If you’re looking for ways to make your company’s SharePoint intranet more engaging and appealing, you’re not alone. Many organizations struggle to create an aesthetically pleasing online space that reflects their brand and culture. Fortunately, achieving a cool aesthetic with your SharePoint intranet is possible by following these steps.
Step 1: Define Your Brand Identity
Before you start designing your SharePoint intranet, it’s essential to define your company’s brand identity. This includes identifying your brand’s core values, mission statement, and visual identity (such as logos, colors, and typography). Having a clear understanding of your brand will help guide your design decisions and ensure that your SharePoint intranet aligns with your overall brand strategy.
Step 2: Choose a Consistent Color Scheme
Selecting a consistent color scheme is crucial for creating a cohesive look and feel throughout your SharePoint intranet. Stick to a maximum of three to five colors, including background, primary, secondary, and accent colors. Use these colors consistently across all pages and elements to create visual harmony.
Step 3: Use High-Quality Imagery
Images can make or break the aesthetic appeal of your SharePoint intranet. Choose high-quality images that reflect your company’s culture and brand identity. Use these images as backgrounds, headers, or even as icons for different sections.
Step 4: Design for Mobile Devices
In today’s mobile-first world, it’s essential to design your SharePoint intranet with mobile devices in mind. Ensure that your site looks great on smartphones and tablets by using responsive design principles and a simple navigation menu.
Step 5: Keep It Simple and Minimalist
A cluttered or overly complex design can quickly overwhelm users. To achieve a cool aesthetic, keep your design simple and minimalist. Use plenty of white space to create visual breathing room and avoid overwhelming visitors with too much information at once.
Step 6: Customize Your SharePoint Templates
Microsoft provides default templates for SharePoint sites, but these templates may not align with your company’s brand identity or style. Customize these templates by changing the layout, colors, and fonts to match your brand. This will help create a consistent look and feel throughout your site.
Step 7: Add Visual Interest with Icons and Graphics
Icons and graphics can add visual interest to your SharePoint intranet without overwhelming users. Use simple, modern icons that reflect your company’s brand identity or culture. You can also use graphics to highlight important information, such as news or announcements.
Step 8: Create a Consistent Typography
Typography plays a significant role in creating a cool aesthetic for your SharePoint intranet. Choose a consistent font family and font sizes throughout your site. Use headings and subheadings effectively to create visual hierarchy and emphasize important information.
Step 9: Make It Engaging with Animations and Interactions
Animations and interactions can make your SharePoint intranet more engaging and fun. Use these elements sparingly, such as for hover effects or animated icons, to add visual interest without overwhelming users.
Step 10: Test and Refine Your Design
Once you’ve implemented your design changes, test your SharePoint intranet thoroughly to ensure that it looks great on various devices and browsers. Refine your design based on feedback from employees and stakeholders to create an aesthetically pleasing online space that reflects your company’s brand and culture.