There are many ways to integrate images and graphics into your website, but it depends on your choice how it will impact user experience. Relevant, informative, and appealing photos engage users and help them accomplish their tasks. Imagery conveys brand identity and personality, communicates complex concepts, and leaves a powerful impression on users. Design-related factors contribute to 94% of initial impressions formed by visitors. Also, landing pages that use videos get more than an 80% conversion rate.
Using images effectively can improve UI design and help users grasp information quickly. However, if it is not used efficiently, then it can lead to poor webpage performance. If used effectively, it can drive more visitors to websites, promote social sharing, and help in driving business goals such as sales and engagement. Images and graphics boost engagement by 80%.
In this article, we’ll learn why we should use images and graphics in web design, tips for using imagery in web design, and what you should avoid!
Why Use Images and Graphics in Web Design
Let us understand why images and graphics are important in web design. If you use well-optimized graphics and images, they enhance your user experience and benefit website seo. It also increases the engagement rate, and users spend more time on your website. Images also help in guiding users through the website’s content. They can serve as navigation elements, such as buttons or icons, etc. It helps users in finding relevant content, and when used as a CTA, it can guide users into taking a desired action. It improves the usability of the website.
At the same time, images and graphics simplify complex and complicated concepts and explain them in simple and easy ways. Instead of using lengthy explanations, you can use images. For example, e-commerce websites use product images from different angles so that users can understand the product and its features better. These images and graphics also help in building a strong brand identity. Use attractive logos and icons on your website. Also, images can be shared on social media and Google. Images and graphics make your website more appealing and attractive. Memorable images and graphics can leave a lasting impression on users and enhance brand recognition, and increase website recall. Visuals and graphics have the power to evoke emotions and engage users on an emotional level. It gives you an edge over competitors.
High-quality fonts and background images help in building a sense of trust; likewise, if you use fake or poor-quality images, users might interpret your website as fake or fraudulent. Professionally designed graphics and visuals add a sense of credibility to your website and build trust.
Tips for using imagery in your web design
Here are some of the effective tips for using imagery in your web design
- Similar Characteristics: When your design requires multiple images, match their characteristics as much as possible. For example, when choosing images, look for consistency, contrast, and brightness. The result will be a consistent visual experience where no one image takes the attention. Likewise, with illustration, pick a similar color palette, overall illustration style, and levels of detail. If one of your illustrations uses jewel-toned, bright colors with no outlines and another illustration uses pastel colors with thick outlines, this mismatch in styles will break cohesion on the page.
- Balance File Size & Image Quality: Larger images on webpages do not appear smoothly on different screen sizes. You should reduce the size of each image, aiming for a total page weight of somewhere around 1-2MB. At the same time, don’t make your images too small so that their quality isn’t degraded. If you make the image’s resolution too low, you’ll notice that the image becomes pixelated, edges are jagged, and color details are coarse. Make sure you resize and optimize the image in a design tool.
- Balance Images With Text: Balance is one of the most important basic principles of visual design. Balance comes into play in positioning text and imagery on a page. A balanced design that displays a lot of text will use images that include more details, such as multiple colors, shadows, texture, etc. If your design prioritizes white space over text, the imagery should be simple. In addition to focusing on the positioning of images on the page, consider the emotions that are conveyed through them. Images help in creating a good first impression.
- Alternative Text: Providing an alternative text for images helps screen readers in interacting with a website. When a screen reader encounters an image, it will describe that image to the users using the alternative text. It helps in ensuring the accessibility of the website. Write an alternative text describing the content of the image. Don’t replicate the content present in the picture and use alternative text as a substitute for search engine optimisation.
- Avoid Unnecessary Elements: Images and data visualizations help in sharing necessary data with users in an easy and simple way. Many websites use multiple colors and graphical elements in visuals to make them stand out against the text, but unnecessary graphic elements can overpower and diminish the value of these images. Edward Tufte coined the term data ink ratio to describe the amount of ink used for presenting the data versus the total amount of ink used in the graphic. Aim for a high data-ink ratio. It means you prioritize conveying information without exercise and unnecessary decorative elements.
- Informative Image: Prioritize informative images over decorative images. Decorative images, such as stock photos, can take up space and bring little additional value to content. They support brand identity and personality and set a tone, but they should never overshadow or overpower the informative images. Information-carrying images, such as infographics and product photos, help in making decisions or conveying necessary information. Users spend more time on these images, examining details, finding more information, making purchase decisions, etc. Also, if your website uses a free stock photo, then many other websites can utilize the same stock photo. If a user has seen the same image before, they might overlook it, and it lacks real value. Also, it might compel them to overlook other images as well of your website as well.
Things to Avoid
Avoid these things to make a well-performing website
- Avoid using poor-quality or blurry images
- Don’t overcrowd your page with too many images. Select one high-quality image that represents your website.
- Avoid using images that are too flashing, animated, or visually distracting as it may distract users from the content.
- Using images that are bigger size, as it may slow down your website.
- Ensure that characters in an image look within the slide content. Human behaviour naturally flows where others are looking, hence it is best to align characters’ gaze with your message.
Images and graphics are very important for websites. Their placement also plays a key role in web design. If not placed or used correctly, it can hamper your user experience and distract users from taking action. However, when it is used efficiently, it helps users and encourages them to spend more time and engage with your website. Lumia 360 provides smart and innovative web design solutions that can boost your business and make your website more attractive. It can help your website to rank well in SERP, generate more leads, and improve engagement rate and ROI. To know more, email, info@lumia360.com or call 514-668-5599.
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