Synopses & Reviews
Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience offers the first in depth look at designing web site navigation. Author Jennifer Fleming offers design strategies to help you uncover solutions that work for your site and audience.Acclaimed Web design author Lynda Weinman says in the foreword to this book: "Kudos to Fleming for her excellent research, approachable tone and generosity of information. If you're looking for help in giving your site's visitors a more positive experience than they get today, this book is an excellent place to start. It provides ideas and direction, not preachy rules that apply to someone else's site."The first half of the book suggests goals and processes for developing workable navigation schemes. Topics include:
- Basic concepts in navigation
- Traits of navigation that work
- User testing and user-centered design
- Site architecture
- Interface and interaction design
The second half of
Web Navigation focuses on designing by purpose, with chapters on entertainment, shopping, identity, learning, information, and community sites. Through case studies and interviews, each section explains common navigation problems and presents real world solutions and advice. Designer interviews feature conversations with industry leaders such as Clement Mok, Jakob Nielsen, and Nathan Shedroff. Case studies include sites such as FAO Schwarz, National Geographic, and IBM.The accompanying CD-ROM is more than just a handy drink coaster. It serves as a launchpad to the sites mentioned in the text, and also offers software demos and a "netography" of related Web resources. "The Web needs more books like this if it to evolve to the next level," Weinman writes. "I believe this book can help you make your site a better place, regardless of whether your purpose is community-building, commerce, education, entertainment, information, or hobby. It's written is such an enjoyable, conversational tone that you may have trouble putting it down; I certainly did. I wholeheartedly recommend it for all Web publishers."
Synopsis
This book takes the first in-depth look at designing Web site navigation through design strategies to help you uncover solutions that work for your site and audience. It focuses on designing by purpose, with chapters on entertainment, shopping, identity, learning, information, and community sites. Comes with a CD-ROM containing software demos and a "netography" of related Web resources.
Synopsis
Navigation is one of the most important (and least understood) issues in Web site design. Why do so many people get lost on theWeb? How can we create more user-centered environments? The answeris by crafting the user experience.This book explores navigation design in depth, covering usability engineering, interface design, lessons from "real life," and more. The first half of the book suggests goals and processes for developing workable navigation schemes. The second half focuses on designingby purpose, with chapters on entertainment, shopping, identity, learning, information, and community sites. Case studies of popular sites help show what works and what doesn't. Throughout the book, interviews with expert such as Clement Mok, Nathan Shedroff, and Jakob Nielsen provide valuable insights. The accompanying CD-ROM includs a tour of selected sites, a "netography," and trial versions of popular software tools.
Synopsis
Through case studies and designer interviews, a variety of approaches to navigation issues are explored in this first in-depth look at designing web site navigation. The CD-ROM includes software, images, links and more.
Description
Systems requirements for CD-ROM: PC compatibles running Windows or Macintosh; an Internet browser (Netscape or MSIE, versions 3.0 or above recommended). Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-249) and index.
About the Author
Jennifer Fleming (
[email protected]) owns Square Circle Solutions, a Boston-area company specializing in user experience consulting and information design. Square Circle Solutions' client list includes Tripod, The Annenberg/CPB Project, EBSCO Publishing, and Shareholder Direct. Jennifer is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has taught courses in web and computer design topics for United Digital Artists, the Massachusetts College of Art, and Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College. Jennifer has a Master's degree in library and information science and an undergraduate degree in fine arts.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
1. Getting Started
Movement in space
Understanding the user experience
Putting yourself in users' shoes
Recap
2. Ten Qualities of Successful Navigation
Principles of successful navigation
Recap
3. Designing for Users
Defining your audience
Moving toward user-centered design
Getting started with user testing
Recap
4. Site Architecture
The quest for order
Organization defines content
Building your infrastructure
A closer look at process
Recap
5. Interface and Interaction Design
Visual messages
Show and tell
The psychology of design
Recap
6. Looking at Process
Process: A six-phase approach
Phase 1: Information gathering
Phase 2: Strategy
Phase 3: Prototyping
Phase 4: Implementation
Phase 5: Launch
Phase 6: Maintenance . growth
Recap
7. Navigation Design for Shopping Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right: Amazon.com
Who's doing it right: Garden Escape
Who's doing it right: FAO Schwarz
Recap
8. Navigation Design for Community Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right: sceneServer
Who's doing it right: Firefly
Who's doing it right: Café Utne
Recap
9. Navigation Design for Entertainment Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right: Urban Diary
Who's doing it right: Riven Journals
Who's doing it right: Crimson Empire
Recap
10. Navigation Design for Identity Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right: Razorfish
Who's doing it right: IBM
Who's doing it right: powazek.com
Recap
11. Navigation Design for Learning Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right: DigitalThink
Who's doing it right: National Geographic
Who's doing it right: The Annenberg/CPB Project
Recap
12. Navigation Design for Information Sites
Laying the groundwork
Outlining specific goals
Who's doing it right:MSNBC on the Internet
Who's doing it right: Lycos
Who's doing it right: Computers.com
Recap
A. Technical Tips
B. Glossary
C. Netography
D. Bibliography
Index