Content design - from the first impression to the inner values
It is above all the inner values that count - this also applies to the internet. Unique content is and remains king. Pretty packaging alone is not enough. Nevertheless: beautiful packaging that is tailored to the contents is a major factor in success. It is these external features - recognisable at first glance - that make us take a closer look. And to discover the inner values, you need a second look.
Content Design finely polishes the content and presents it in an appropriate context on the website. But watch out: As we all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
What does content design mean?
I don't know about you, but I like to have lists to tick off. Little packets of information that I can understand and implement one after the other. In words, that would sound something like "In X steps to perfect content design" in the context of this article. This would also make an excellent to-do list.
However, in this case it is unfortunately not that simple. It already starts with the challenge of clearly defining the term "content design". This is probably because it is not so much a separate "pigeonhole", but rather one Complex interweaving of "content + design. A flexible interaction that works closely with the Target group is linked.
In search of a definition
This becomes plausible if one first considers the two terms "content" and "design" separately:
- Design: Since I don't want to reinvent the wheel, I'll use Wikipedia's insightful definition:
" Design [...] usually means design or Shaping. [...] and goes beyond the purely external shape and colour design of an object [...] In particular, design also encompasses theDispute of the designer with the Function of an object and with its Interaction with a user. In the design process, it is thus possible to, among other things Influenceon the function, operability and service life of an object." [Source: Wikipedia]
- Content: These are the Contents on your website. A large part of this is text. But content can also be images, videos, graphics, etc. In terms of the design definition, content is the object.
If we now unite the two terms, it means:
- Content Design describes the appropriate design (or shaping) of content and the associated consideration of content purpose, target audience and usability.
In other words...
Content design is much more than just a pretty coat that you put over the content afterwards. The Context plays an essential role. And so one not only asks "What looks good?"but also "Does that fit the content?" and "Which target group am I addressing?".
The content determines to a large extent what suitable packaging must look like and this in turn can strongly influence the value of the content. You should therefore always consider "content design" and "content creation" in combination and coordinate them with each other.
(...I know it doesn't really get any easier, but we are getting closer!)
Content design puts content in the spotlight
The heart of any website is good contents. You create these for a specific purpose - be it a pure transfer of information or the sale of a product. In order for this purpose to be fulfilled, the Content seen or the users have to interact with it.
The problem: In the first few seconds, no one pays attention to the content. At first, the page is merely scanned.
But what good is brilliant content if it goes unnoticed? It needs a right platform. If the outward appearance appealing and the need of the user According to the reader stays on the page and takes a closer look at the content.
So content design puts content in the spotlight!
Content design is target group and content specific
Just as not every piece of clothing suits you personally, in content design there are also none "one size fits all" Blanket template. It depends on the type of content and the target group.
For example, imagine a photographer's corporate site compared to a kitchen blog. Obviously, two completely various target groups addressed. Accordingly, you will not only notice differences in content, but also a completely different design. This is also due to the fact that users interact quite differently with the two pages.
Even within one page, different content can and should be packaged differently. Would you design a cake recipe and an interview with a well-known star chef exactly the same? Probably not.
So content design is just as diverse as the content itself!
More than just styling and layout
Content design cannot be reduced to visual styling and layout alone. The Overall context and the Relation to the target group must be right. User-friendliness and navigation play just as important a role as, for example, the colour scheme and arrangement of visual components. There are, however, a few adjustments you can make.
Website design and layout
Content design starts with the Basic design of your website an. Of course, you need to be clear beforehand what purpose you want to pursue with your page and what content you are planning. Do you rely more on images or text? Are you writing a blog or do you want to sell products? Is your target group female or male?
Such and similar aspects play an essential role in the basic design. Once the goal of your site has been determined, you can Inspiration on the web search. Look at other successful sites that have a similar purpose. What do they look like?
Illustration through visual content
Although visual content is not everything, it still plays an important role. It is no coincidence that most posts are always accompanied by (at least) one Image are coupled. Visual content is more eye-catching than plain text. They are more likely to make the user "stay" on the page. Also Videos, tables, graphs, buttons or Diagrams, count as visual content and can not only make your page more eye-catching, but also loosen it up.
Text design
The topic of text design and graphic writing is certainly worth a separate article. Just this much: no one likes to read unstructured monotonous blocks of text. Even brilliant content is of little use. Heels, various Formatting options and Subheadings not only make the text look nicer, but also make it easier to read.
Conclusion - Content Design
For users to appreciate your great content, it first needs to get noticed. So the rule is, Unique Content in the right light. Content Design describes the Designing content in the appropriate context. The goal: a good first impression so that the user is willing to look deeper. Unfortunately, there is no uniform concept for success. Content design is always tailor-made for content and target group. Be guided by presenting your content in an appropriate context in an attractive and user-friendly way.
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