Design Basics: Navigation

Basics

• Many conventions: table of contents, index, page layout for browsing
• Emphasis given to each tool varies with purpose of document

Novel Model

• Main emphasis: sequential reading. Need to be able to find your place, read whole document in sequence
• Navigation adaptations: Little text differentiation, little ability to search (no index, table of contents minimal).
• Adaptation for web: need to compensate for lost ability to browse in printed book, with careful links.

~This document collection~

Dictionary/Encyclopedia Model

• Main emphasis: ability to search for specific information
• Navigation adaptations: whole document is often giant index; information presentation is highly organized and defined.
• Adaptation for web: search ability often better than in print; therefore, can try subject, not alphabetical, order, for added value.

~Bartlett's Familiar Quotations~

Newspaper Model

• Main emphasis: browsing, ability to pick out article of interest
• Navigation adaptations: indexes are minimal; sequential reading unimportant; text placement to catch your attention. Teaser articles lead you into paper.
• Adaptation for web: browsing online is not as comfortable, so front page has more, and shorter teasers (closer to index model)

~New York Times~