Flourish - Website Navigation

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Why can’t we just leave the website navigation as is?

Website navigation is a complex topic that expands to various aspects of website design, but our primary focus is on the navigation bars today.

We've all seen the traditional, uninspired lineup of links that are present on countless websites. While this approach may still suffice for certain audiences, particularly those less accustomed to technology, it's no longer a universal necessity.

As technology evolves and user behavior shifts, especially among younger demographics, it's clear that our approach to navigation must also adapt. We’re witnessing how guys in Apple Vision Pro are gradually filling the streets nowadays. Why should we keep treating the navigation as a solid strip with links sticked to the top of the page for ever?

As designers, we wield the power to shape user experiences and behaviors as they navigate websites.

But we want to stay reasonable though so here are some key considerations for designing effective website navigation:

❶ Tailor accessibility with your target audience in mind. Gen Z (not to mention Gen Alpha) and people in their 60s have very different cognitive abilities.

❷ Align navigation with user expectations. Yep, some websites do really need an extended multilevel navigation just because it’s what people expect to see. Let’s say, applying a meager “small agency”-inspired navigation to a huge e-commerce is likely to frustrate users.

❸ Maintain a consistent brand experience. Infuse your brand's personality into the navigation menu, whether it's through animations for a fun brand or informational snippets for a knowledge-centric one.

❹ Repeat all of the above on mobile 🙂 Really, don’t neglect it. A poor mobile experience is no better than a sewing kit in a cookie tin.

Follow the best practices and be reasonable but also learn to detect the cases when you can be more creative and innovative.

If it seems unconventional but gets the job done, isn’t it good then?

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