Homepage & Category Flashcards
What is the primary purpose of a homepage?
To act as an anchor, helping users explore the site, understand the brand, and access key navigational paths like categories, search, and curated paths.
What are the three primary product-finding paths highlighted on the homepage?
Category navigation, search, and curated paths (e.g., inspiration and new arrivals).
Why should banner-like content be used cautiously on homepages?
Banner-like content can create visual overload, leading to banner blindness and undermining key navigational elements.
What is a common issue with homepage carousels?
Many sites implement carousels poorly, with auto-rotations that move too quickly or lack user controls, frustrating users.
What is the role of category taxonomy in UX?
To create a logical and user-friendly structure that helps users navigate and find products efficiently, aligning with user expectations.
What is a common mistake in product subtypes?
Incorrectly implementing product subtypes as either categories instead of filters, leading to fragmented user experiences.
How should categories be structured to avoid user confusion?
Categories and subcategories should be divided into manageable chunks, avoiding excessive depth while remaining intuitive.
Why is main navigation important?
It significantly influences whether users can intuitively navigate or get lost due to poor design choices, such as overly complex drop-downs.
What percentage of tested sites have poor mobile navigation?
54% of mobile sites performed poorly due to a lack of visual orientation and clear main navigation options.
What is a best practice for mobile navigation?
Highlight the user’s current location within the navigation and ensure categories are visible without being nested behind a single menu item.
What are intermediary category pages?
Pages that help bridge broad categories and more specific products, guiding users toward refined product lists and filters.
Why should intermediary category pages not be overly promotional?
They should focus on aiding exploration and not distract users with excessive banners or unrelated offers.
What is a key finding about courtesy navigation?
Many sites fail to visually distinguish courtesy navigation options (like guides and help) from main product navigation, confusing users.
What is the recommended design for drop-down menus?
Use intelligent hover-intent systems and avoid overly narrow hit areas to prevent accidental activations.
What is the risk of over-categorization in product listings?
Users may struggle to compare similar products if shared attributes are split across multiple categories instead of being unified by filters.
How can sites improve the scoping of navigation categories?
By highlighting both sibling categories and the current scope, helping users understand where they are and what options are available.
What is an effective way to display product categories on desktop and mobile?
Expose the first-level categories by default, rather than hiding them behind a single ‘Shop’ or ‘Products’ menu.
Why should the homepage balance both search/navigation elements and promotional content?
To avoid visual overload and banner blindness while ensuring key navigational elements remain accessible.
What percentage of sites implemented carousels incorrectly according to Baymard research?
Nearly 75% of sites with carousels implemented them poorly, frustrating users.
What is the impact of poor homepage design on first-time users?
It can cause users to misinterpret the site’s purpose, leading to site abandonment.
What design element helps new users understand the site’s offerings?
Displaying a broad range of product categories and thematic paths on the homepage.
Why is it important to avoid ad-looking content on homepages?
It can cause users to perceive the site as less trustworthy and lead to banner blindness.
How can the homepage support return users?
By featuring personalized or dynamic content such as recent views, saved items, and new arrivals.
What is the risk of using overlays for newsletter signups on the homepage?
They can disrupt the browsing experience and lead to user frustration and increased bounce rates.
What role does imagery quality play on the homepage?
High-quality imagery supports brand perception, user inspiration, and conveys the product’s value.
Why should product categories be included in homepage navigation?
They provide users with immediate access to the full scope of available products, preventing siloing.
What is a common mistake with implementing product subtypes?
Implementing subtypes as categories instead of filters, making it harder to see all related products.
How should subcategories be aligned for user expectations?
Subcategories should be intuitive and reflect common mental models of how users categorize items.
What is a common issue with accessory placement in category taxonomies?
Accessories are often over-categorized, making it difficult for users to find them in context with main items.
What is an example of a poorly implemented taxonomy?
Dividing shoe brands as categories instead of filters within the ‘Shoes’ category.
Why should product categories be manageable in size?
Large or imbalanced categories can overwhelm users and make navigation difficult.
What are the benefits of thematic categories like ‘New Arrivals’?
They allow users to quickly view curated collections, but they should not prevent users from accessing broader categories.
How can mobile category taxonomies differ from desktop?
Mobile versions may require simplified structures and collapsible lists to prevent screen clutter.
What is a best practice for cross-category filters?
Include shared filters, like brand and color, across relevant categories to support easy comparisons.
What is the impact of over-nesting categories?
It can create a narrow scope too early, forcing users to backtrack and re-navigate.
What site was highlighted for its exemplary taxonomy?
Staples was highlighted as an example of a well-balanced category taxonomy.
Why is the main navigation critical to the user experience?
It helps users browse intuitively and avoid confusion about the site’s structure.
What percentage of sites failed to highlight the user’s current location in navigation?
90% of mobile sites and a significant number of desktop sites failed to highlight the user’s current scope.
What is a common issue with dropdown menus?
Many dropdown menus have narrow hit areas that lead to accidental activations or missed options.
Why should courtesy navigation be visually distinct?
To prevent users from mistaking them for primary product categories.
What is the risk of hiding all categories under a single ‘Shop’ menu?
Users may miss the full scope of products and feel lost while navigating.
What is a best practice for navigation menus on mobile?
Ensure that primary categories are directly accessible without excessive nesting.
Why should sibling categories be displayed in the navigation?
To help users quickly adjust their scope and understand available options.
What defines a ‘drop-down’ menu?
A menu that expands upon hover or click to reveal additional navigation options.
How can hover-intent systems improve usability?
They reduce accidental menu activations by detecting intentional user interactions.
Which sites were recommended for navigation design inspiration?
Gilt, Sephora, and B&H Photo were recommended for their state-of-the-art implementations.
What is the purpose of intermediary category pages?
To help users bridge broad categories and refine their product search.
Why should intermediary category pages include visual cues?
To guide users and confirm they are exploring the intended product range.
What is a common mistake on intermediary pages?
Filling them with excessive promotional content that distracts from product exploration.
What type of content improves intermediary category pages?
Adding relevant subcategory previews, filters, and visual thumbnails to support exploration.
What is the role of breadcrumbs on intermediary pages?
To help users track their navigation path and easily return to previous sections.
Why should thematic resources not dominate intermediary pages?
They should complement the user journey without overshadowing the main category links.
How can intermediary pages improve user engagement?
By including interactive elements such as featured collections and category summaries.
What is a common issue with intermediary pages on mobile?
Poor spacing and over-nested lists make it harder for users to navigate efficiently.
How can load times impact intermediary category pages?
Slow-loading pages can lead to drop-offs, especially if key elements like images or menus take too long to appear.
What is an example of an optimized intermediary category page?
Williams-Sonoma was cited for its effective subcategory organization and page design.
