What is a convention?
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A convention is basically a system of guidelines that web designers follow to create a good, familiar and easy to navigate website. Conventions ensure that internet users can become familiar operating a website. Not all websites conform to the conventions that many other websites do. Some websites are layed out similar to others such as headers and navigation bars normally located at the top of the website. A navigation bar doesn't have to be at the top, it can either be at the side or the website could use a different method to guide the audience through the website. One convention might be underlining in a web site. Though links do not have to be underlined, it is generally accepted that underlined words are links. One word in a different color in a body of text also usually signals it could be a link.
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Why are they useful?
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Conventions are useful because when making a website people can run by the rules of the conventions. The conventions are there to make a good, easy to use website.
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Do we have to use them all the time?
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Not all the time. There are plenty of websites that breaks the conventions but the website can still look good and be easy to use.
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What examples of conventions are found in webdesign?
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Such examples of conventions are found in webdesign such as;
- A navigation bar down the left hand side of the screen or top. Most websites do this as the audience is used to the navigation bar on the left hand-side or along the top. It's easy to find and use.
- Maybe the website has it's own logo and shows it's from that company, normally shown in top of corner on left-hand side of screen.
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Accessorize Website
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Examples of web conventions
What bends the conventions?
- A navigation bar down the left hand side of the screen. Normally seen on most websites because the audience is used to the navigation bar on the left hand-side.
- The shop logo is in the top left hand corner of the screen. Any logo is normally on the top left hand corner of the screen so the website is recognisable and known. - It has a header that is the same on every page except if you enter monsoon's website because accessorize and monsoon are the same company.
What breaks the conventions?
- A second navigation bar along the top of the screen below the header for the audience to enter another part of the website. The monsoon side of the website.
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Adidas Website
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Examples of web conventions
What bends the conventions?
- Small, but not an obvious navigation bar at the top of the screen.
- The shop logo is in the top left hand corner of the screen.
What breaks the conventions?
- When you hover the mouse over the pictures they expand bigger covering other objects and adds links and information to go to.
- The navigation bar is the pictures and each different square.
- The website has a trendy look to attract the audience even though it breaks some conventions.
