The Navigation and Format Standards and Guidelines are balanced so as to maintain an appropriate degree of consistency while giving institutions the freedom they need to develop Web pages that serve a variety of functions. Revisions are prompted by user feedback, better understanding of usage patterns, clearer focus of communications objectives, development of new material, modifications to existing documentation, and new interactive options. In the same way, CLF Standards and Guidelines will continuously evolve. The site must be designed and developed from a user's point of view and testing is a necessary part of the process. Coherent presentation of content is intrinsically linked to layout, typography, graphic standards, the use of symbols and measurement specifications that can be applied to all GoC Web pages, regardless of their function, to establish a standard framework.
Minimalism is a good practice in designing Web sites.
Graphic files should be as small as possible to facilitate rapid delivery via any end-user technology and should include text equivalents to ensure all users can obtain a description of what the graphic contains and what purpose it serves. Users should be warned of large file sizes and non-standard formats, i.e., wider than 640 pixels. Navigational aids, such as buttons and links, should be well-designed and easy to use. No specific procedural standard or guideline could adequately cover the use of imagery, but it is recommended that GoC Web sites minimize non-essential visual information. GoC institutions are free to use web and multimedia technologies to enhance sites, on the condition that all elements are universally accessible.