Unlike corporate website design, creating a government website can be a difficult task. Therefore, it is essential to follow a user-centered approach to web design, which will make it easier for any citizen to use the government website to find the information they are looking for.
Whether it is related to the layout of the website layout, the search function, or the appearance, you need to pay special attention to the elements that can cause disputes between citizens and the government. The best government website examples should depict how easy and convenient it is for citizens to find information or complete tasks that they want to, on the website.
So, if you want to create a website for government departments, here are a few web designing tips that you should not miss.
1. Keep It Simple
Creating a government website needs you to keep things as simple as possible. You don’t need to choose superbly designed banners or logos or use very bright colors and effects. Instead, you need to ensure that the layout is simple, clear, and easy to understand. Another point to consider here is limiting the use of thumbnail images in banner ads, as the result of this is creating a cluttered look for the entire website.
2. Keep the Navigation Easy and User-Centric
Generally, web designers tend to create a navigation structure similar to the organization chart. This results in the creation of several links that make navigating the website an overwhelming challenge. Therefore, it is recommended to create a minimal navigation structure so that it is easy for all visitors to follow.
3. Use Descriptive ALT Text
Although descriptive ALT tags can’t guarantee 100% of the website’s search engine indexing capabilities, but by using descriptive ALT tags for images, you can easily improve the overall accessibility of your website over a slow internet connection.
Since people from all over the world visit government websites, as a web designer, you should make sure to use ALT text for all the images you want to place on the web page.
4. Use the Correct Colors
When designing a government website, choose to keep the color neutral or choose from the colors that the department is already using. This will ensure that the visitors do not find the website too colorful to be considered as a serious thing. Or, if you work with colors that the department is already using, it will be in line with that.
However, it’s always worth spending time exploring other colors, fonts, textures, and icons. This information is useful in creating a unique identity for government organizations.
5. Create a User-Centric Online Strategy
It is important to understand who the website users are and what the website owner plans to convey through the Web Portal. Before proceeding with the website design process, be sure to do some basic research to try and understand the mindset of your target audience. You must fully understand what all visitors will be looking for after entering the portal.
Pay attention to keeping the website design completely transparent. Don’t forget to provide easy-to-access and easy-to-use search functions. This will become one of the main advantages of website design and will make it easier for website visitors to find results in a well-organized and chronological order.
These are some tips to keep in mind when designing government websites. Creating a government website is always challenging, due to limited resources or the need to add a lot of information and regularly update them. However, following the tips mentioned will help you meet the criteria, and portray your site as one of the best government website examples.
Apart from what mentioned, you must also make the site accessible for everyone, including those with disabilities.
