USABILITY AND DESIGN of websites

• Do:
• Use ALT tags for all graphics, especially navigation graphics.
• Use black text on white background whenever possible for optimal legibility.
• Use either plain-color backgrounds or extremely subtle background patterns.
• Make sure text is in a printable color (not white).
• Place navigation in a consistent location on each page of your website.
• Use a familiar location for navigation bars.
• Keep the design from scrolling horizontally.
• Use one axis of symmetry for centered text on a page.
• Encourage scrolling by splitting an image at the fold.
• Don't:
• Allow ALT tags to get clipped (especially an issue for small, fixed width images).
• Display static text in blue or underlined.
• Use boldface or ALL CAPS for long pieces of text. These slow down reading.
• Leave too much white space--reduces scannability.
• Make the user scroll to find critical information, especially transaction buttons and navigation links.
• Use horizontal rules to separate chunks of content.
• Alternate too frequently between centered text and left-aligned text. Most text should be left-aligned.
• Fix pages at larger than 800 x 600 pixels. Larger pages may force users to scroll horizontally.