Within any given medium there are unique constraints that can affect the way designers make use of the principles and elements of design. These constraints can be based on a variety of different things including materials, technology, processes and standards in the industry. The Web is no different. Designing for a Web-based environment enacts a set of unique issues that need to be considered before implementation can be successful. The vast majority of constraints in a Web-based environment are brought about because of the limits of human interaction with technology. The Web, by its very nature, is a virtual medium accessible only via peripheral devices. We are constrained by what technology allows us to do, and are confined by the rules of these systems. One of the most interesting and frustrating aspects of the Web is that it is such a new environment that the rules are constantly changing. Designers need to adapt as necessary.

Design communicates on every level. It tells you where you are, cues you to what you can do, and facilitates the doing. Style is tautological; it communicates stylishness. In visual terms, style is an aspect of design; in commercial terms, style can communicate brand attributes.