Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Thanks, John - First, the 'mega-menu' usage for us is only up in that very top-area of links on the pages, e.g., Shop or North America . For the main/global navigation (red), we're just using short link lists as drop-downs. I will keep the 'mega' option on the table longer-term as I push to re-approach how we're organizing and allowing access to information. And yes, you're correct about us not showing an active state: something that was either overlooked or deliberately done (this project was well underway before I came on board). I've also noted to my team that the 'tabs' themselves are not functionally clickable; that is, you can click, but you no go nowheere :( (VP says he likes it this way to 'force the user' to find a quicker path to destination... don't get me started.) I completely agree with the red issue, and we're slowly changing that to a soft blue as we launch updates/new projects. So, thanks for the input! It really helps me to feel I'm not alone in much of my thinking. I may have said earlier that I'm the sole UI/UX/IA/IxD person on our global web team. :-/ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Agree with observations re: Nix on the redundancy between top sidebar nav links Plus on the consistency of global/topbar menu Plus on Brian's suggestion of MegaMenus. Don't know what you mean by your response - but you might want to take the technique a little further in solving your larger challenge. 2 critical comments on current UI: Current design does NOT echo your location in the active silo (by highlighting the global menu selection, for instance, or placing a breadcrumb-like title on the drilldown pages). That environmental contextual info is important in terms of helping the user feel comfortable in navigating a huge site. IMHO Large amounts of highly saturated red make me dizzy. Esp. when identifying links. I'm sure that some stakeholders are convinced that it's part of the company brand, but it's perceptually overwhelming. As a partial solution: Red dots, arrows or icons might identify clickable items on a large list without the eye-crossing intense color blur of huge areas of undifferentiated red text. And, yes, tag clouds might help the search task - esp. if you can identify popular keyword themes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Jennifer, Have you considered the mega dropdowns? Not sure if they would be appropriate for your exact situation, but it could be worth a look. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/mega-dropdown-menus.html Brian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Hi Brian, We are using those now in our Global Navigation, primarily for what I call the secondary or utiltiy nav (About Us, Site Map, Other Regions). -Jennifer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Hi all -- My manager (not an IA) feels strongly that every page should have a left-navigation scheme that reflects the hierarchy of that section of the website. Currently we have our site broken up into business segments, which we understand may be problematic from a user-perspective, however, that is how it will be for a while. That is reflected in a horizontal 'global' navigation (6 total 'tabs' with drop-down menus, the contents of which were determined through discussions and agreements with the businesses). I know, I know... not ideal in the least, but it was done before I came on board and I am the sole UX person providing IA/ID/Design/ etc. So, I'm having to do a lot of digging to support the ideas I have... That said, back to this left navigation... A) I'm not sure that the entry pages for each business unit (main global nav tab) need to have a left-navigation, as it's essentially a micro-homepage, and B) Regardless of having or not a left nav on any/all pages, I'm trying to discover what the contents of it should be, especially considering the global nav drop-downs links are not necessarily reflective of the architecture of the site. My initial thought was that I would duplicate what's in the drop-down menu off the tab in the global nav so that it's immediately accessible to users (so not have to constantly rollover the global tab to access the links). But, seeing as the section may actually have a different structure... I'm just stuck. So, there are the two questions: is it ridiculous to have both a global and left nav once a user gets past the homepage? (I understand there is also the concept of 'local nav'?); and, once a left-nav (or, right... whatever position it is), what are some thoughts on what to populate that navigation with? Thanks, in advance - Jennifer Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Hi Jennifer, Here is my two cents... hopefully it helps. Usually a left or right or local nav, as i've seen it, supports your global nav, not replicates it. By having two navs that do the same thing you are just filling that page up with noise that disrupts the user. The global nav (which you have on top) should remain as constant as possible and the support nav could change depending on which main navigation you are in. Basically you make a selection with the global nav and you dive even deeper with a support nav. Usually support navs are useful if you have a deep taxonomy that can't be surfaced in the global nav or if you have long (horizontal) taxonomy with many similar pieces of content that are on the same level. With these horizontal taxonomies you could use the support nav as a filter (sort of like a tag list idea). Good luck! Lis http://www.elisabethhubert.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
thanks elizabeth! I actually agree with you. right now, we have really no taxonomy, which is a pretty deep problem. I want to address it and have someone hired to help us rebuild. What I'm looking at doing right now - at least until we can address the larger issue - is replicate the the main sub-categories off the global nav, but add a 'tree' navigation below each in a left-navigation scheme that provides the deeper pages that can be accesses to elaborate upon that category... Not sure that makes much sense :) -J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
No problem. I think what you are doing is a great start. Post again if you'd like more help :-) Lis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Hi Jennifer, I agree with Elizabeth - replicating navigation is a waste of space and superflous. By the sound of things you've not been left many choices? I don't think there's an obvious answer, however it might be a case of chosing the lesser of the evil. Possible options: 1. Disable the left hand naviagtion and use the space it occupied (if possible) for useful content, 2. Attempt to look at the renaming the left hand sub-nav (from the global sub-nav) into labels which further aid or augment navigation for the user, 3. Disable the horizontal sub-nav so there's no duplication and use the left hand navigation to support that section of contet. Could you supply a link to the exisiting site? Good luck, -- rob // Rob Enslin On 21 Apr 2009, at 12:17, Jennifer chicgee...@gmail.com wrote: thanks elizabeth! I actually agree with you. right now, we have really no taxonomy, which is a pretty deep problem. I want to address it and have someone hired to help us rebuild. What I'm looking at doing right now - at least until we can address the larger issue - is replicate the the main sub-categories off the global nav, but add a 'tree' navigation below each in a left-navigation scheme that provides the deeper pages that can be accesses to elaborate upon that category... Not sure that makes much sense :) -J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Need for and Contents of Left Navigation
Thanks again to all. And sure, I don't mind sharing the site: http://us.trendmicro.com/us/home/ You may have heard of our products. Right now, I'm trying to work on the Medium Business overview page (what they call here the 'segment landing page'). We actually just launched this as a new header and banner space this morning, a project which began long before I was brought on board. My personal immediate goal with our navigation is to at least create a schema that is consistently applied across the site (if we even need a left-nav remains an open question in my mind). So, even though I'm currently working on Medium Business, the left-navigation concept would translate as well to the other 'segments'. The larger/long-term goal I have is to really rework the taxonomy and perhaps readdress the global navigation. Within the Medium Business project, we are trying to build out the content of the page (and sub-pages) to address more of a customer-centric approach to buying our solutions (go fig?) rather than the Here's what we have to sell you, buy it. Thus, any left navigation we may add I would like to include the new path, probably a sub-set of pages under overview. I'm thinking as I go as I don't have as much time on this as I'd like. :( I know there's no perfect solution really, but how can I make it as thought-out within the framework I have to work... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=41403 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
