"Reaction [beta]"
Prose-based navigation 9 Feb 2007
Three examples of prose-based navigation: Beanology, Megnut and Happy Cog. Does it work? Or does it just complicate matters?
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4 comments so far
Jonesy 9 Feb 2007 01:45 PM
Usability issues aside, I find these nav systems so cheesy. Weaving a sentence around a collection of nav options creates the web equivalent of bad GCSE poetry.
David 9 Feb 2007 04:44 PM
I must say I'm torn. As a designer it's refreshing to see something different - something other than tabs! Usabilitywise I think it comes down to the typography.
The issue I am seeing with this navigation is that the only difference between the links and the copy are the colours. Because of that it comes accross as just another paragraph with links in it. They even feel like they might be offsite links. If the links were bigger, or offset, or different structurally in some way, it might come accross as something other than a paragraph. And, seriously, navigation is something other than a paragraph. But, that doesn't necessarily mean that it can't contain copy.
Simon 10 Feb 2007 01:52 PM
Jonesy: I see your point - some of the examples above are unlikely to win the Booker Prize.
David: As you say, it's good to see something new. The jury's out as to whether these navigation menus are better though.
Not only is it harder to pick out the links from the copy, it's also harder to pick out the menu from the rest of the page. Admittedly, these issues are trivial in isolation (you'll find the nav menu pretty quickly anyway), however I personally find that they add up to create an annoying experience.
Take happycog for example, I appreciate that their nav system is supposed to demonstrate their creativity as a company - but I would rather they demostrated their creativity via their case studies / portfolio.
When I go to a gallery, I want to be wowed by the artwork on display, not by the signs directing me around. The signage should serve a functional purpose, getting me to where I want to go, instead of distracting me from the exhibits I came to see.
oem software 16 Jan 2012 06:23 PM
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