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Navigation and Layout - Website Navigation is one of those odd things in life - you don't notice it if it works well, but it is really annoying if it doesn't. Really good navigation integrates seemlessly into a website, and can enhance a site manyfold (look at the Apple iPod site).
- Effortless Navigation
The challenge of Navigation is to get the user to where he/she wants to go easily, intuitively. The more work to get to your content, the less likely the user will put in the effort to get there. Each eye and mouse movement, each click must be weighed against the overall goals of the page and the site in general. - Hansel and Gretel
"Breadcrumb trail" is the term used to describe a text or graphic sequence which documents a trail from the current page back to the home page or a major sub-heading page. The user must always know where they are in the site, and a breadcrumb trail not only shows them where they are, but also the likely steps they took to navigate to their current page. The navigation to the left on this page is laid out to also function as a breadcrumb trail.
PAGE LAYOUT- Whitespace - the Space Around an Element
The single most important concept in layout is "whitespace". The designer must leave enough free space around an element so that the eye can freely play across it. The content must be pleasing to the eye, and the user's attention must be lead directly to the central information for each page. Other important text aspects are:- Never underline body text, as a reader will think it's a link.
- Avoid using italics because it is difficult to read on a screen.
- Small font size can only be used sparingly. Use larger font sizes for large blocks of text.
- Every element has a purpose
Every element on a page must have a purpose, and serve the overall goals of the site. Clear, clean design communicates your message best.
