Website layouts: Columns

In creating a page from a station's website promoting my radio play, one of the things I have to show is how the web page communicates with the reader. One aspect of this is the layout. There are three main types of layout which I shall discuss as well as why I have chosen a two-column layout

One-column layout

As the name suggests, this is a simple layout designed like a page of A4 paper. This is best for a block of several paragraphs of text because it uses a wide proportion of the screen. It also helps the reader to not become distracted from the text by other pieces of content. However, it is not good for when lots of bits of content need to be included because the page automatically becomes longer, resulting in more scrolling for the user.

Two-column layout

A two-column layout can be achieved in two main ways:

1. A 'main' section of content (usually containing text) with a 'sidebar' (either containing navigation or additional content)
2. Two equal width columns, both containing the main content (as shown above)

The advantage of a two-column layout is that it can be used for a more 'multimedia' approach; it is good for where a page needs to contain videos, sound files and widgets. However, the text needs to be kept to a minimum - ideally only 1 paragraph in each box. A potential problem in my view of a two-column layout is that the user can get distracted with no focal point for their eyes to focus on.

Three-column layout

Much the same as a two-column layout, there are two main ways that a three-column layout can be achieved:

1. Three equal columns

2. One main column with two sidebars

My choice

I have chosen to use a two-column layout because:

• The page will not contain much text. It will mainly consist of videos, sound etc. (there is a full list of the planned contents here). The main text on the page will be the character profiles and the short description of my radio play.
• It helps to 'break up' the page as opposed to a one-column layout. A whole web page of text can be very dull for the reader; a two-column layout makes it more interactive.
• Two-columns gives each item more space than the three-column layout. I think that a three-column layout would feel more squeezed.