Mini survey about web layout for a learning site

[WebEmperess]

Hello I'm doing a little project in school. I will create a website where people interested in creating their own site can read how to achieve that. Pretty much like a tutorial.

I won't do a site where I write about every HTML- or CSS code. (Like W3schools) I'm more into showing how one can go from idea to completion.
Anyhow I will be writing a report about this and it will be graded. That's why I am now making a little survey.

I'm currently in the designing stage of my website hence my question is:
If you were to learn something from a site like the one I described. What would make you stick to that site and no other (assuming the content is identically)?



Clean and simple layout? i.e single column alot of white-space.
Content on white or any other bright background?
Many describing pictures showing what Im doing?
Not cluttered?
Tiny site (small width) or large site (large width)?
Many colours?
ability to change colour schemes?
a complex design, lot's of details?
Large font-size/adjustable font-size?


These are just some ideas I come up with right now.

Please give me your feedback about what you think a learning site must have! I will appreciate it ALOT! The more replies I get the better it is.

Thanks in advance!

[Sunny G]

GOOD questions. I hope I answered them to the degree you wanted.
Some of them are slightly cryptic. Take it with a pinch of salt.

Now, tell us more about the paper you're writing. Requirements.
Your goals. Your experience with websites thus far. Why tutorial websites?

Clean and simple layout? i.e single column alot of white-space.
Clean, simple layouts are good-- better if they are professional. Elegant. Some energy.
You are trying to sell "a flavor". The Mona Lisa smile, sans Mona Lisa.

Content on white or any other bright background?
White backgrounds are OK, but better if you contrast a little. Easier to read.
Make something to complement the flavor you're selling.

Many describing pictures showing what Im doing?
Not just. Include links on those images to whatever it is, thus far, at every step, and a link to the finished product. (and optimize the images to load faster).
Explain your goal, how you'll get there. Your reasoning for choosing that method. Don't explain the method, do it! Then explain how, what, and why along the way.
(Don't put text above or below the images. It's irritating.
Float the images to have the text wrap. Easier to read).

Not cluttered?
Clutter is difficult to avoid, but a page should "flow". Design some "eddies and currents". Avoid sandbars.
(And avoid using tables for layout. CSS is your friend.)

Tiny site (small width) or large site (large width)?
Page width depends on the users. Safely, go as wide as you can.
If in doubt, design for 800 x 600 resolutions.

ability to change colour schemes?
Changing color schemes? This is fluff. Put your efforts into making a good color scheme. Use some color swatches to help.
If you want though, this fluff is good for making your site memorable. Flavorful.

a complex design, lot's of details?
NO! An elegant design, lots of subtlety. The magic recipe.
Make your website like a delicate buttery quiche. Don't forget to choose the right dishware, and silverware.

Large font-size/adjustable font-size?
Adjustable font size? No. Let the user handle that.
Focus on choosing an easy-to-read font with good colors.

[NogDog]

You can also answer you own questions to a large extent. Visit many different tutorial type sites on the web, and rate them in each of the categories you described above, along with your overall subjective rating for initial impression and general usability. I suspect you will tend to find some useful trends after you've looked at a good sampling of sites.

You might also want to see if you can get your hands on the book Don't Make Me Think (http://www.sensible.com/buythebook.html) by Steve Krug.