1.1.5. Principles of Successful Navigation
Even if there is no optimal technique to realise navigation - according
to FLEMING (1998) - there are some rules which
lead to a quality navigation (independent of the technique that is used). We
here present you some of those rules.
Navigation should:
- Be Easily Learned
Make your
application transparent and obvious to your users. If your visitors have to
spend time learning how to use a complex navigation device, they will not
have much energy left to absorb your content.
- Remain Consistent
Make sure
your approach to navigation is consistent, or you may unwittingly confuse
your visitors. The ability to predict where navigation tools will be found
is an important first step in making choices.
|
Non Consistent Navigation |
Consistent Navigation |
- Provide Feedback
We are
conditioned to expect reactions from things. Mouseovers are one good way to
provide responsive controls. For example passing your mouse over an object
on the screen causes it to "react" - by e.g. Simply
lighting it up.
Compare the two examples below and find the two
implemented feedbacks of the right example.
- Appear in Context
To complete
tasks, people need the right tools at hand. To make decisions about
movement, they need to see possible routes. Navigation should always be
available when it is needed.
- Require an Economy of Action and
Time
In cars, planes and on the Web, people lose
interest on long trips. A site structure that features layer upon layer of
subcategories with many levels to click through can induce "Are we
there yet?" syndrome which is roughly synonymous with acute
frustration.
The following two examples contain a map of Japan. We
want you to browse to this map. Count the number of clicks you have to do
until you reach the map in both examples.
|
Non Economic Application |
Economic Application |
- Provide Clear Visual
Messages
How you present navigation options is closely
tied to how usable they are. If they are hidden, difficult to find, look too
much like text, look too much like other images, or are otherwise visually
confusing, your users will have trouble getting around. Be aware that
interface design is visual guidance. (You will learn more about Graphical
User Interface Design in lesson ...)
- Use Clear and Understandable
Labels
Navigation labels are an important part of
communication. In selecting labels, it is best to use the terminology of
your users, not cool hieroglyphics, office shorthand, or organization-speak.
Dead ends and misunderstandings are a waste of time for your users.
|
Unclear Labels |
Clear and Understandable Labels |
|
Because you can never be sure if all users understand the
meanings of the labels of your application, there are two possibilities
to ensure their understandability:
- Write in letters the function of the icons. See the example of the
Atlas of Canada below.
Description of Icon Meanings (The Atlas of Canada)
- Implement a tooltip so that the function is described when moving
the mouse cursor over the icon.
Description of Icons in Tooltip |
- Be Appropriate to the Site's
Purpose
Your navigation approach will depend a lot on
what your goal is and on what your users will expect to accomplish. A
shopping site will not necessarily have the same sort of navigation solution
as an information site, for example. Mismatches between the site's purpose
and the navigational approach can be a cause for user confusion.
- Support User's Goals and
Behaviours
Navigation is about supporting users' goals.
What will people want to do? How might they behave? Understanding these
goals and behaviours is the most important step in designing navigation that
works.