Chapter 6. organization navigation

Chapter 6. organization & navigation

"Information...Information..."

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1. Structuring your site

2. 6 ways to organize your site

3. Creating site maps & schematics

4. 12 navigation systems

5. Action section: How will your site be organized?

6. Why section names should be clear, not clever

In many ways, web design is organization and navigation. Although visual flourishes such as color, imagery, and style might get more attention, it's the structure of the site that determines its success.

A well-organized site will lead users effortlessly toward their goals, because its sections correspond with their needs. Its language makes sense to them, and its navigation is consistent and clear. But a poorly organized site (one that was built hastily, or with only the owner's needs in mind) will confuse users, and inadvertently keep them from the information or services they need.

The organization, after all, is the backbone of your site. Like the supporting beams of a house, it provides the structure on which the visual design rests.

It's the structure of a site that determines its success. A well-organized site will lead users effortlessly toward their goals.

Still, many people have trouble separating the two areas of web design. And sites suffer when the two are confused. "You have to separate the functional or structural design from the communication design," says Peter Merholz, a partner with consulting firm Adaptive Path. "People tend to get hung up on the final expression without considering the underlying functional framework."

But the framework is the most important piece. If you haven't organized your site in a way that makes sense to the user, no visual wizardry can make it work for them. "If nothing else, a web site must work before it ought to look good," Merholz said. "It better do what it sets out to do."

Despite its strategic importance, site structure has often taken a backseat to the flashier aspects of design. But its importance is finally being acknowledged.

"I moved from doing content work to doing information architecture because it became more and more clear to me that structure more than anything else was the defining element in a web site," says Jesse James Garrett, author of The Elements of User Experience. "The key to a successful site is having it be well-structured."

the well-organized site

Site structure might not be the sexiest aspect of web design, but it's the most important. A well-organized site makes the user's job easy as it should be! Three separate elements contribute to a well-organized site.

The well-organized site has

• A logical structure. Your site should be organized in a way that makes immediate sense to the user. Site sections should correspond with the user's needs, and similar things (or tasks) should be grouped together. See site organization, p. 98.

• Consistent navigation. Users rely heavily on site navigation for orientation (Where am I?), context (What else is here?), and direction (How do I get there?). Your navigation should provide clear pathways that lead users quickly and intuitively to the things they need. See site navigation, p. 110.

• Clear labels. The names you choose for site sections go a long way toward helping users find what they need. Don't be clever. Don't be smart. Just be clear. See naming site sections, p. 122.

And corporations, as well as consultants, are reaching this conclusion.

"Information architecture has overtaken visual design as the most critical component in web design," said Lance McDaniel, VP of Creative for consulting firm SBI and Company. "The design of the information now outshines the visual design of the site, and gets more credit for its success. Whereas before, it was kind of a red-headed stepchild."