Chapter 4 Planning Site Navigation

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 2 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Objectives Create usable navigation Build text-based navigation Link with a text navigation bar Add contextual linking Use graphics for navigation and linking

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 3 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Creating Usable Navigation Provide enough location information to let the user answer the following navigation questions: Where am I? Where can I go? How do I get there? How do I get back to where I started?

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 4 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Creating Usable Navigation To answer these questions, provide the following information: Let users know what page they are on, and what type of content they are viewing Let users know where they are in relation to the rest of the site

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 5 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Creating Usable Navigation Provide consistent, easy-to-understand links Provide alternatives to the browser’s Back button that lets users return to their starting point

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 6 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Figure 4-1 Figure 4-2

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 7 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Limit Information Overload Create manageable information segments Control page length Use hypertext to connect facts, relationships, and concepts

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 8 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Using Text-Based Navigation Text-based linking is often the most effective way to provide navigation on your site It can work in both text-only and graphical browsers Always provide a text-based set of links as an alternate means of navigation

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 9 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Sample Text Navigation To main pages (home, table of contents, index) To the top of each chapter Within the table of contents page to chapter descriptions From table of contents page to specific topics within each chapter The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options:

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 10 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Sample Text Navigation Between the previous and next chapter Within chapter pages to each topic To related information by using contextual links The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options:

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 11 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Figure 4-3 Figure 4-4 Figure 4-5 Figure 4-6 Figure 4-7 Figure 4-8 Figure 4-9 Figure 4-10 Figure 4-11 Figure 4-12 Figure 4-13 Figure 4-14 Figure 4-15

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 12 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Graphics for Navigation Standardize your navigation graphics Provide predictable navigation cues for the user Repeat graphics to minimize download time Use consistent placement and design of navigation graphics to reassure the user Use easily understandable graphics

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 13 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Figure 4-16 Figure 4-17 Figure 4-18 Figure 4-19 Figure 4-20 Figure 4-21 Figure 4-22 Figure 4-23

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 14 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Summary Work from the user's point of view. Think about where users want to go within your site, and make it easy for them to get there. Add plenty of links so it's easy to get around your site. Link to fragments as well as whole pages. Make it easy to get back to your navigation options. In addition to providing links, make sure you provide plenty of location cues to let the user know where they are

Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4 15 Principles of Web Design Chapter 4 Summary Do you have to use graphics for linking? Rethink the objectives of your site and determine whether text will do as well. Every additional graphic adds to download time. Don't forget to provide ALT values to your tags to provide alternate navigation options for the user