Comments on: How many items in a navigation bar http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length Information architecture, interaction design and much more Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:19:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Tweaking AdSense Ads for Maximum Revenue | Making the Web http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-9088 Tweaking AdSense Ads for Maximum Revenue | Making the Web Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:40:42 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-9088 [...] Navigation Adverts provide visitors with links to small number of relevant websites and pages. So does the navigation section. When a visitor wants to find out more information, they generally and naturally look for the [...] […] Navigation Adverts provide visitors with links to small number of relevant websites and pages. So does the navigation section. When a visitor wants to find out more information, they generally and naturally look for the […]

]]> By: Donna Spencer http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-6702 Donna Spencer Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:09:29 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-6702 @Dan - that's a great way to think about it. @Dan - that’s a great way to think about it.

]]> By: Dan Willis http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-6663 Dan Willis Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:31:39 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-6663 I don't want to sound like a smartass (or whatever the Australian equivalent is), but the perfect number for items in a navbar is ZERO and each item added after that is a compromise. Zero items requires zero interpretation by the user and every item after that requires increasingly more complex interpretation. I know zero items isn't practical (or politically realistic), but I think it's worth thinking of the challenge as "what do I absolutely need to add to this list?" rather than "how can I whittle down this list?" Having said that, I agree with you Donna that long lists can work just fine (and that users proving it in testing is a powerful way to sell it internally). The key to long lists is the speed with which a user can ignore everything else other than what they're looking for. If we can make it more about ignoring than interpreting, we have a better chance for success. (For example, if you put an alphabetical list of a hundred names in front of me and my goal is to find my own name, it is an exercise in ignoring the 99 items that aren't my name.) I don’t want to sound like a smartass (or whatever the Australian equivalent is), but the perfect number for items in a navbar is ZERO and each item added after that is a compromise. Zero items requires zero interpretation by the user and every item after that requires increasingly more complex interpretation. I know zero items isn’t practical (or politically realistic), but I think it’s worth thinking of the challenge as “what do I absolutely need to add to this list?” rather than “how can I whittle down this list?”
Having said that, I agree with you Donna that long lists can work just fine (and that users proving it in testing is a powerful way to sell it internally). The key to long lists is the speed with which a user can ignore everything else other than what they’re looking for. If we can make it more about ignoring than interpreting, we have a better chance for success. (For example, if you put an alphabetical list of a hundred names in front of me and my goal is to find my own name, it is an exercise in ignoring the 99 items that aren’t my name.)

]]> By: Man with no blog » 7 Score and 10 List Items? http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5811 Man with no blog » 7 Score and 10 List Items? Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:44:49 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5811 [...] how do you tell the client that maybe that new items are a little much, now Donna Spencer ponders this and when is a navigation list too long. As we know the 7 is enough rule is all very [...] […] how do you tell the client that maybe that new items are a little much, now Donna Spencer ponders this and when is a navigation list too long. As we know the 7 is enough rule is all very […]

]]> By: Tentándole :: Número de items en los menús de navegación :: June :: 2008 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5748 Tentándole :: Número de items en los menús de navegación :: June :: 2008 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:58:08 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5748 [...] ha gustado el post de Donna sobre el número ideal de items en los menús de navegación, las listas cortas y largas y la cita [...] […] ha gustado el post de Donna sobre el número ideal de items en los menús de navegación, las listas cortas y largas y la cita […]

]]> By: Pat http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5651 Pat Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:25:40 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5651 Good points Donna, if only to help reinforce the fact that navigation is not as simple as many people think (an issue that I come across frequently). Andrew's right also, gone are the days when you could simply state your expert opinion—or quote some obscure scientific law—and it would be taken on board. On the balance this is probably a good thing, but it does make us work harder when it comes to things like "how long should the nav be?". I guess you can't beat usability testing to validate your decisions, but as well all know that's no guarantee of success if it's not done properly. (Thanks for CBCE by the way :) Good points Donna, if only to help reinforce the fact that navigation is not as simple as many people think (an issue that I come across frequently).
Andrew’s right also, gone are the days when you could simply state your expert opinion—or quote some obscure scientific law—and it would be taken on board. On the balance this is probably a good thing, but it does make us work harder when it comes to things like “how long should the nav be?”.
I guess you can’t beat usability testing to validate your decisions, but as well all know that’s no guarantee of success if it’s not done properly. (Thanks for CBCE by the way :)

]]> By: Andrew Boyd http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5548 Andrew Boyd Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:14:25 +0000 http://maadmob.net/donna/blog/2008/navigation-length#comment-5548 Hi Donna, how do I figure out how long a list should be? There is no simple answer to that one, as you point out above :) If I said "as long as they need to be, but no longer" then this would at once be totally true and perfectly useless. How do I convince other people that a long list is OK? By showing it to them in use (simulated use if possible) with other people, and getting it to use it themselves. Showing them is much better than invoking the law of "because I said" (which works with three year olds but not across multi-million dollar projects, well, for me anyhow). Best regards, Andrew Hi Donna,

how do I figure out how long a list should be? There is no simple answer to that one, as you point out above :) If I said “as long as they need to be, but no longer” then this would at once be totally true and perfectly useless.

How do I convince other people that a long list is OK? By showing it to them in use (simulated use if possible) with other people, and getting it to use it themselves. Showing them is much better than invoking the law of “because I said” (which works with three year olds but not across multi-million dollar projects, well, for me anyhow).

Best regards, Andrew

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