to the network version of the links and friendly website links, the right is the picture news and today's Guide (including the title of the recommended news, feed and links). The navigation interface is relatively simple, but the function is more complete, and the style is concise, clear, can better play the browsing efficiency.


three, simple graphics, special effects


newspaper after a one-time printing, delivered to the reader's hand has been completely finished. and readers online Browsing the web version, each page must have an instant data download process. Here there is the network data transmission rate problem, that is, bandwidth problems. And the bandwidth is too narrow is the current domestic netizens most difficult to endure one of the problems.


Last November, Zhejiang Daily Network edition in the formal release before the test stage. At that time, in order to participate in the provincial government-sponsored "Informatization in Zhejiang" exhibition, has used flash technology for the network version of the production of a cover page nature. It combines dynamic graphics and soundtrack audio, has a strong audio-visual impact, at the exhibition by People's praise, even accustomed to make visual and dynamic TV reporter also praised. However, this kind of Web page transmission requires a high bandwidth, otherwise readers will be difficult to endure the long download process. That is to say, the compelling web effects are contradictory to the general reader's demand for browsing efficiency. Our final choice is to simplify the effect to ensure efficiency, in the online version of the formal release of the Flash page resolutely abandoned.


This is an example of resistance to temptation and self-restraint. In fact, it is easy for the media to indulge in form and spontaneously pursue something that is self-admiring and impractical. This issue is particularly prominent in online publishing, since online publishing is clearly the cheapest for publishing in all media, and it is not quite as restrained as other media because of the high cost of publishing.


for news pages, can quickly provide news and ensure that readers easily find the news on the Web page, this is the most important, and the fancy effect or the so-called ornamental should not be too much consideration. But on the other hand, from layout design to page design change, in fact, with regret, the designer will feel the loss of some of the artistic means of his own passion, as compensation, he may be willing to use the traditional newspaper design can not be used or limited to the production of the cost can not be used frequently, a large number of graphics, complex backgrounds, color images , a variety of special effects, may become his new pursuit.


these pursuits can sometimes significantly worsen the bandwidth dilemma of the reader, sometimes not, but may not be able to achieve the desired beautification effect. Therefore, in the face of many choices, the Web designer's self-restraint is always necessary.


For example, the page background color (or image, graphics) should be more restrained selection. Using overly vivid colors or overly complex images and graphics as backgrounds is not conducive to a clear display of text or links. In fact, we've seen too many pages that are colorful and difficult to navigate clearly. In addition, according to China's cultural tradition, the use of color taboo is more, for newspapers (especially the party newspaper) to find both in line with their own positioning and adapt to people's aesthetic habits and also to look different background color is very difficult, in this case, the cautious choice is easy to succeed. We are in the design of the Zhejiang Daily Network version, this carried out a number of attempts, compared to find, in fact, the simple use of white can make the page appear dignified and decent.


Of course, simplicity should not be reduced to crude. Therefore, also consider in the pure background with red (registration), blue (link), in the advertising bit to a certain amount of other color, which makes the page is not because of the white background of the Mazumdar and monotonous dull. In addition to this, in the processing of the start page of the newspaper network edition of Zhejiang Daily Link, the designer in each newspaper name before placing a small color block, these different color blocks both symbolize the six newspaper of Zhejiang newspaper each with personality, also make the whole page appear more vivid, more cordial.


design and transfer of Web pages by virtue of the network soft and hard environment is always changing, so web design is a continuous innovation, and constantly improve the process. I believe that Zhejiang Daily network version in absorbing, drawing on the views of readers at home and abroad, suggestions, will be more pleasing to face the world interface.