Good web design has visual weight, is optimized for various devices, and has content that is prioritized for the medium. The most important elements of a web page should have more visual weight to “naturally attract” a visitor’s attention.
Optimization for various types of devices and resolutions plays a fundamental role in modern website design. Web page layouts should be genuinely responsive and not rely on any fixed-size elements. Web designers using fluid grids and flexible images will guarantee that a web page will render well on a variety of devices, windows, and screen sizes.
Stuffed Spinach and Cheese Chicken Breast
Equipment
- 1 Cutting board For slicing the chicken and chopping the spinach.
- 1 Sharp knife To carefully create a pocket in the chicken breasts.
- 1 Mixing bowl For combining the spinach and cheese filling.
- 1 Spoon or spatula To mix and stuff the filling into the chicken.
- 1 Toothpicks To secure the stuffed chicken breasts.
- 1 Oven-safe skillet or frying pan For searing the chicken before baking.
- 1 Tongs To flip the chicken while searing.
- 1 Oven To finish cooking the chicken after searing.
- 1 Meat thermometer To ensure the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup fresh spinach (chopped)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- Salt and pepper to taste to taste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Toothpicks (for sealing the chicken breasts)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Start by carefully slicing a pocket into each chicken breast, making sure not to cut all the way through. Season the chicken on both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika for a flavorful kick.4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Make the Spinach and Cheese Filling: In a bowl, mix the chopped spinach, cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and garlic until well combined. The cream cheese will help bind everything together, and the Parmesan adds a nice savory depth.1/2 cup cream cheese, 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Stuff the Chicken: Spoon the spinach and cheese mixture into the pocket of each chicken breast. It can be a little tricky to keep everything in, so I like to secure the edges with toothpicks. This helps hold the stuffing while cooking.Toothpicks
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side, until they get a golden-brown crust. Don’t worry if the chicken isn’t fully cooked yet – that’s what the oven is for!1 tbsp olive oil
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The cheese should be melted, and the chicken perfectly cooked.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once done, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Pair it with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, or even some cauliflower mash for a complete meal.
Most users search for something interesting (or useful) and clickable; as soon as some candidates are found, users click. If the new page doesn’t meet users’ expectations, the back button is clicked and the search process is continued.
Food brings people together on many different levels. It’s nourishment of the soul and body; it’s truly love.
Giada De Laurentiis
A good website should be easy to navigate
Not all websites are made equal. Some websites are simple, logical, and easy to use. Others are a messy hodgepodge of pages and links.
Without website navigation, your visitors can’t figure out how to find your blog, your email signup page, your product listings, pricing, contact information, or help docs.
Website navigation allows visitors to flow from one page to another without frustration. If you’ve done your job well, visitors leave your site with the intention to return and might even buy something from you or sign up for your email list.
Bad navigation is an especially common problem. We’ve all struggled to find things on disorganized websites without any logical structure. It feels hopeless.
Using “complex large pictures”. Because a carousel generally carries a lot of picture messages, complex large pictures result in low performance and “slow loading rate” of the sites, especially those whose first homepages are occupied by high-resolution carousels.
Creating visual rhythms in your layouts
In design, rhythm is created by simply repeating elements in predictable patterns. This repetition is a natural thing that occurs everywhere in our world. As people, we are driven everyday by predictable, timed events.
One of the best ways to use repetition and rhythm in web design is in the site’s navigation menu. A consistent, easy-to-follow pattern—in color, layout, etc. Gives users an intuitive roadmap to everything you want to share on your site.
Rhythm also factors into the layout of content. For example, you “might have” blog articles, press releases, and events each follow their own certain layout pattern.
Elements that can help website visual composition
Nobody enjoys looking at an ugly web page. Garish colors, cluttered images and distracting animation can all turn customers “off” and send them shopping “somewhere else”. Basic composition rules to create more effective:
- Direct the Eye With Leading Lines
- Balance Out Your Elements
- Use Elements That Complement Each Other
- Be clear about your “focal points” and where you place them
The size and position of elements in a composition will determine its balance. An unbalanced design generates tension, which may be the goal in many design projects, but for web apps that demand repeated comfortable use, tension is not a desirable trait.
Diving into UX and UI design
UX and UI: Two terms that are often used interchangeably, but actually mean very different things. So what exactly is the difference?
Styles come and go. Good design is a language, not a style.
Massimo Vignelli
UX design refers to the term “user experience design”, while UI stands for “user interface design”. Both elements are crucial to a product and work closely together. But despite their relationship, the roles themselves are quite different.
Ensure that interactive elements are easy to identify
Good design guides the user by communicating purpose and priority. For that reason, every part of the design should be based on an “informed decision” rather than an arbitrary result of personal taste or the current trend.
Provide distinct styles for interactive elements, such as links and buttons, to make them easy to identify. For example, “change the appearance of links” on mouse hover, “keyboard focus”, and “touch-screen activation”.
Breaking down the barriers
Design is not the end-all solution to all of the worlds problems — but with the right thinking and application, it can definitely be a good beginning to start tackling them.
