Each page should have a title that reflects the purpose of the page. Headers that define the page's identity should be visible and should contain key information such as the overall site name and section of the site that the page falls under. (5.12) Navigational elements should be present on every page so the user can easily return the homepage or travel to a different section of site. Finally, footers can add relevant details such as copyright information and an e-mail link.

The Psychology of Design

Web sites are designed for interaction--there are elements the user can press, manipulate, and select. Some sites have control panels with buttons to click, drop-down menus with options to scroll through, and objects that change when the mouse rolls over them.

Research in cognitive science--how people think, react, interpret, and learn--can aid web designers. Psychologist Donald Norman focuses on user-centered industrial design. He has examined why people push handles that are supposed to be pulled and why so few people know how to program their VCRs. In The Design of Everyday Things, Norman explains how designers can meet users' needs and reduce their frustration--objects should be designed to "understand" people.

In studying how people use tools and complete processes, Norman examined the stages of action needed to complete a task--from defining the goal to evaluating the outcome. From those stages, he developed broader principles, based on cognitive processes. The following are Norman's "principles of good design":

Visibility. By looking, the user can tell the state of the device and the alternatives for action. (Fleming, Web 72)