General guidelines.

1. Dont hardcode.
- Some of u experience image problems, because, u import pictures from directories other than the one the htm files are saved in.
When u do that, the image source may be set to say, c:\mywebpage\image1.htm. So it looks fine on ur comp when ure designing and previewing. But when its up on vj server and someone else views it on another comp, theres no pic because theres no c:\mywebpage\image1.htm on the other comp.

2. Keep page within horizontal boundaries of screen/frame. Horizontal scrollbars are unsightly.

3. Dont overload ur page. Dont fill it up with too many images, lest its totally necessary. Slows down loading. Optimize and reduce file size with authoring programs like Fireworks or Photoshop. One way to reduce file size is to reduce to desired image size in an authoring program and saving it before importing to dreamweaver, instead of resizing it directly in dreamweaver.

4. Typography. Appropriate fonts. Times new roman is ok.. but arial might be better, and some others that look orderly. Remember the key to is legibility and user friendliness, its not about expressing ur personality or mood or whatever, like say
'Im a damn happening guy! '

a lil bit is ok, but if the whole text is like that its quite an eyesore.
Expression of personality or whatever takes in the appropriately artistic use of colours and graphics.

And FoNTz LiKE tHiZ SuX

5." Consistency, consistency, consistency. " - Hillman Curtis
Graphic design in a website is all about that. Stick with a nice colour scheme thruout the site. Like if ure using black and white, then follow the scheme, dont include red/blue yellow/green combinations, it doesnt make ur site flashier.

6. Irritating Midis.
This is a personal non-preference. I dont like background midis, esp those without controls to shut them up.
appropriate music loops in flash are ok. but midi versions of pop songs are pathetic. not everyone loves that song.

7. Ease of navigation
- the viewers cannot be made to spend much time trying to figure out how to navigate your site; hence, the navigation tools (imagemap,buttons,links) should be present and placed tastefully and obviously in the website.
- present : back, next buttons etc to be placed in subsections where there is no main menu
- obvious : don't hide the button in some obsure corner or use one which can be mistaken for a decoration or can get camofluaged by the background.
- tastefully : the buttons should inherit the colour scheme and reflect the general theme of the website. In simple terms, they should blend well with the page.

8. popups -
don't use unless very necessary. and one at a time please.

9. netscape -
no netscape. period.

10. javascript visual effects -
things like the changing colour, enter name window and snowflakes are passè

11. text VS graphics VS multimedia efx -
try to have an even mix of these in your content. no one likes to view a page that is too heavy in text or one with juz load of gfx. there should be a tasteful mix.

12. planning -
the most impt pt. you might not necessarily stick to the plan but you shouldn't stray too far from it. draw a sketch of layout of the pages and a rough sitemap. always visualise clearly what you want to see/achieve and then build it.