To ensure a unified Web presence, official MDC pages should be visually related in order to help promote usability and reinforce brand identity.
Don't embed text inside images. Compliance guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act advise against embedding text in images. Visually impaired users (visual acuity no better than 20/70) will often use Screen Readers and/or Screen Magnifiers which cannot easily access embedded text without distortion. To ensure maximum accessibility, keep text-based content in regular HTML.
Plain HTML text is best for typography because it provides the most flexibility across many display media, allows quick editorial changes, improves search engine visibility, and facilitates universal access.
Simple and Intuitive use is the goal. The design should be simple to use, with an easy, intuitive flow that leads the user throughout the site, regardless of experience, knowledge, language skills, or focus level. Eliminate unnecessary complexity. Arrange information consistently with a clear, logical structure. Use a hierarchy of importance to assist the user in locating information easily.
Organize information at each level of the Web site with a clear and logical structure that reflects user needs and the site’s goals. Information should be well-organized at the Web site level, page level, and paragraph or list level. A clear, logical structure will reduce the chances of users becoming bored, disinterested, or frustrated.
Facilitate scanning by creating pages with clear, well-placed headings and short phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. Users can miss information that is contained in text-dense pages. To optimize a page for scanning, place important headings high in the center section of the page.
Group related information and functions in order to decrease time spent searching or scanning. All information related to one topic should be grouped together. This minimizes the need for users to search for related information. Users typically regard items that are placed in close spatial proximity as conceptually related. Text items that share the same background color will also be regarded as related.
Ensure that information is displayed where and when it is needed. Don’t make users responsible for remembering data from one page or screen to the next. Heading information should be retained when users scroll data tables.
Limit page information to what users need while on that page. Too much information may confuse users and hinder assimilation. Help them remain focused on the desired task by excluding information that is not immediately necessary.