Large websites information design
The planning of the navigation in the site is a critical stage for the success of the project. There are a number of options for action, and the enormous amounts of information may make the experience of using the site an unwieldy experience and cause a feeling of frustration and “running away”.
The information architecture, i.e. browsing through the site, is intended to provide a solution for these difficulties through correct functional planning for improving the user experience. For assisting the user in rapid, easy orientation, it is necessary to develop intuitive browsing solutions based on information architecture.
The planning of the logical structure of the information architecture, determining principles and rules, sorting and integration of information in the various navigation processes, all provide users rapid access to important issues and a pleasant, simple use experience.
The use of clear browsing tools will result in the user reaching any place in the site and access any place in the site easy and simply, without getting lost in the site. Thus, allowing the user to direct his way from point A to point B in the most efficient and rapid manner.
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• Provide a main navigation system (first level), which is to be located on the homepage, is the first central hall that the user reaches. This system is composed of specific information centers, which incorporate information for the various target audiences.
• Provide a secondary navigation system (second level), to be located on the main pages for each of the centers, these being the secondary halls accessed through the main hall (homepage). It is to constitute an index from which the subjects under the center may be browsed.
• Plan a drop down menu with second and third levels, according to the degree of need based on the number of centers and the number of internal pages for each individual center.
• Display a “you are here” reference for the user on whichever page he is in, where he is at each stage in the site, based on the order of the halls, levels or centers visited in the site for a better orientation in browsing the site.
• Provide an advanced search engine, which is to be available on all site pages, with the function of assisting the user in rapidly obtaining the information he is seeking in any place in the site, without having to look for the search engine.
• Use quick links. A scrolling menu containing a list of fixed links for rapid searching of selected sectors based on an emphasis of browsing habits in the site, which is to be based on a statistic analysis of the most frequently viewed pages.
• Use a combo box. This menu is similar to the quick links menu, searching with which is performed on a “what do you want to know” basis, which contains relevant issues.
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