Designing Web Navigation

SUMMARY

Abraham Lincoln is reported to have once said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Preparation is clearly as important—if not more important—than execution. But when projects begin, people tend to grab the closest implement, no matter how dull, and jump right into the detail.

Good planning ultimately saves time by focusing design decisions later on in the project. Web navigation design does not take place independent of project goals. You must at least be aware of key elements of project background.

For example, consider the stakeholders, the overall goals of the business (such as revenue targets and operational cost goals), and the site's goals. Understanding the vision, mission, strategy, and brand is also important. And in order to create a unique position in a market, it's necessary to examine competitor products and services. Finally, ask why this company is embarking on this web project at this time: Find the problem behind the problem.

Remember, you can't design effective navigation without understanding what it is you're providing access to. Gather existing content for analysis and use a survey to get an overview of the major content types, formats, and structures. Or, develop a detailed content inventory or audit in which every page is systematically reviewed and tracked. You need to become fluent in the language of the information you will be organizing and understand the general subject matter.

Likewise, understand ...