Web design and navigation
As people "browse" the Web, "land" on a page and "navigate" on a website. To find their way when they need a "navigation" system. The navigation is so important to web design to a unit of life real: when driving on a road that wants to see clear marked destinations, exits and car parks. Want to know where you are and wherever you go. The same applies to visitors. They do not provide a clear road map and go back to where they came. Navigation should be clear and simple. Or better: standard. This means: not go around renaming buttons. Use the "home" for the index, no "return to base." Despite this "return to base" is quite clear, not all web users are in the mood for riddles, nor have the time to start learning your rules, your style or your symbols.
There are three main types of navigation: global, local and hierarchical.
Web designers worldwide use to navigate websites middle groups and to classify the main points of interest. Hierarchical navigation refers to large websites – such as web directories, article directories, news portals and so on. This approach is somewhat confusing for web novices: they really can not find their way, especially when the navigation structure it is not clear (some web designers omit important navigational elements such as "you are here", "Volver", "page following ", etc)
An important note about local navigation: it works very well when you need traffic crossed. You could use embedded links to lead visitors to information that is elsewhere on your website or in a different Web site. But if you need a link to another web page using a target = "_blank" Approach will open the link in a new window. This is how visitors will not miss the way back to your website.
Often designers use a mixture of the three navigational styles, depending on the size of a website, its categories and the importance of these categories. As a rule general all sites have a global navigation principle: the navigation bar. standard practices of navigation bar at the top or left side of the screen. Some designers place the navigation bar on the right side – but users are not really familiar with this approach. Worse Practice promoted by flash designers who ignore web usability standards and make visitors "guess" where the links are.
No matter where you want to put the navigation bar, remember: keep it simple. Take a look at the websites of large corporations. For example Philips placed the navigation bar at the top to define the main categories and uses a java script to help users navigate to points of interest. On pages Philips uses a high left navigation bar. All in all, web designers who created the Philips website uses the three major types of navigation, but the design respects one radical principle: "sense and simplicity". That's the motto of Philips applies perfectly as a fundamental rule when it comes to design web.
About the Author
Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. No programming or design skill required. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with http://HighPowerSites.com at: http://www.highpowersites.com
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