Reasons and how tos to design and develop fast websites
This is truly one of the better presentations I have come across when discussing best practices in design and development for the front end of websites. This video, while long, has stats about the impact of milli-seconds on user drop off, direction on design and its impact on page load, and a link to smush it – a Firefox plugin that extra compresses images, ecking out every kb possible.
http://www.stubbornella.org/content/2008/12/28/design-fast-websites-rounded-corners-yui-theater/
“If you are a designer or an F2E [Front End Engineer] it is essential that you understand the ways in which design choices impact overall site performance. This talk establishes guidelines for High Performance Design including 9 Best Practices.
9 Best Practices
1. Create a component library of smart objects.
2. Use consistent semantic styles.
3. Design modules to be transparent on the inside.
4. Optimize images and sprites.
5. Avoid non-standard browser fonts.
6. Use columns rather than rows.
7. Choose your bling carefully.
8. Be flexible.
9. Learn to love grids.”