Supportive navigation from "summary" of Summary of Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think, Revisited by Milkyway Media
Supportive navigation is a way to make the user interface for websites and applications easier to interact with, allowing users to quickly and intuitively find their way around. It is designed to reduce the amount of mental effort users need to spend in order to find what they are looking for.- When it comes to website navigation, supportive measures should be taken in order to create a smoother experience for the user. This could involve clearly labelling tabs and menu options so that it is clear what a user can do.
- Website navigation can also benefit greatly from adding visual cues, such as using arrows and highlighting methods of moving forward or backward within a website.
- A great way to add navigational support is by providing breadcrumbs - this is where a navigation bar shows how deep you are into a page or sections of a page.
- The most effective websites are designed with user-friendly menus, including drop-down menus, so that users can quickly access the information without having to concentrate too much.
- Providing search functionality on large websites helps significantly, as users no longer need to navigate through different levels of menus and categories.
- Typing mistakes should also be accounted for when creating website navigation ― if someone makes a typing error while searching for something, it's helpful if there is an automatic redirect that takes them to the correct page.
- Transparent links are essential, as they indicate to the user which parts of the website are clickable. Links should also be easy to recognize, whether it is by changing font color or underlining text.
- It's important to present choices at each stage of the process, allowing users to go back and alter their decisions if necessary down the line.
- Provide some form of contact link. Users often find themselves lost, and knowing they have quick access to assistance will help keep frustration to a minimum.
- Usability testing should always be conducted after changes are made to ensure that all elements perform as expected.
