The visual effect: A literature review of visual design principles as they apply to academic library websites

Abstract

This paper reviews the concept of visual design as it applies to academic library webpages. There exist multiple unsettled aspects of visual design on library websites, prompting a need to critically examine and update current design practices. This paper presents aspects of layout, graphics, and navigation where no consensus for an effective design allowing students to interact with a library website has been achieved among librarians. It suggests areas of research whose investigation would strengthen the design of academic library webpages, and make them both more usable and more aesthetically pleasing to a student population.