Design Basics: Where to Start with Colour, Layout, Navigation, and Branding

Designing a website can feel like a big job — especially if you’re starting from scratch. With so many choices for colours, layouts, fonts, and navigation, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But good design doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built on a few clear principles that guide everything else.

Whether you’re building your first website or giving an existing one a refresh, here’s where to start with the design essentials: colour, layout, navigation, and branding.

1. Start with Purpose, Not Pixels

Before you choose colours or fonts, take a step back and ask yourself: What’s the goal of my website?

Are you trying to sell a product, showcase your work, or generate enquiries? Knowing your purpose helps shape every design decision.

For example, an e-commerce site might focus on clear product presentation and fast checkout, while a consultancy website might highlight credibility and trust. Design is not just about appearance — it’s about creating an experience that supports your business goals.

Once your purpose is clear, you can design with intention instead of guessing what “looks nice.”

2. Colour: Create Emotion and Consistency

Colour is one of the most powerful tools in web design. It sets the mood, communicates your brand personality, and helps guide user behaviour.

Here’s how to use colour effectively:

Start with your brand colours. Choose one primary colour (for buttons, headlines, or accents) and one or two complementary colours for balance.

Use contrast wisely. Make sure text stands out clearly against its background — accessibility and readability come first.

Stay consistent. Repeating your colours across all pages builds familiarity and strengthens your brand identity.

Use colour intentionally. For example, use a single accent colour for your main call-to-action buttons — users will quickly associate it with action.

If you’re unsure where to start, try using online tools like Coolors or Adobe Color to experiment with harmonious palettes.

3. Layout: Design for Clarity and Flow

A great layout guides the eye naturally and makes it easy for visitors to find what they’re looking for.

Follow these layout basics:

Use grids and spacing. Aligning elements gives your pages structure and balance. White space (empty space) helps content breathe and reduces clutter.

Prioritise hierarchy. Make the most important elements — like headlines, buttons, and key messages — larger or more prominent.

Keep it simple. Avoid filling every inch of the screen. Clean, focused layouts are easier to navigate and look more professional.

Design for scanning. Most users don’t read every word — they skim. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings to make key information easy to spot.

A well-structured layout not only looks good but helps people understand your message faster.

4. Navigation: Make It Effortless

Navigation is one of the most important parts of any website — and one of the easiest to get wrong.

Your goal is to help visitors move smoothly from page to page without confusion. Keep menus short, logical, and predictable. Group related pages under simple headings like About, Services, Resources, and Contact.

A few navigation tips:

Keep your main menu at the top of every page.

Include a clear call-to-action (like “Get in Touch” or “Shop Now”).

Add a footer menu for secondary links (privacy policy, terms, etc.).

Test your navigation on mobile — dropdowns or small text links can be difficult to use on touchscreens.

If users can’t find what they’re looking for within a few clicks, they’ll leave — no matter how attractive your site looks.

5. Branding: Build Recognition and Trust

Branding isn’t just a logo — it’s the personality of your website. It includes tone, imagery, typography, and the way you speak to your audience.

Start by defining your brand identity:

What does your business stand for?

Who are you trying to reach?

How do you want people to feel when they visit your site?

Then reflect those answers visually — through consistent colours, fonts, and photography — and verbally, through your headlines and content style.

A strong, consistent brand builds trust and helps you stand out from the competition.

Where to Begin

If you’re starting fresh, begin with a simple wireframe — a basic sketch of your layout showing where key elements will go. Then, choose your colour palette, typefaces, and imagery based on your brand’s personality.

From there, focus on usability. A clean, consistent design that’s easy to navigate will always outperform a complicated one.

Final Thought

Good website design isn’t about trends or templates — it’s about creating clarity, connection, and consistency. When colour, layout, navigation, and branding work together, your website becomes more than just a digital space — it becomes a powerful reflection of your business and a tool that delivers real results.

The Website Workshop Tip: Design with your users in mind — if it’s easy for them, it’ll work for you.