site contents...
introduction
site design +navigation
page design
examples
general resources

Created October 1,1998
Updated February 8, 2005
Comments:  Ann Lindell
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Site elements

site "cover" or "splash" page
a point of entry, an enticement to go further,establishes overall "look" and "feel" of a site.  Anwsers questions:  Where am I?  What kind of site is this?  What will I find here?

    Frequent users may find a site cover annoying (but they could bookmark an internal page.)
    Example:  Counterspace
home page
Main point of entry; top of hierarchy; all pages in site link back here.

Other pages/elements:

  • secondary pages
  • content pages
  • links
  • bibliographies, indexes, appendicies
  • FAQ
Navigation

When designing navigation, you should provide your user with the answers to the following questions:

  • Where am I?
  • Where have I been?
  • Where can I go next?
  • Where is the “home page”?
Let the user know where s/he is at all times.  Consider that maybe only a portion of the "page" will be visible on the screen.  Provide information such as titles, headings, author information, dates of creation and modification.

"Fixed" links can lead users through a preordained sequence or a linear narrative.

Targets can be used for intra-page navigation.

Beware of "mystery meat" navigation.  Examples  1 | 2 | 3

Content Presentation
Most sites contain information in small units. Seldom do people want to read long passages of text from computer screens. Most users will print a longer document to be read later. Long pages that have to be scrolled can be disorienting. Choose a uniform format for presenting information throughout your site.

Have a logical hierarchy.  Draw it out before you start.

Site Design/Navigational Alternatives:  [diagrams from the Yale C/AIM site] 

     
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