Multi-column (3 columns or above) design does not have to be complicated. If it is properly designed, multi-column will be very helpful to the visitors, because they provide better overview for navigation options. So the users can quickly find out the information they want.

Over the past few years, we have witnessed an explosion of web content. It reduces the attention and time that users spend on the website (for detail please visit ReadWriteWeb). No wonder the designers are trying to search for more concise presentation of information. Not only that it keeps the visitors to stay longer, but also assists them with better search result.

To fulfill this purpose, one of the methods is using multi-column adjacent layout. In recent years, screen resolution has been constantly increasing (however, if netbooks like ASUS Eee PC are widely used, the situation may change), so that we can provide more horizontal space for users, also additional space for designers.

The results showed that: a growing number of designers are adapting an increasing number of columns in their designs. Study found that these so-called multi-column layout of the web development becomes a powerful trend, often seen in the 1,000-pixel screen, and the width is fixed at 850 pixels. Multi-column layout is often used in magazines and large projects. In these layouts, grid is often used to ensure the structural balance, layers and order.

When using multi-column layout, leaving blank spaces and the importance of each sub columns should not be over exaggerated. For this reason, designers often quote the “Shneiderman’s design principles” ( ” Since they are generalizations that omit details, design principles are often supplemented by design guidelines which are more specific and can be followed with minimal filling out. “), to provide users with a functional briefing, and then the details – i.e. when a link is clicked. ( Mozilla Labs is the best example).

Edited By Dan Li