Continued from Part 1…..

Similarity breeds good design:
“Things that are similar are perceived to be more related than those that are dissimilar”

#5 Colour
The most obvious technique in design to create attention is to use colour contrast. To create contrast you obviously need to choose dissimilar colours. Contrast is a fundamental technique in web design and key elements like CTA’s and buttons should carry more contrast in colour in order to draw more attention. Also you can categorise elements by using the same colour. (more…)

**Announcement**: Okay I don’t want to scare too many of you away with another design psychology based article but as I’ve said before I think it’s imperative that we should use psychological techniques more in our designs. I’m not saying design is completely scientific or mathematical, but I do believe the best design comes when proven theory works in harmony with art. We as designers need to understand the implications of our actions and by understanding psychology we can truly begin to discover the effect our designs will have; this isn’t a game of chance. (more…)

Our offices are now open and usual office hours of 9.30am - 6.00pm are resumed. Support issues can still be submitted by emailing support@ihm.co.uk

Just a quick reminder that our offices are closing on Wednesday 23rd December and will open again on Monday 4th January. So I’m afraid for this period there will be no phone support. However we will still be dealing with your enquiries which you can submit by emailing info@ihm.co.uk if you have any questions or would like a new site for 2010.

I know what you’re thinking; information / data graphics (*IDG’s) are boring scientific or mathematical diagrams found in a dust collecting lump known as Mr textbook. Well let me tell you things have changed and I would now argue that the IDG can be just as powerful (if nor more so) as a photo or an illustration. The meaning of IDG’s graphics is to convert raw numbers / characters into symbols. (more…)

Okay so I’m snowed in, I’ve nearly done all my work and I’m left with one more task; which is to say the following (tip your glasses in a toast position and silence please)…The team at in house media would just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone we’ve worked with this year a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We’re expecting to continue our progress at ihm next year, and you can keep on the pulse of all our latest news by following us on twitter and subscribing to our increasingly popular blog.

Our offices are closing on the 23rd December and will open again on the 4th January. So I’m afraid for this period there will be no phone support. However we will still be dealing with your enquiries which you can submit by emailing info@ihm.co.uk if you have any questions or would like a new site for 2010.

So that just leaves me to say one more thing: see you in New Year. Lets tip that glass one more time : here’s to a great 2010….cheers!

Ps. There will be one more article this year on information / data graphics and how they can help improve your site.

“Making websites is a team game: let’s show team spirit, work together and collect a trophy”

The purpose of this article is to bring the understanding of client and designer closer together with the end goal of a better website and a more prosperous relationship. So I’ll break it down into two parts: Part One will provide some advice for the designer whilst Part Two will pinpoint some guidelines for the client. (more…)

The influence of the broadsheet on the web.
A recent trend has developed (which I have talked about in previous articles) which uses other mediums to inspire our web site designs, such as posters and newspapers etc. I believe this new style has come to the forefront in rebellion to the web 2.0 style. The web 2.0 style is very polished / shiny and there was a point in the evolution of web design where the internet became saturated with these sites, which all looked similar. The polar opposite of web 2.0 style however is a style based around the broadsheet newspaper, with serif fonts and large headlines accompanied with a large image and often using a more weathered / lighter colour scheme. (more…)