Erin

Hamalainen | INF440 Introduction to Information Architecture | Assignment 3

Site Mockup Description

Primary Navigation
Global Navigation The website, Information Architecture Tools, has been designed with global navigation features. This navigation option is to be available across all webpages of the website to ensure consistent navigation throughout. Users will be able to access any part of the website through this navigation option from any page, providing them with an easy and familiar pathway (Lynch & Horton, 2008a, pp. 1- 3; Young, 2002; Nielsen, 2013). Local Navigation The local navigation bar is present on all webpages, except the homepage on the left-hand side under the global menu. The location of the local navigation bar is designed to meet user expectations as to the placement of such navigational features (Lynch & Horton, 2008b). It allows for users to navigate the categorical area easily by jumping from topic to topic as required (Moreville & Rosefeld, 2007, p. 124) Footer Navigation Bar The bottom of each webpage within the site has been designed with a footer navigation bar. This has been organised using a different category type to the global menu, focusing on corporate and governance activities. The navigation bar always includes a link to the homepage so users may quickly move back to the homepage to restart their information search. By separating the global menu, organised using subject category, and the footer menu, organised using an audience category (Moreville & Rosefeld, 2007, p. 65), it lessens user confusion when using the menus as navigational options (Moreville & Rosefeld, 2007, p. 68; Young, 2002).

Erin Hamalainen | INF440 Introduction to Information Architecture | Assignment 3

Search Bar The search bar has been designed to sit across all webpages, with the global menu. This location ensures the user has access to the search tool whenever they may want to use this direct type of navigation, such as starting a new information search when on a deeper webpage or being lost within the websites navigation (Nielsen, 2001).

Secondary Navigation
Breadcrumbs Breadcrumbs have been provided for users as a secondary means of navigating the website. This navigational tool is provided on the top-left corner of every webpage within the site, connected with the global navigation bar, and works in a dual way by giving users a location of where they are, and an easy and quick path to move up within the website. Inclusion of breadcrumb navigation in websites is becoming a consistent design requirement. User testing proves that the existence of breadcrumb navigation rarely causes interference with users who dont know what they are, and always provides a helpful navigation option for users who are familiar with them (Nielsen, 2007; Kalbach, 2007, p. 61). Related items Contextual navigation has been provided for the user in the form for related links, found on the right-hand side of the webpage. These contextual links allow users to view an abstracts of related articles to the currently showing article, proving users a bypass option from main stream navigation and possibly introducing them to articles they were unaware existed (Moreville & Rosefeld, 2007, p. 126). Strategically, related articles may provide an increase in traffic to less visible or older articles and encourage the user to explore the website for further information (Moreville & Rosefeld, 2007, p. 126).

Erin Hamalainen | INF440 Introduction to Information Architecture | Assignment 3

Wayfinding
Landing page Each category within the Information Architecture Tools website has been designed with a landing page, giving a brief overview of the category in question and access to local menu options. Providing landing pages within the website will provide the user with wayfinding clues to make website navigation effective and simple (Lynch & Horton, 2008a, pp. 1-2; Nielsen, 2009). This is especially helpful for users who have come to the website via a search engine to the landing page, giving users enough information to go deeper within the website, or the option to navigation to other landing pages or the homepage. Strategically, landing pages provide websites the opportunity to increase their search engine optimization, by improving search structure and relevant returns on category searches users will conduct via search engines (Nielsen, 2009). Headings Each webpage is to have consistent headings throughout the website, using the same format of font, size and colour. This ensures the name of the page stands out from existing text, and gives users a clear wayfinding clue as to where they are in the website. Headings also provides users who skim webpages for information an easy indication of where they may want to start or stop reading (Lynch & Horton, 2008a, pp. 1-3; Guenther, 2004, p. 46; Kilian, 2001, p. 43; Nielsen, 2008).

Erin Hamalainen | INF440 Introduction to Information Architecture | Assignment 3

Bibliography
Guenther, K. (2004, Jul/Aug). Web site management. Online , 46-48. Kalbach, J. (2007). Mechanisms of navigation. In Designing Web navigation (pp. 54-67). Sebastopol, CA: O'Rielly. Kilian, C. (2001). Effective web writing. www.techniques.com , 41-43. Lynch, P., & Horton, S. (2008a). Interface design: navigation and wayfinding. Retrieved 1st Apr, 2013 from Webstyle guide: basic design principles for creating websites (3rd ed.): http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/4-interface- design/2-navigation.html Lynch, P., & Horton, S. (2008b). Information architecture: presenting information architecture. Retrieved 30th May, 2013 from Web Style Guide (3rd ed.): http://webstyleguide.com/wsg3/3-information-architecture/4-presenting- information.html Moreville, P., & Rosefeld, L. (2007). Information architecture for the world wide web (3rd ed.). Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly. Nielsen, J. (2001). Search: visible and simple. Retrieved 25th May, 2013 from Nielsen Norman Group: http://www.nngroup.com/articles/search-visible- and-simple/ Nielsen, J. (2007). Breadcrumb Navigation Increasingly Useful . Retrieved th 5 Oct, 2012 from Alertbox: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/breadcrumbs.html Nielsen, J. (2008). Writing style for print vs. web. Retrieved 17th Mar, 2012 from Useit.com: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/print-vs-online-content.html Nielsen, J. (2009). Top 10 Information Architecture Mistakes. Retrieved 3r Oct, 2012 from Nielson Norman Group: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/ia- mistakes.html Nielsen, J. (2013). Converting search into navigation. Retrieved 25th May, 2013 from Nielsen Norman Group: http://www.nngroup.com/articles/search- navigation/ Young, I. (2002). Site navigation: a few helpful definitions. Retrieved 1st April, 2013 from Adaptive Path: http://www.adaptivepath.com/ideas/e000048