Navigation

Navigation is the anchor of your site's usability. Navigation can make the difference between a user-centered site and a poorly designed site. The EMU web site templates are designed with the recommended navigation structure for EMU web pages. Developers of official EMU sites should use this navigation structure or a similar one.

The most important dual principle of navigation is clarity and consistency. If a site visitor needs more than a moment or two to understand your site's primary navigation structure, the structure is probably not sufficiently intuitive. Navigation is not the place on your site to experiment with unusual conventions. Your site's navigation should meet the expectations of people who use the web – and even inexperienced users should be able to find their way around.

Wherever links are present on your site, make it visually clear that they are links. It is also helpful to users to distinguish between which links have been visited and which have not.

The hierarchy of the site should be evident through your navigation--how to find information, and how the information is organized. Users should also find an easy way to search the site.