Conference Buddies

March 11, 2009 8:30am – 10:00am
Speaker: James Hobart

Summary/Topics:

• Navigation/Taxonomy Basics
• Menu/Hierarchical Design Patterns
• Alternative Navigation Design
• Complex Taxonomy Case Study

UI Design Basics

• Consistency
• Clarity
• Terminology
• Provide clear feedback
• Correct “Mental Model”
• Task Alignment
• Enjoyable

Key Thoughts

• Avoid deep level hierarchy when possible (no more than 3 levels deep)
• Lower efficiency costs – shorten the amount of steps to do something
  Example:
  Google allows searches for movie times and stock quotes. Instead of going to Fandango or Scottrade, a user can just type their search in Google.
• Provide real-time feedback
• Present possibilities to help with selection
• Discovery engines can add value
• Help distinguish best choices – the buy now button on e-commerce sites are generally the largest call to action

Note: 18% of users automatically go straight to search rather than using a navigation system, as such, a search should always be available on a global level.

Definitions

Taxonomy – metadata – information about information
Navigation Models – basis for creating components to allow users to move around and find information

Navigation Examples

Hierarchical Tree View

An abstract view for navigation – users may not understand hierarchy. It’s been tested to show that if users do not find what they are looking for upon expanding on a tree view, they start over and go down the hierarchy again. This increases efficiency cost.

Tree/List View Combination

Similar to Tree View, but provides more information. Microsoft Outlook is a popular example of this structure. It has been proven successful for power users.

Menu Navigation Guidelines

• Choose a consistent global navigation scheme
• Sub-navigation should be tied to global navigation
• Beware of complex sidebar navigation
• Avoid fly-out menus with more than 3 levels (also be aware of horizontal and vertical spacing – horizontal space should not be too wide, and vertical margins should provide adequate spacing)

Menu Information Layering

• Set distinct layer thresholds (pick out the essential items to list and for any non-essential items, add a “more” link)
• Follow a 1-2-3 step to get users where they want

Folksonomy-Based Consumer Search/Taxonomy

Hierarchical structures based on user driven data, such as:

• Product reviews
• User driven tags
• User ratings

Note: Pitfall is that you must monitor the data. User driven data needs to factor in that users can drive the data differently in that some users may tag something as “hiking boots” and others as “hiker boots” or “hiking shoes.”

Remember…

• Taxonomies getting more complex
• Adapt navigation strategies to meet new information challenges
• Shield users from complexity
• Lower efficiency cost of navigation
• Leverage design patterns to repeat success