Storyboard - the Backbone of Web Design

A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Sonal Raje

How Do You Incorporate a Storyboard in Your Web Design?

Like any designing layout, Web Design needs planning in terms of layout, structure and navigation. A website, being a collection of a number of pages linked together, a storyboard becomes a very essential aspect of Web Design. A good layout and efficient functioning are the main supports of successful Web Design. Developing a storyboard is the first step in planning the actual site. It helps to generate a comprehensive structure for the Web Design, taking into consideration a few key elements.

Key Elements of a Storyboard for Web Design

The elements which help to develop the storyboard are also the key elements of Web Design. Let us see what these elements are.

The very purpose to put up a website is to make the information accessible to the viewers. This is your target audience, the first element to be taken into consideration when developing the storyboard. The components of Web Design that is the graphic elements, text matter and navigation are directed towards the target audience. Hence the storyboard being developed for the Web Design needs to be such that it is comprehensible and appreciated by the target audience.

When you have a site that is complex in terms of elements and functioning a lot of people are involved in its creation. You have designers working on the layout and graphic elements, as well as programmers working on the functionality. The storyboard forms a cohesive structure for all these people to follow. The visual appeal, layout and the graphic elements will have a consistency and the the functionality can be efficiently developed within the framework of the storyboard.

Therefore there can be a better co-ordination among those involved in the Web Design when they all have a common storyboard to follow. With the help of this outline, the Web Design can be developed within its framework. The navigation, which is an important part of the Web Design can be easily planned once you have the exact structure and it is then easier to make allowance for the further expansion of the site as and when required.

You can develop the storyboard using conventional means like diagrams on sheet of paper.The flow, content and navigation have to be clearly outlined. Alternatively there are also software packages available for the developing of the storyboard for your web design. These packages along with helping to develop the storyboard for your web design also aid the management of the site. They provide an overview of the entire site structure in a graphical layout, so that the planning and development can be made easier.

Efficient and Consistent Web Design Aided by the Storyboard

Following the storyboard consistently is the secret behind a good web design. The meticulous planning and organization of the storyboard elements will aid the web design as well as the programming that goes behind the scene. Thus the storyboard can act as a firm backbone of a good web design.