How to Level Up Your Web Design Skills

Want to take your web design to the next level? In this session, Amber will show you the concepts to improve your visual design skills. Learn how to use color, contrast, layouts, typography, and graphics to create visually interesting websites that will impress your users.

Presented at WordCamp San Diego 2018 // April 14, 2018

Transcript

1. Level Up
   How to
   your
   Web Design Skills
   

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2. Location
   History
   Architecture
   Haunted rooms
   

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3. &
   Surprise
   Delight
   

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4. &
   Surprise
   Delight
   

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5. Logo goes here Home About Pricing Blog Contact
   Headline goes here
   Click me!
   Another headline
   Hey, thanks for visiting my website. It took me all Saturday to make this. Pretty cool, huh! That stock photo of the
   pumpkins makes me want a pumpkin spice latte, but I can’t get one in April (insert sad face emoji).
   Sign Up!
   Email Address
   Join Our Community!
   Stay in touch by subscribing to our free
   daily newsletter—so you won’t miss a
   single super awesome post!
   

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6. Layout
   1
   

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7. Breathing room
   (a.k.a. white space)
   

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9. Too busy
   

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12. Just right
    

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18. Don’t be afraid
    to experiment
    

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19. …but make sure
    there’s a logical reason
    for your design.
    

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20. Color
    2
    

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21. Don’t rely solely on color 

    to convey information
    

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22. Don’t rely solely on color 

    to convey information
    

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25. Subscribe
    hsl(194, 100%, 100%)
    hsl(194, 100%, 80%)
    Subscribe
    hsl(194, 100%, 100%)
    hsl(208, 100%, 100%)
    

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26. Acme Website Home About Pricing Blog Contact
    

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27. Acme Website Home About Pricing Blog Contact
    

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28. Documentation
    API reference
    API status
    Open source
    DEVELOPERS
    About
    Customers
    Jobs
    Blog
    COMPANY
    Support
    Contact
    Privacy & Terms
    RESOURCES
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    

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29. Documentation
    API reference
    API status
    Open source
    DEVELOPERS
    About
    Customers
    Jobs
    Blog
    COMPANY
    Support
    Contact
    Privacy & Terms
    RESOURCES
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    

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30. Documentation
    API reference
    API status
    Open source
    DEVELOPERS
    About
    Customers
    Jobs
    Blog
    COMPANY
    Support
    Contact
    Privacy & Terms
    RESOURCES
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    

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31. Type
    3
    

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32. SANS-SERIF
    Open Sans
    Proxima Nova
    Lato
    Avenir
    Brandon Grotesque
    Fira Sans
    SERIF
    Garamond
    Georgia
    Freight Text
    Merriweather
    Kepler
    Libre Baskerville
    

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33. The best kind of originality is that
    which comes after a sound
    apprenticeship, that which shall prove
    to be the blending of a firm conception
    of useful precedent and the progressive
    tendencies of an able mind.
    The best kind of originality is that
    which comes after a sound
    apprenticeship, that which shall prove
    to be the blending of a firm conception
    of useful precedent and the progressive
    tendencies of an able mind.
    #000 #FFF
    

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34. The best kind of originality is that
    which comes after a sound
    apprenticeship, that which shall prove
    to be the blending of a firm conception
    of useful precedent and the progressive
    tendencies of an able mind.
    The best kind of originality is that
    which comes after a sound
    apprenticeship, that which shall prove
    to be the blending of a firm conception
    of useful precedent and the progressive
    tendencies of an able mind.
    #333 #CCC
    

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35. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum diam quis
    eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus dapibus odio. Nunc
    sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien. Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem. Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;
    Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada elementum diam et
    commodo.
    

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36. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum diam quis
    eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus dapibus odio. Nunc
    sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien. Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem. Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;
    Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada elementum diam et
    commodo.
    Text is too small
    

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37. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut
    pharetra condimentum diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit malesuada varius.
    Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem. Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium.
    Proin ac tempor purus. Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in
    faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada elementum diam et commodo.
    

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38. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut
    pharetra condimentum diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit malesuada varius.
    Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem. Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium.
    Proin ac tempor purus. Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in
    faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada elementum diam et commodo.
    Line length is too long
    

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39. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    

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40. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    Line height is too close
    

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41. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    

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42. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    Hello World
    

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43. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    Hello World
    

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44. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    Hello World
    #848484
    #656565
    

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45. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In in
    tempus metus, sit amet aliquam nunc. Ut pharetra condimentum
    diam quis eleifend. Nunc fringilla quam magna, sit amet gravida elit
    malesuada varius. Aenean justo neque, lobortis at nisi id, cursus
    dapibus odio. Nunc sed fermentum elit, nec pharetra sapien.
    Praesent fermentum diam a purus rutrum tristique.
    Fusce posuere sodales pellentesque. Praesent nec tempus sem.
    Aenean eleifend arcu vitae varius pretium. Proin ac tempor purus.
    Vestibulum sed tortor eu velit sollicitudin tincidunt. Vestibulum
    ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia
    Curae; Vivamus pharetra facilisis congue. Etiam sit amet felis
    placerat, vehicula nibh ut, blandit eros. Phasellus malesuada
    elementum diam et commodo.
    Hello World
    #656565
    #656565
    

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46. Details
    4
    

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47. View Slide

48. View Slide

49. View Slide

50. filter: grayscale(100%);
    

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51. stripe.com
    

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52. View Slide

53. This is a box with

    a shadow.
    This is a box with

    a slight, vertical
    offset shadow.
    

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54. 1 Layout
    Color
    Type
    Details
    2
    3
    4
    

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55. &
    Surprise
    Delight
    

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56. Thank you!
    

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57. Amber Hewitt
    amberhewitt.com
    @amberrhewitt
    

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