One of the most crucial items in the persistent navigation is a button or link that takes user to the site’s Home page. Almost all Web users expect the Site ID to be a button that can take you to the Home page.

1. Designing navigation
Part 02
S.Gopinath
Department of Physical Science
Vavuniya Campus,
University of Jaffna,
Sri Lanka

2. There’s no place like home
• One of the most crucial items in the persistent
navigation is a button or link that takes user to
the site’s Home page.
• Almost all Web users expect the Site ID to be a
button that can take you to the Home page.
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3. A way to search
Stick to the formula
• Fancy wording: They’ll be looking for the word
“Search”. Not “Find , Quick Find, Quick Search,
or Keyword Search”.
• Instructions: Adding “Type a keyword” is
really no use.
• Options: what’s being searched: the site, part
of the site, or the whole Web
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4. Flow chart of site levels
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6. Page names
There are four things you need to know about
page names:
1. Every page needs a name
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7. 2. The name needs to be in the right place.
In the visual hierarchy of the page, the page name should appear to be framing the
content that is unique to this page.
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8. 3. The name needs to be prominent. You want
the combination of position, size, color, and
typeface to make the name say “This is the
heading for the entire page.” In most cases, it
will bet he largest text on the page.
4. The name needs to match what I clicked.
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9. “You are here”
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10. • On the Web, this is accomplished by
highlighting my current location in whatever
navigation bars, lists, or menus appear on the
page.
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11. Breadcrumbs
Like “You are here” indicators, Breadcrumbs
show you where you are.
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12. Here are a few best practices for implementing
them:
1. Put them at the top.
2. Use > between levels.
3. Boldface the last item: The last item in the list
should be the name of the current page, and
making it bold gives it the prominence it deserves.
And because it’s the page that you’re on, naturally
it’s not a link.
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13. Taps
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14. Trunk test
You’re ready to try trunk test for good Web navigation.
Here’s how it goes:
1. What site is this? (Site ID)
2. What page am I on? (Page name)
3. What are the major sections of this site? (Sections)
4. What are my options at this level? (Local
navigation)
5. Where am I in the scheme of things? (“You are
here” indicators)
6. How can I search?
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15. How you perform the trunk test:
• Step 1: Choose a page anywhere in the site at
random, and print it.
• Step 2: Hold it at arm’s length or squint so you
can’t really study it closely.
• Step 3: As quickly as possible, try to find and
circle each of these items:
– Site ID, Page name, Sections (Primary
navigation),Local navigation, “You are here”
indicator(s),Search
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