|
Post by Avtar on Nov 2, 2008 17:40:17 GMT
A key question that always comes up when discussing where to place the navigation in a web page. Most people stick to the tried and tested way of sticking it into a table on the left. Some people do the second most common thing and stick it on the top, spread out across the page.
Then there's the rebels who put it on the extreme right of the page, unorthodox. And then we have noobs like Kay who'd like their navigation at the bottom of the page.
How do you usually place navigation in your website? Do you like using drop down stuff like Digg does, hover over it and it brings out sub-menus? Or would you rather not do that since people will click anyway.
Share your tips, thoughts and suggestions!
|
|
|
Post by ScottCool on Nov 2, 2008 19:57:30 GMT
I usually go with the traditional way of it with a row at the top of the page usually under the banner.
|
|
|
Post by vanillaorchids on Nov 3, 2008 2:31:12 GMT
I've mainly created left and top navigation layouts but I did create one design before where I placed the navigation on the right. Oddly enough, that is one of my favorites too. I've also created a couple designs with hover over sub-menus.
|
|
|
Post by danielazarc on Nov 3, 2008 5:47:08 GMT
I usually go with the traditional way of it with a row at the top of the page usually under the banner. Same here. I think that in some cases, if done properly, it can look pretty damn good despite being so common. I don't profess my own use to be so amazing, but I've seen some damn good layouts before. I just find it simple and easy to use, I don't need anything fancy, I tend to hope that most of the attention goes to the content and such.
|
|
|
Post by Wrighty on Nov 3, 2008 10:12:58 GMT
I like to put menus either on the left, or in a row at the top right. Top left = banner area!
|
|
|
Post by ŋєт™ on Nov 3, 2008 15:05:09 GMT
I'm a heavy user of CMS's so I don't actually design most of my pages from the ground up, but of all the sites I've made most of them have a combo of both top and left side navigation. For forums I like the top nav bar and for pages sometimes it depends on the way it's set up weather I have it on the top or the left.
|
|
|
Post by Avtar on Nov 3, 2008 19:07:59 GMT
Navigation schemes that I totally hate are the ones that float along with the page. Makes me want to grab it and pull it out.
|
|
|
Post by ScottCool on Nov 4, 2008 2:54:13 GMT
I think anywhere that goes with the banner looks good, on top, under, or even in the banner
|
|
|
Post by Pritchard [Epic][Girly Boy] on Nov 4, 2008 4:29:36 GMT
I use the Drupal CMS. I tend to make the top links content oriented, and the left side user oriented. I hand build my themes, and generally make them three column with two top link sections. The SSD Worm Website is a prime example. On the left you have the user login area. Once you login that turns to a user control area. For administrators it shows a link to the administration area, the user control panel, the chat room, create content, and a log out link. On the right there's a users online area, and a chat preview that shows the last three or so messages in the chat room.
My website is set up essentially the same way, but with no chat room and no right column.
Drop down menus are bothersome, and can be a pain in the ass when it comes to cross browser support. For example, I think it's new eggs drop down menus that mess up on my Powermac G4 in Firefox 3. They tend to only show what you're scrolled over on that drop down, and hide everything else behind the page content.
|
|
|
Post by Saknika on Nov 5, 2008 15:12:21 GMT
I prefer the top or to the left. Better composition that way, and I think it's much more user-friendly to visitors. Although I have seen good layouts that do otherwise, so it can be done. But I'll stick with the tried and true because I'm a fan of the KISS method-- Keep It Simple, Stupid. =D
|
|
|
Post by Avtar on Nov 5, 2008 16:35:31 GMT
It's tried and tested. Tried and "true", somehow, when it comes to design, takes the meaning out of design.
|
|
|
Post by Saknika on Nov 5, 2008 17:06:36 GMT
>.>; I'm a bit stuck in the past with sayings... *jots that down*
|
|
|
Post by Avtar on Nov 5, 2008 18:03:46 GMT
Wasn't correcting your English, you can say what you like, but with design, I don't think anything can be true or false.
|
|
|
Post by Stinky666 on Nov 5, 2008 21:48:46 GMT
Putting the buttons on the right is actually better than the left, especially for right handed people. Less scrolling, since your mouse is "drawn" to the right side easier.
|
|
|
Post by ŋєт™ on Nov 6, 2008 0:16:25 GMT
Putting the buttons on the right is actually better than the left, especially for right handed people. Less scrolling, since your mouse is "drawn" to the right side easier. You know that's true, but it just looks weird to see it on the right. So many sites put it on the left if the nav bar is on the side somewhere.
|
|
|
Post by Avtar on Nov 6, 2008 5:08:38 GMT
Putting the buttons on the right is actually better than the left, especially for right handed people. Less scrolling, since your mouse is "drawn" to the right side easier. That's quite true, I never thought of it that way.
|
|
|
Post by Stinky666 on Nov 6, 2008 7:54:56 GMT
The only reason - imo - that people like their buttons on the left, is because now, that's just purely what everyone's used to.
|
|
|
Post by Infinite on Nov 6, 2008 16:30:18 GMT
I can't even remember the last time I designed a template, but I use to prefer the website links on the left, however, now I lean more towards menubars located on the top of the website integrated into the banner, either above or below it.
|
|
|
Post by Avtar on Nov 8, 2008 7:54:04 GMT
The only reason - imo - that people like their buttons on the left, is because now, that's just purely what everyone's used to. Yeah, and people usually think there are going to be banner ads on the right side so they look there in the end.
|
|