Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design, it’s decoration. – Jeffrey Zeldman

A website without meaningful content is like a beautiful picture without a story. No matter how striking a design may be, if it lacks purpose, it’s just decoration. For a website to be truly effective, the design must be shaped around the content it’s meant to deliver. Before worrying about visuals, you need to clearly define what message your website is conveying.

This is where content strategy plays a vital role. The goal of web design is not just to create something that looks good but to communicate effectively with your audience. The layout, typography, and imagery should serve to highlight and enhance the content, not overshadow it. When done right, content and design work in harmony, each supporting the other to create a cohesive, impactful user experience.

Designing a site without considering the content first often leads to disjointed experiences. To avoid this, start by crafting the content – the message, the value, the information – and let the design follow. How much thought have you given to the story your content tells?

Question: Is your web design helping your content shine, or is it just decoration with no clear message?