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Chapter 4 Planning Site Navigation. Chapter 4. Principles of Web Design. Objectives. Create usable navigation Build text-based navigation Link with a text navigation bar Add contextual linking Use graphics for navigation and linking. Chapter 4. Principles of Web Design.
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Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design • Figure 4-1 • Figure 4-2 Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design Sample Text Navigation The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options: • 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 Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design Sample Text Navigation The following screens demonstrate a variety of text-based navigation options: • Between the previous and next chapter • Within chapter pages to each topic • To related information by using contextual links Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design • 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design • 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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
Chapter 4 Principles of Web Design 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 <img> tags to provide alternate navigation options for the user Principles of Web Design 2nd Ed. Chapter 4