Web Presentation Guide 5.1
Common Look and Feel

Action
Maintain a common look and feel throughout the agency Web site. Support the state’s enterprise initiative by providing a prominent link to Access Washington, and by using other common elements where appropriate.

Why
Consistent design elements (such as color scheme, layout and global navigation) reduce the time and effort it takes for users to navigate the agency’s Web site.

What

• Create a model for your Web pages to follow.
• Use cascading style sheets (CSS) to establish the model's common look and feel in a way that can be easily updated.
• Use the Access Washington logo, linked to http://access.wa.gov, to provide users a consistent path to the Access Washington portal. Avoid placing the Access Washington logo in the upper left corner so users are not confused about which site's home page the image leads to.
• Follow state and agency standards and guidelines.

How

• Use this Common Look and Feel guide in accordance with your agency's standards.
• Designate an agency contact person who is familiar with agency standards and guidelines and who can answer questions regarding specific standards.

Checklist: Common look and feel

	Topic	Complete
a.	Provide a consistent look and feel for your agency's Web site, including a common navigation scheme and page layout.
b.	Follow state and agency standards and guidelines.
c.	Display the Access Washington logo.
d.	Use cascading style sheets.

Resources

Access Washington URL Submission Form	Add your agency link to Access Washington.
W3C's Learning about style sheets	Learn how to use cascading style sheets (CSS) to maintain consistency.
Effective use of Cascading Style Sheets	Jakob Nielsen’s suggestions on learning and implementing CSS.

Related guide topics

• Accessibility
• Hyperlinks
• Navigation
• Usability
• Writing for the Web