Web design is the art and science of creating visually appealing and functionally effective websites. It comprises a broad range of skills and disciplines, including:
Visual design: This involves the overall aesthetics of the web design, including the layout, colour scheme, typography, and imagery. A good web designer should have a strong sense of design principles and be able to create a visually attractive website consistent with the brand it represents.
User experience (UX) design is the art of making your website accessible and enjoyable. A well-designed website should be intuitive, with clear calls to action and easy-to-find information. UX designers must consider user needs, accessibility, and usability testing.
Information architecture: This involves organizing the website's content logically and hierarchically. A good information architecture will make it easy for users to find the information they need, regardless of their technical skills or prior knowledge of the website.
Technical skills: While web design isn't primarily about coding, a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is often helpful. This allows designers to communicate their ideas more effectively to developers and troubleshoot any technical issues.
Search engine optimisation (SEO) involves optimising your website so that it ranks higher in various search engine results pages (SERPs). While not strictly a design element, understanding SEO principles can help ensure the website is visible to its target audience.
Mobile-friendliness: In today's world, websites must be optimised for mobile devices. This means designing your website to be easy to read and to navigate on smaller screens.
Web design continually evolves, driven by technological advancements and changing user expectations. However, the core principles of good design remain the same: create a beautiful and usable website that communicates an amaizing message to your target audience.
This explanation gives you a good overview of what web design is! Let me know if you have any other questions.