Community Website Design
Community websites are the online way for groups of people and individuals to come together and share information, thoughts and ideas. Community websites often take the form of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter or business networking sites such as Linkedin. In recent months, many businesses have realised the full potential of community websites so have engaged website designers and website design firms to create their own branded community websites
Community website design is a complex and specialised field which often crosses over into website development and ecommerce website design. As far as graphic design limitations go for community websites (as is the case with Portfolio Websites) website designers are only limited by their own design skills and technical capabilities. Community websites can and should be visually appealing and stimulating, and if created for a specific business or brand should reflect this in the website design. One important element of community website design however is that it must be accessible and usable. Community websites are designed to bring together people of all capabilities, so any community website needs to be constructed using a design which adheres to the fundamentals of accessibility and usability so as not to exclude disabled or impaired users
Since the process of community website design involves extensive website and web application development, it is not a process which should be undertaken by individuals or businesses who are new to website design. Basic business card websites or standard 5-page business websites should not be modified for use as community websites. A community website has to follow a specific website design which incorporates all the standard fundamentals of website design in addition to CMS functionalities, website application development and if necessary ecommerce functionalities. Many larger website design firms have in-house community website design experts who are much better placed to design and build community websites.
For further advice or information about community website design, or to find a website designer with experience in designing and building community websites why not get in contact with one of our Website Design Buyer Advisors? Our Knowledge Experts will work with you to identify and finalise your community website design requirements, and will put you in direct contact with those expert website design firms and professional website designers who can fulfil your requirements.
For more information on the area of Website Design why not start with our article - Construction Website Design
