Navigation Design and information architecture

Most of the time we talk about navigation, which is a manifestation of navigation to content and structure. It means that when we talk about navigation, we focus more on how to interact with it and how visually it looks. But navigation is not limited to interaction and visual forms.

The narrow-defined navigation

Recall how we designed the navigation? Is it not based on the content, according to the structure of the content to design? In the end, navigation may include three things: Interactive design, visual design, and not forgetting the information architecture. It is the information architecture that determines the design of navigation.

The information architecture determines how many levels we classify, whether a project can belong to two or more categories, and so on. Within the information architecture, a large part of the work is categorized. Classification, is to the existing items, content, through the known common attributes, grouped, categorized. Before the invention of computer and information system, people were working on the classification. From everyday life to scientific research, classification is everywhere. Why do we classify animals and plants? Oh, to form a scientific system of knowledge. Then of course, there is the specific existence of animals, plants, microorganisms, only to the boundary, door, outline, head, branch, genus, species such biological classification. Why do you have to be so meticulous and so many levels? It's because the complexity of the biology session requires so much detail.

So I've always supported the idea of classifying and information architecture based on content. So I also highly recommend the use of card classification, both quantitative and qualitative analysis. In case of condition , recommend everyone to try.

Back to the beginning of the topic, if we consider navigation, only consider its interaction and visual form, then it is likely to be counterproductive to the information architecture. Like the following example.

Example of Tab navigation

Why do we use TAB navigation? It is because it can better display the classification and classification of the structure (generally two-level). It's not because of the Tab-type navigation that people classify categories into two levels. At first, it must have been because of the level two classification, designers have designed a subtle Tab-style navigation. And the large-scale use of Tab navigation, but also in the negative impact of most of the information architecture design. A few simple items, this can be a level of logic, but was applied to the two class classification, the reason is that the Tab-type navigation is more good-looking. It's like people are always used to using four characters as navigation copy. For example, the word "news" can be used, the "Hot News". That's the same reason.

The interactive and visual design of navigation should not affect the design of the information architecture. Is the fish eye menu really that handy? If the original Drop-down menu on 10 menu items, you will choose to use the Fish eye menu? Or just because it's cool.

Still the question, what kind of content, determines what kind of navigation. In particular, I would like to note that the content here, not only includes the classification of text materials, but also includes functional web site user tasks and goals.

Navigation is more than Tab

We see that in the Office 2007 series, the original menu has been replaced by a brick-like button. These boards, called Ribbon, or context navigation (situational navigation), are a sort of classification of similar interactions. Obviously, situational navigation has gone beyond the simple categorization of content.

Is the search box a kind of navigation? It seems far-fetched to say so. But in the information retrieval system, the search box, filter, and so on, indeed played a role in navigation. Or we can call it auxiliary navigation.

Why does navigation exist when it is traceable? In all systems and applications, they are designed to enable users to perform their tasks efficiently and achieve their goals. In this way, the links and buttons that lead users to quickly complete tasks can be part of a large navigation system.

Perhaps many friends have this question: Does navigation design take business goals into account? I feel that this does not conflict with the above. The specifics can be left to the discussion.

Summary

Do not navigate for navigation, the front of a navigation refers to the form of the following navigation refers to the actual navigation system.

For navigation design, information architecture is more important than interactive mode and visual form.

Navigation is not just a sort of content, it also includes categories that are similar to interactive operations. The purpose of navigation is to enable users to accomplish tasks efficiently and achieve goals.

Situational navigation may be a developing trend of navigation design.