navigation design

1. the systems main screen remove user confirm info and help management messages start add user add user remove user navigation design local structure – single screen global structure – whole site

2. levels • widget choice • menus, buttons etc. • screen design • application navigation design • environment • other apps, O/S

3. the web … • widget choice • screen design • navigation design • environment • elements and tags • <a href=“...”> • page design • site structure • the web, browser,external links

4. Widget Choice • Widgets • The appropriate choice of widgets and wording in menus and buttons will help you know how to use them for a particular selection or action.

5. Screens or windows • You need to find things on the screen, understand the logical grouping of buttons.

6. Navigation within the application • You need to be able to understand what willhappen when a button is pressed, to understand where you are in the interaction.

8. think about structure • Local structure • looking from this screen out • Global structure • structure of site, movement between screens • wider still • relationship with other applications

9. local from one screen looking out

10. Local Structure • Much of interaction involves goal-seeking behavior. • Users have some idea of whatthey are after and a partial model of the system • if users had perfect knowledge of what they wanted and how the system worked they could simply take the shortest path to what they want, pressing all the right buttons and links.

11. goal seeking goal start

12. goal seeking goal start progress with local knowledge only ...

13. goal seeking goal start … but can get to the goal

14. goal start goal seeking … try to avoid these bits!

15. To do this goal seeking, each state of the system or each screen needs to give the user enough knowledge of what to do to get closer to their goal.

16. four golden rules • knowing where you are • knowing what you can do • knowing where you are going • or what will happen • knowing where you’ve been • or what you’ve done

17. top level category sub-category web site this page live links to higher levels where you are – breadcrumbs • shows path through web site hierarchy

18. things other things more things the thing from outer space beware the big button trap • where do they go? • lots of room for extra text! • button has only one or two words

19. Global- hierarchical organization between screens within the application

20. the system info and help management messages add user remove user hierarchical diagrams • One way to organize a system is in some form of hierarchy

21. hierarchical diagrams ctd. • parts of application • screens or groups of screens • The hierarchy links screens, pages or states in logical groupings • typically functional separation • evidence that people find hierarchies simpler than most • it is no good creating a hierarchy that the designers understand, but not the users . . . and all too commonly this is exactly what happens

22. navigating hierarchies • deep is difficult! • There is also evidence that deep hierarchies are difficult to navigate,

23. think about dialogue what does it mean in UI design? Minister: do you nametake this woman … Man: I do Minister: do you nametake this man … Woman: I do Minister: I now pronounce you man and wife

24. the general flaw of the service, but has blanks for the names of the bride and groom. • So it gives the pattern of the interaction between the parties, but is instantiated differently for each service.

25. Human–computer dialog is just the same; • there are overall patterns of movement between main states of a device or windows in a PC application, but the details differ each time it is run.

26. think about dialogue what does it mean in UI design? • marriage service • general flow, generic – blanks for names • pattern of interaction between people • computer dialogue • pattern of interaction between users and system • but details differ each time Minister: do you name take this woman …

27. main screen remove user confirm add user network diagrams • show different paths through system

28. main screen remove user confirm add user network diagrams ctd. • showing the principal states or screens • linked together with arrows • what leads to what • what happens when • including branches • more task oriented then hierarchy

29. wider still between applications and beyond ...

30. wider still … • style issues: • platform standards, consistency • We should normally conform to platform standards, such as positions for menus on a PC application, to ensure consistency between applications. • functional issues • cut and paste • navigation issues • embedded applications • links to other apps … the web

31.  Dix , Alan Finlay, Janet Abowd, Gregory Beale, Russell ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ screen design and layout basic principles grouping, structure, order alignment use of white space

32. basic principles • ask • what is the user doing? • think • what information, comparisons, order • design • form follows function

33. available tools • We have a number of visual tools available to help us suggest to the user appropriate ways to read and interact with a screen or device. • grouping of items • order of items • decoration - fonts, boxes etc. • alignment of items • white space between items

34. Billing details: Name Address: … Credit card no Delivery details: Name Address: … Delivery time Order details: item quantity cost/item cost size 10 screws (boxes) 7 3.71 25.97 …… … … … grouping and structure logically together  physically together Grouping related items in an order screen

35. order of groups and items • think! - what is natural order • should match screen order! • use boxes, space etc.

36. ABCDEFGHIJKLM NOPQRSTUVWXYZ decoration • use boxes to group logical items • use fonts for emphasis, headings • but not too many!!

37. alignment - text • you read from left to right (English and European)  align left hand side boring but readable! Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Winston Churchill - A Biography Wizard of Oz Xena - Warrior Princess Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Winston Churchill - A Biography Wizard of Oz Xena - Warrior Princess fine for special effects but hard to scan

38. alignment - names • Usually scanning for surnames  make it easy!   Alan Dix Janet Finlay Gregory Abowd Russell Beale Dix , Alan Finlay, Janet Abowd, Gregory Beale, Russell  Alan Dix Janet Finlay Gregory Abowd Russell Beale

39. alignment - numbers think purpose! which is biggest? 532.56179.3256.3171573.94810353.142497.6256

40. alignment - numbers visually: long number = big number align decimal points or right align integers 627.865 1.005763 382.583 2502.56 432.935 2.0175 652.87 56.34

41. multiple columns • scanning across gaps hard:(often hard to avoid with large data base fields) sherbert 75toffee 120chocolate 35fruit gums 27coconut dreams 85

42. sherbert 75toffee 120chocolate 35fruit gums 27coconut dreams 85 multiple columns - 2 • use leaders

43. multiple columns - 3 • or greying (vertical too) sherbert 75toffee 120chocolate 35fruit gums 27coconut dreams 85

44. multiple columns - 4 • or even (with care!) ‘bad’ alignment sherbert 75 toffee 120 chocolate 35 fruit gums 27 coconut dreams 85

45. white space - the counter WHAT YOU SEE

46. THE GAPS BETWEEN white space - the counter WHAT YOU SEE

47. space to separate

48. space to structure

49. space to highlight

50. defrost settings type of food time to cook physical controls • grouping of items • defrost settings • type of food • time to cook