What is Functionality?

As a designer, I refer to functionality on a daily basis. I truly believe in having a well-designed website. However, if it doesn’t have functionality, it is just a pretty image on a computer screen. But first, what is functionality?

Defining Functionality

SOO… Let’s define functionality.

Functionality is defined in the dictionary as the “quality or state of being functional.” Functional is defined as being “used to contribute to the development or maintenance of a larger whole.” A function can be described as a purposeful action.

Ask yourself this question: “What should my website’s purpose be?” Your answer should reaching your audience efficiently. As well as marketing your company or organization well.

More Than Just a Pretty Site

To bring that purpose into fruition, there needs to be an understanding that a well-designed website is more than exciting colors and graphics. It is a high-level dynamic mixture of a strong content management system with branding, color schemes, composition, clean design, meaningful and easy-to-update extensions, and good content. That mixture is used to achieve a website that is designed well because of its level of functionality and, of course, some good aesthetics.

Working Behind the Scenes

You see, there are a lot of template sites and graphic designers out there that can provide an image that looks dynamic, but in the end, it flops. We make sure that behind the scenes, it is working for you… not against you. Each client that we work with is a customized experience. We review the needed functions and pick the right extensions and design elements to achieve their marketing purpose.

Putting Functionality Into Action

At Bear Web Design, we use slide shows, photo galleries, blogs, action buttons, search modules, calendars, forms, Google maps, social media integration, multi-level menu systems, video players, and all sorts of other extensions that have to be integrated into the overall design to be the “larger whole” — to achieve that sought-after purpose. (Do you see the functionality ooozzzing out!?)

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you can see that we take web design seriously and design websites that are more than just an image on a screen, but a functional marketing tool that can grow as your company grows.