Week 3 Reading

In chapter six of the book, Don't Make Me Think compares navigating a website to navigating through a department store. You walk in the door, find the section of the item you want, and find your product from there. If you are unable to find your desired product, you are likely to leave and never come back.
The same goes for web surfing. If it is impossible or even mildly difficult to navigate your site, your user is not likely to ever want to come back again.
Instead of having a clerk to ask about what you want, some websites offer a search bar usually located on the top of the screen to help find what you want.
Wanting to use the search bar usually depends on how big of a rush the user is and whether or not they want to try and navigate the site.
One major difference in department stores and websites is that when inside a store, you usually have a good sense of how big it is and how difficult or easy it's going to be to navigate. Websites can contain 17,000 separate pages that you will probably never know exist.
Some sites try to label their search bar with something else such as 'quick find'.
That confuses people because they are searching for the word, 'search' or 'go'
A logo allows the user to know what site it is that they're on, and an arrow or marker next to the section you're on keeps the viewer knowing where it is that they are. It's just like a directory with a 'you are here' dot on it.
Sites about navigation:

http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/30-examples-of-clean-and-minimal-website-navigation


http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/04/showcase-of-modern-navigation-design-trends/

http://www.eastonmass.net/tullis/WebsiteNavigation/WebsiteNavigationPaper.htm

Websites with good navigation
You'll always know that you're on the site because of the red bar and logo at the top, despite it's millions (probably) of different pages...
Netflix

This site directs you to other sites that it thinks you may enjoy, but there is always a bar at the top of the screen to let you know you're using stumpleupon...
stumbleupon

Just like everything apple does, their site is brilliant.
Easy to use and navigate.
apple