Web Imagery by Eliza McKerrow

Introduction

Images can be found everywhere on the web! It would be a very boring place without them. Now, what do we mean when talking about web imagery?

What is Web Imagery?

Tim Berners Lee at his computer, he and collegues created the world wide web

Tim Berners Lee at his computer in the 90s

Web imagery refers to the visual elements used on a webpage. Web imagery is everywhere on the web and most of the time we barely even think of it. A good website uses a combination of all of the elements of design to create an engaging experience for the user. Web images can be small icons all the way to banners and infographics that can easily inform the viewer about the purpose or message of a site. Being able to combine elements big and small to create a cohesive and engaging site is one of the biggest challenges with web imagery. What is too much? What is too little? What is the Goldie Locks amount and quality of imagery on your site?

Accessibility: The best of all practices

Whenever a web designer adds images to a website it is vital to include alternatives. Alternatives can come in the form of an alt= to let a screen reader translate an image into a verbal description for those who are visually impaired. Adding this alt= is also helpful for search engine optimization and site visibility.