Module 6, 7 Flashcards
Refers to the information backbone of the site; navigation refers to those elements in the UI that allow users to reach specific information on the site.
IA Information Architecture
A website’s (or intranet’s) information architecture has two main components:
•Identification and definition of site content and functionality
•The underlying organization, structure, and nomenclature that define the relationships between a site’s content/functionality
Key elements of information architecture include:(4)
Organization Systems
Navigation Systems
Labeling Systems
Search Systems
How content is grouped and categorized (e.g., by topic, task, or audience).
Organization Systems
How users browse or move through the content (e.g., menus, search bars, links).
Navigation Systems
How content is named and represented to users
Labeling Systems
How users find content via search functions
Search Systems
The activities undertaken in defining an information architecture involve? (5)
Content inventory
Content audit
Information grouping
Taxonomy development
Descriptive information creation
Examination of a website to locate and identify existing site content
Content inventory
Evaluation of content usefulness, accuracy, tone of voice, and overall effectiveness
Content audit
Definition of user-centered relationships between content
Information grouping
Definition of a standardized naming convention (controlled vocabulary) to apply to all site content. how information is grouped, classified, and labeled within a shared information environment.
Taxonomy development
Definition of useful metadata that can be utilized to generate “Related Link” lists or other navigation components that aid discovery
Descriptive information creation
A collection of user interface components. The primary goal of navigation is to help users find information and functionality and encourage them to take desirable actions.
Website’s Navigation
Navigation components include (6)
Global navigation
Local navigation
Utility navigation
Breadcrumb trail
Related links
Fat footers
Found at the top of the page, this area typically includes links to help users access tools like login, search, language selection, or user settings. It’s less about content navigation and more about site-wide features.
Utility Navigation
This includes the primary navigation menu, often a bar or set of links that guide users to the main sections of the website (e.g., Home, About, Products, Services). It appears on every page of the site and provides access to core content.
Global Navigation
It provides navigational aid, showing the path users took to arrive at the current page. It typically appears near the top of the page and helps users understand their location within the site’s hierarchy.
Breadcrumb Trail
Specific to the current section or page, this allows users to move between related content. For instance, within a product section, it might let users navigate between different products or subcategories.
Local Navigation
This area suggests additional content that is relevant to the current page. These links could point to articles, blog posts, or other resources that are contextually related to the user’s current view.
Related Links (Articles/Blog Posts)
It refers to a larger-than-usual footer at the bottom of the page. It typically includes a site map, contact information, social media links, and sometimes links to important pages like Terms of Service or Privacy Policy. It’s often used to provide additional navigational tools and site-wide information.
Fat Footer
For each navigation component, a series of decisions must be made:
Usage Priority
Placement
Pattern
How much will users rely on this navigation component? For example, will users primarily navigate the site using local navigation? Or are they likely to more heavily rely on related links?
Usage Priority
On which pages should it be present? Where should it be placed within the page layout grid (e.g., top, left, right, bottom)?
Placement
Which navigation design patterns best support findability and discoverability — tabs, megamenus, carousels, accordions, and so on.
Pattern
These are an important set of ideas for any designer to learn and their implementation can greatly improve the aesthetics of a design as well as its functionality and user-friendliness.
Gestalt Principles
Gestalt Principles (7)
Figure-ground
Similarity
Proximity
Common Region
Continuity
Closure
Focal point
Principle states that people instinctively perceive objects as either being in the foreground or the background. They either stand out prominently in the front (the figure) or recede into the back (the ground).
Figure-ground
Principle states that when things appear to be similar to each other, we group them together. And we also tend to think they have the same function.
Similarity
Principle states that things that are close together appear to be more related than things that are spaced farther apart.
Proximity
This principle is highly related to proximity. It states that when objects are located within the same closed region, we perceive them as being grouped together.
Common Region
Principle states that elements that are arranged on a line or curve are perceived to be more related than elements not on the line or curve.
Continuity
Principle of closure states that when we look at a complex arrangement of visual elements, we tend to look for a single, recognizable pattern.
Closure
Principle states that whatever stands out visually will capture and hold the viewer’s attention first.
Focal point
Refers to making websites, apps, and other digital content usable by all users, regardless of innate ability. According to the W3C, web _____ “means that websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.” It is discussed in reference to users with disabilities, but _____ can benefit all users by making things simpler and more intuitive.
Accessibility
Refers to designing digital environments so they can be used by as many people as possible. Adobe defines __ as design “that considers the full range of human diversity with respect to ability, language, culture, gender, age and other forms of human difference.” It is discussed in broader strokes around diversity and inclusion __ goals.
Inclusive design (ID)
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVE DESIGN
- Accessibility is a goal; inclusive design is a way to get there.
- Accessibility is (largely) standardized.
- Accessibility supports users with disabilities; inclusive design focuses on more broad inclusivity (e.g., language, diverse circumstances).
- Accessibility is one of many outcomes of inclusive design.
