Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience

Web Navigation: Designing the User Experience offers the first in depth look at designing web site navigation. Author Jennifer Fleming offers design strategies to help you uncover solutions that work for your site and audience.

Acclaimed Web design author Lynda Weinman says in the foreword to this book: "Kudos to Fleming for her excellent research, approachable tone and generosity of information. If you're looking for help in giving your site's visitors a more positive experience than they get today, this book is an excellent place to start. It provides ideas and direction, not preachy rules that apply to someone else's site."

The first half of the book suggests goals and processes for developing workable navigation schemes. Topics include:

• Basic concepts in navigation
• Traits of navigation that work
• User testing and user-centered design
• Site architecture
• Interface and interaction design

The second half of Web Navigation focuses on designing by purpose, with chapters on entertainment, shopping, identity, learning, information, and community sites. Through case studies and interviews, each section explains common navigation problems and presents real world solutions and advice. Designer interviews feature conversations with industry leaders such as Clement Mok, Jakob Nielsen, and Nathan Shedroff. Case studies include sites such as FAO Schwarz, National Geographic, and IBM.

The accompanying CD-ROM is more than just a handy drink coaster. It serves as a launchpad to the sites mentioned in the text, and also offers software demos and a "netography" of related Web resources. "The Web needs more books like this if it to evolve to the next level," Weinman writes. "I believe this book can help you make your site a better place, regardless of whether your purpose is community-building, commerce, education, entertainment, information, or hobby. It's written is such an enjoyable, conversational tone that you may have trouble putting it down; I certainly did. I wholeheartedly recommend it for all Web publishers."

Jennifer Fleming (jennifer@squarecircle.com) owns Square Circle Solutions, a Boston-area company specializing in user experience consulting and information design. Square Circle Solutions' client list includes Tripod, The Annenberg/CPB Project, EBSCO Publishing, and Shareholder Direct. Jennifer is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has taught courses in web and computer design topics for United Digital Artists, the Massachusetts College of Art, and Naugatuck Valley Community Technical College. Jennifer has a Master's degree in library and information science and an undergraduate degree in fine arts.