Chapter 8

Navigation and Mystery Meat

The Number-One Question about Navigation

Navigational Goals

Mystery Meat Navigation Is the Spawn of Satan

It would be really nice if visitors to our Web sites were mind readers. That way, we wouldn't need a navigation system, because we would never have to worry about our visitors getting lost. They'd know how to get to where they wanted to go.

But since Web surfers aren't mind readers, we're forced to create navigational design elements to help our visitors find what they're looking for. Unfortunately, navigation is still more art than science.

This chapter looks at how to make navigation clearer on your site and also examines a trend in Web navigation that will give your site food poisoning--Mystery Meat Navigation.