Designing Web Navigation, Continued

Tip #5: Understand That Everyone Is Different

The expression,"I'm OK, you're OK" may be something of a joke, but it's got a lot to recommend it when it comes to navigation design. One of the things that makes navigation design such an intriguing challenge is that it is so subjective. What one person thinks is terrifically usable and fun, someone else may think is difficult and cumbersome.

Icons are a very good example of this. For people who prefer to absorb new information in visual ways (maps, pictures, and so on), icons are often welcome, assuming they are reasonably clear. For people who prefer to absorb new information by reading or listening, icons are intensely frustrating. For both audiences, a simple text label on the icon can help to clarify its meaning and make it more accessible.

Another example of how personal preferences affect how we approach navigation can be found in searching and browsing behavior. Some people like to search for the exact information they need, and will not browse unless forced to. Others feel very comfortable browsing through information to find what they need. Children, for example, generally respond better to browsing than searching when it comes to finding information (that may change as current Net-savvy youth grow older).

In designing navigation, then, you need to know whether your audience might have some stylistic preferences you need to address (such as children's need to browse). In most cases, you will need to build in alternatives to support different personal styles and preferences. This might mean building in extra shortcuts—such as a search function and a site map—to please a variety of visitors.

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