Why is navigation design important?

Navigation design is a crucial component in UX Design or Product Design. It provides users with a map for accessing and understanding a website or digital product. It helps create a consistent and logical user experience, allowing users to easily find the information they are looking for. 

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When designed correctly, navigation designs are easy to use and can make a website or digital product easier to use and understand. They can also help to create an effective website structure that optimises search engine optimisation (SEO).

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Designing a Navigation bar

When designing a navigation bar, the main goal should be creating a clean, intuitive user experience that guides users to their desired content in the least amount of clicks. Here are a few tips to jump start the design process:

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• Keep it simple - Optimise the structure of the navigation bar so that it has the minimum number of elements necessary. This will help to keep it uncluttered and easy to use. 

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• Choose relevant labels - Choose labels that accurately describe each page, as this will make it easier for users to find the content they need.

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• Categorise logically - Group pages together into categories and subcategories so that it is easy to browse the website or digital product.

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• Respect hierarchy - Hierarchy is an important part of navigation design, so make sure that the main pages are at the top, and the lower level pages are gradually visible further down the structure. 

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• Make it prominent - Make sure that the navigation bar is prominent and easy to locate, by putting it in a visible and easily accessible place on the website. 

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• Introduce a ‘search’ feature - Implement a ‘search’ feature so that users can quickly find what they are looking for without needing to systematically browse the whole website.

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Testing and optimising

Once the navigation design is complete, it should always be tested by users. This can help to identify any usability issues and ensure that the navigation structure is intuitive and effective. Once identified usability issues have been rectified, the navigation design can then be optimised to ensure an even smoother user experience. 

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Conclusion

A well-designed navigation bar is fundamental to a well-designed website or digital product. It is the roadmap to a website and should be carefully considered to ensure that it is optimised for both users and SEO. By following the above tips, UX Designers and Product Owners can create attractive, effective navigation designs that offer a seamless user experience.